New gTLD Report | Q1 2026

Next round ahead: what the 2026 application window means for brands

The new gTLD program is about to open its second chapter. The first round, launched in 2012, delegated 1,241 new top-level domains from 1,930 applications, and ICANN has now set the dates for the next round. In this report, MarkScout explains what is coming and how brand owners can prepare.

In this quarter’s report:

• Where the program stands: 1,241 gTLDs delegated from the 2012 round (ICANN statistics, 31 January 2026)
• The next round: applications from 30 April to 12 August 2026, with a base application fee of USD 227,000
• The Applicant Guidebook was published on 16 December 2025
• What brand owners should do now: audit your trademarks, record them in the Trademark Clearinghouse and plan how you will monitor the applied-for strings

See the latest new gTLD availability