ICANN picks PwC to screen applicants in the 2026 gTLD round
in plain words
ICANN, the group that oversees domain names, picked a company called PwC to check people and companies that want to run new kinds of website endings. The checks look at who owns each applicant and whether they follow the rules. This is a required step before an application can move forward.
Full summary
ICANN Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers The nonprofit that coordinates the global DNS and gTLD policy. Full definition of ICANN, the body that oversees domain name A readable internet name made of labels separated by dots. Full definition of domain name worldwide, has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services LLC, known as PwC, to carry out background checks on companies applying to run new generic top-level domains in its 2026 application round. PwC will act as the outside screening provider, reviewing applicant An organization that has applied to ICANN to run a new gTLD. Full definition of applicant’ corporate standing, ownership details and eligibility under the program’s existing rules. ICANN says the appointment adds no new requirements and does not approve any application.
ICANN selected PwC through a competitive tender that began with a request for proposals in November 2025, according to an announcement the organization made on October 15. PwC will review information about individuals and organizations, public records, and whether applicants meet the criteria in the 2026 Round Applicant Guidebook. Screening is mandatory and is meant to show whether prospective registry operator The organization that holds the contract or mandate for a TLD and sets its rules. Full definition of registry operator meet ICANN’s requirements for corporate standing and suitability. ICANN’s earlier procurement notice said the provider must deliver decisions with a supporting rationale, and that companies listed on the world’s 25 leading stock exchanges may qualify for a modified check.
The checks may involve sensitive material. The Applicant Guidebook The rulebook for applying for a new gTLD in an ICANN round. Full definition of Applicant Guidebook lists corporate information, applicant contacts and people who hold ultimate control among the categories screened. The work can include third-party reports drawn from public sources, reputation checks and sanctions screening, and further personal information may be requested if early findings need follow-up.
The announcement does not yet explain how PwC will handle ownership data that moves across borders, or how applicants can contest disputed screening findings. Those questions matter because the information may come from companies and records in several countries.
The selection follows the close of the application window The fixed period in which ICANN accepts new gTLD applications in a round. Full definition of application window on August 12, 2026, when ICANN had received more than 1,600 primary applications, although the final total depends on payment verification. ICANN published the applications on October 7 and moved the program into review and evaluation. Screening is one required part of that evaluation, and how its findings are recorded, shared and challenged will matter to applicants whose eligibility depends on records from several jurisdictions.