ICANN reveals 1,615 applications for 2026 gTLD round, over half in contention
in plain words
ICANN Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers The nonprofit that coordinates the global DNS and gTLD policy. Full definition of ICANN runs the system for creating new website endings like .com or .shop, and it just revealed everyone who applied in its new 2026 round. There were 1,615 applications from 481 companies, and more than half of them are competing against rivals for the same ending. The biggest fight is over .agent, with 13 companies including OpenAI, Google and Meta wanting it.
ICANN released the full list of applications for the 2026 new gTLD A generic top-level domain added to the internet through ICANN's New gTLD Program. Full definition of new gTLD round on October 7, after a filing window that ran from April 30 to August 12. In total, 481 applicant An organization that has applied to ICANN to run a new gTLD. Full definition of applicant submitted 1,615 applications, including 333 dot-brands and 16 community applications. 891 applications sit across 263 contention sets, the largest being .agent, contested by 13 applicants including OpenAI, Google and Meta. German-speaking countries account for 66 applications.
ICANN had reported 1,616 pending applications on September 22, with the count settling at 1,615 by reveal day. That is fewer than the 1,930 filed in the 2012 round The first round of ICANN's New gTLD Program, which opened for applications in 2012. Full definition of 2012 round. North America leads by region with 864 applications, followed by Europe with 506, Asia-Pacific with 218, Africa with 16, and Latin America and the Caribbean with 11. Fifteen applicants classify their string as geographic, and 21 applications involve internationalized domain name A readable internet name made of labels separated by dots. Full definition of domain name, 19 of them in Chinese script, plus .株式会社 and .québec. 51 applications came through ICANN’s Applicant Support Program ICANN help, such as reduced fees, for qualified new gTLD applicants. Full definition of Applicant Support Program. Final figures are expected on String Confirmation Day, November 17.
ICANN’s downloadable list shows only 1,614 applications from 480 applicants, missing .wdo from China’s World Data Organization, still under administrative review. It contains 980 distinct new strings plus six variant applications for existing Chinese extensions. Filings are concentrated: 343 applicants submitted only one each, while 33 applicants filed at least ten each, together accounting for 944 applications. Malta’s Link Freedom Group leads with 158, followed by XYZ.COM with 139, GoDaddy The largest registrar, which also runs a registry business and an aftermarket platform. Full definition of GoDaddy’s Registry Services with 77, Intercap with 71, Radix A registry operator that runs new gTLDs such as .online, .store, .tech and .site. Full definition of Radix with 46 and ShortDot with 40. Google’s Google Registry The Google unit that operates TLDs such as .app, .dev and .page. Full definition of Google Registry filed 39, down from 101 in 2012. No applicant matched Donuts’ 2012 record of 307.