We wish to inform ECTA members that, on 7 October 2026, ICANN published the list of applications of 2026 round of the new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), disclosing applicant identities.

The application submission window was open from 30 April to 12 August 2026. According to ICANN's data snapshot, the round attracted a total of 1,615 applications, including:

• 333 brand applications;
• 16 community-based applications;
• 15 self-identified geographic name applications;
• 51 applications from Applicant Support Program participants;
• 21 applications for Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) and
• 9 applications for variants.

Starting as of 8 October 2026, applicants who filed an alternate replacement string have a two-week time period to switch their application from their original string to that replacement string, as long as they are eligible to do so. After this window closes, ICANN will announce, on 17 November 2026 (String Confirmation Day) an updated list.

String Confirmation Day will open the Community Input and Objections Period, a formal application comment period running from 17 November 2026 to 16 March 2027, during which third parties including rights holders may file formal objections or comments on published applications. Submissions are directed to different channels based on the type of objection:

Objection Type/ Basis

• Legal Rights Objection: Infringes trade mark, copyright, or trade name
• Community Objection: Harms a defined community represented by an established entity
• Limited Public Interest: Violates general principles of international law or public order
• String Confusion: Visually/phonetically confusingly similar to another existing or applied-for TLD

Comprehensive details regarding this topic can be found in the ICANN documentation at Applicant’s Guidebook.

The ECTA Internet Committee will continue to follow developments, and will keep members informed of relevant updates.