Launch FAQs

A generic top level domain (gTLD) is the last part of a domain name like .com, .org, or a newer gTLDs like .shop or .app. It identifies the type of site or community a domain belongs to, giving you more ways to signal what your business does or who it serves.

Functionally, they work in exactly the same way. Browsers, emails and search engines treat them identically. The real difference is availability and meaning: .com has been registered so heavily since 1985 that most short, relevant names are now gone, while new domain names offer more specific names tied to an industry, community, or brand. You can browse domain names currently open for registration on our New gTLD Launch Page.

The 2026 Round is ICANN's process for approving and launching a new wave of gTLDs, the first new gTLD expansion since 2012, when 1,930 applications led to 1,241 new domain extensions. This round drew 1,600 applications and additionally introduces domain names in 27 scripts (like Arabic and Chinese), opening the door for non-English speakers worldwide. The application window has now closed and the process is underway to launch.

New gTLDs create both opportunity and risk for your brand. It's worth deciding on your brand protection strategy before Sunrise: register your brand defensively on the domain names that matter to you (see our guide to registration phases), or consider a blocking service like GlobalBlock for broader, standing coverage across many domain names at once. Monitoring the Round and registering early is the most effective way to protect your brand as these come online.

No, the application window closed on Aug 12, 2026. If an upcoming new gTLD might affect your brand, the best next step is to monitor gTLDs in application and register as soon as they open, starting with pre-registration, then sunrise and landrush.

• • Status
  • Description
• • Application
  • Applied for, not yet delegated
  • Delegated
  • Approved by ICANN and added to the internet but not yet open for pre-registration.
  • Pre-registration
  • Approved/confirmed application, not yet open for live registration; free, non-binding signup to reserve your place in line.
  • Sunrise
  • Registration open to trademark holders only
  • Landrush / Early Access
  • Registration open to everyone after Sunrise and before General Availability, though some registries restrict it further. Pricing starts higher and decreases as the phase goes on, so the earlier you register, the more you'll pay, but the better your odds of securing that specific name.
  • General Availability (GA)
  • Open to everyone, first-come, first served

When multiple applicants apply for the same string, it enters contention. ICANN resolves contention through negotiation, Community Priority Evaluation, or auction. We'll track and display the status of contested strings (in contention, withdrawn, delegated) alongside a list of applicants for that string, so you can follow along as it's resolved.

• Application window closed — August 12, 2026
• Reveal Day — October 7, 2026: all applied-for strings become public
• String Replacement Period — October 8-21, 2026: applicants can swap to a backup string if needed
• String Confirmation Day — November 17, 2026: the application list is finalized
• Community Input and Objections Period — November 17 2026 - March 16 2027. The public can submit comments, and formal objections can be filed on legal rights, public interest, community, or string confusion grounds. Governments can also issue early warnings on sensitive strings
• Prioritization Draw — 2027, official date pending ICANN annoucement
• General Availability — the first strings are expected to start in 2028

These round-level milestones are what drive the status label you'll see next to each extension on the Launch List page. For example, a string moves from "in application" to "pre-registration" once it clears Confirmation and is delegated.

A string is the specific text an applicant has applied for (like .book) while it's still in the application process. Once ICANN approves the application and the registry signs an agreement, that string is officially “delegated” and becomes a live gTLD. Think of it this way: every gTLD begins its life as a string, but not every string successfully becomes a gTLD.

When a string is "in application," it has been submitted to ICANN but is still undergoing review. During this stage, ICANN checks for completeness, technical soundness, and potential conflicts. Contention (if multiple parties apply for the same string) and public objections must also be resolved before the application can proceed.

Once an application clears evaluation and the applicant signs a Registry Agreement, it is "delegated"—officially assigned to a registry operator and added to the internet’s root zone. From this point, the path splits: brand domain names remain private for the owner's use, while public and community domain names move into registration phases like pre-registration, Sunrise, Landrush, and General Availability.

Once a domain name is delegated, you can sign up for pre-registration. This allows you to express interest in your domains and get an email notice as soon as pre-orders are available. You can pre-order a domain as soon as the pricing and launch dates are confirmed—then you can secure your place in line for Sunrise, Landrush, or General Availability, and your order will be submitted as soon as that phase opens. Get updates on the extensions you want to monitor.

• Brand domain names are private, reserved for the exclusive use of the company that applied for them.
• Public domain names are open for anyone to register once they reach General Availability, like .com or .shop.
• Community domain extensions are tailored for designated collectives outlined in their initial proposal, including trade organizations, industry sectors, or regional groups. Prior round examples of community extensions include .bank and .eco.

Brand domain names stop at delegation since they're privately used from there. Public and community domain names continue through the full registration track: pre-registration, sunrise, landrush, and general availability.

Reveal Day (Oct 7, 2026) is when ICANN published the full list of applied-for strings, so you can now check which category any given domain name falls into. Check back after Reveal Day, or sign up to be notified as its status continues to change.

Defensive registration means registering your brand name on relevant new domain extensions yourself, so no one else can. It's the most direct way to prevent cybersquatting as new gTLDs launch.

If you own a trademark, validating it with the TMCH gets you into the Sunrise phase: first access to register your brand on a new domain name before the general public, plus alerts if someone else registers a domain matching your mark.

If you don't hold a trademark, TMCH isn't available to you, but GlobalBlock and standard registration during Landrush or General Availability are still options. Learn more or get started on our Trademark Clearinghouse Validation page.

Yes, there are several blocking services available. Most notably, GlobalBlock provides coverage for over 840 domain extensions and is constantly growing. Services like this can help you protect your brand across numerous domain names simultaneously, offering a more efficient alternative to registering each one individually. Learn more about our domain blocking services.