New gTLD Availability

The new gTLD program is entering its second chapter. The first round, opened by ICANN in 2012, delegated 1,241 new top-level domains out of 1,930 applications, and new extensions are still reaching general availability today. In 2026 ICANN ran its first application window since then, so brand owners now have two things to track: extensions that are launching now, and the extensions that will follow from the 2026 round.

MarkScout publishes this overview so you can quickly see which new gTLDs are launching, when they open to the public, and when trademark owners should act. Information is subject to change, so please confirm dates with the registry before you rely on them. Last reviewed: October 2026.

The 2026 application round at a glance

• Application window: 30 April to 12 August 2026. The base ICANN application fee was USD 227,000.
• Reveal Day (7 October 2026): ICANN published 1,615 applications, including 333 .brand applications, 21 internationalized domain name (IDN) applications and 16 community-based applications. By comparison, the 2012 round received 1,930.
• Replacement period: 8 to 21 October 2026, the only time applicants may switch to an eligible replacement string.
• String Confirmation Day: 17 November 2026. This opens the Community Input and Objections Period, which runs to 16 March 2027.
• Next: ICANN expects a prioritization draw in the first half of 2027, followed by a 180-day string evaluation stage.

What brand owners should do now

• Check the applied-for strings. Review ICANN’s published list for strings that match or resemble your trademarks. Objections can only be filed during the Community Input and Objections Period (17 November 2026 to 16 March 2027), so the window to act is short.
• Record your marks in the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH). A TMCH record gives you access to Sunrise registration periods and Trademark Claims notices for new extensions.
• Plan Sunrise registrations and monitoring. Each launch below has a Sunrise period before general availability. Decide extension by extension whether to register defensively, and monitor for abusive registrations once an extension opens.

MarkScout can help you assess new extensions, manage Sunrise registrations and monitor for infringement. Contact us to talk to an expert.