It is an achievement in itself: almost two and a half years after the initial announcement, the then-announced target date has been met. On the 16th of December, ICANN published the Applicant Guidebook (AGB), which for the first time provides clarity on the exact timelines.
On Thursday the 30th of April 2026, the platform for submitting applications for new domain extensions will open. This platform will then close on Wednesday the 12th of August 2026 again, leaving 15 weeks to submit a complete application.
The publication of the AGB also clarifies the costs: an application costs $227,000, excluding any additional costs depending on the type of domain extension and the operational costs. In the past months, organisations that cannot bear these costs have been able to apply for “applicant support” under strict conditions. At the insistence of Dotlocal and countless other organisations, the maximum additional fee for geographical extensions has been halved.
The Applicant Guidebook comprises no fewer than 440 pages, but for those who want to gain some initial insights, module 1 (“The Applicant Journey”) provides a good overview in about 20 pages.
Timeline
Now that the dates for the application window have been confirmed, it is possible to outline a general timeline for the program. The biggest uncertainty here is the number of applications. The AGB has been drawn up on the basis of 2,000 applications. If there are fewer applications, everything will proceed more quickly. If there are more applications, there will be additional delays. Based on 2,000 applications, this is what we can expect in the coming period:
- 30th of April 2026 – the application window opens for 15 weeks
- 12th of August 2026 – the application window closes
- 14th of October 2026 – ICANN publishes the preliminary list of all applications (“Reveal Day”)
- 30th of October 2026 – ICANN publishes the final list of all applications (“String Confirmation Day”); the community can provide input for 15 weeks
- End of November 2026 – ICANN defines the order of processing
- April 2027 – ICANN completes the first set of checks (“String evaluation”)
From this moment onwards, applications will be processed in their assigned order. The lucky applicant at the start of the list can pencil the following dates in its agenda:
- July 2027 – ICANN completes the second set of checks (“Applicant and application evaluation”)
- October 2027 – The contract is signed
- December 2027 – The domain extension becomes available on the internet
ICANN commits to a capacity of 500 applications per year. This means that the applicant at the end of the list may not be able to launch their extension until four years later (in 2031).
Now is the time for action
The application window will not open for another four months. However, that does not mean that you cannot do anything in the meantime. On the contrary: much of the work takes place before the window opens. This gives you plenty of time between April and August to submit your application properly and gather any additional information.
Contact us to discuss your opportunities.
Active preparations are already underway for the new application window. Mijndomein is gauging interest in .twente and more, Salesforce is developing its own “dotBrand,” Unstoppable is focusing on connecting the traditional internet to Web3 with .twin, and other parties have even bigger plans.
Are you considering waiting a little longer? Be aware that the last application round was in 2012, and it is unknown yet when the next one will be. If you’re unsure, always contact us!
