In 2026, individuals and organizations will be able to apply for new top-level domains (TLDs) on the internet, such as .app, .shop, and .porn. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has opened the application process for new TLDs, which will close on August 12. This marks the first opportunity for new TLDs since 2012, when over 1,200 new domains were introduced.
ICANN is responsible for the management of domain names and IP addresses, ensuring the stability and security of the internet. The organization declined a request from Ukraine in 2022 to shut down Russian domains, citing a no-censorship rule. The current ICANN meeting, ICANN86, is taking place in Seville, Spain, with over 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, tech companies, domain registrars, and various organizations.
The application fee for each TLD is $227,000, which helps cover the costs of running the program. Notable past auctions include Google's $25 million purchase of the .app domain in 2012. The registry that manages .com, Verisign, generates significant revenue from domain registration fees, reporting $1.5 billion annually.
The upcoming application window has generated interest and speculation among potential applicants, with many keeping their plans confidential to avoid competition. Some applicants from previous rounds have shared their experiences of conducting meetings in person to prevent digital leaks.
Several organizations have already announced their intentions to apply for new TLDs, including a community-governed domain for data sovereignty (.self) and a domain for the queer community (.meow). The announcement of new TLDs is expected to be made public on October 7, following the close of the application window.