Your Roadmap to the Next Round: Key Dates and What to Expect

In case you missed it, the Next Round of ICANN’s New gTLD Program opens April 30, 2026  and closes on August 12th. That’s less than three and a half months to submit applications. If you’re planning to apply, understanding the key milestones will help you prepare for a smooth application process. Here’s what you need to know about the journey from submission to delegation. 

Preparation Prior to Window Opening

The most critical decision you’ll make, aside from what string to apply for, happens before the application window even opens: selecting your Registry Services Provider (RSP). ICANN requires all applicants to partner with a pre-approved RSP to manage the technical requirements of their TLD.

Choosing your RSP early frees up your time to focus on your application strategy, finalize your string selection, and ensure overall readiness. Identity Digital has received pre-approval from ICANN as a Main, DNS, and DNSSEC RSP, and we’re ready to support applications through every stage of the process.

The Application Journey: From Submission to Launch

Once you submit your application, ICANN follows a structured evaluation process with several key milestones, as detailed in the 2026 Applicant Guidebook:

Administrative Check and Initial Evaluation‍

After the window closes on August 12th, all applications undergo an Administrative Check to verify completeness and accuracy. 

Reveal Day and String Confirmation

Approximately nine weeks after the application window closes, ICANN publishes the list of applied-for strings on Reveal Day. This is when all applications become public, and everyone can see what strings have been applied for, including any designated replacement strings. 

If your string faces contention–meaning another applicant has applied for the same string–you have options. You can proceed with your original string (which may require contention resolution such as an auction), or you can switch to your pre-submitted Replacement String within 14 days of Reveal Day. 

String Confirmation Day takes place 14 days after Reveal Day, at which point the final list of applications and applied-for strings is solidified.

String Confirmation Day kicks off a myriad of processes including:

• Community processes, such as GAC Early Warning, GAC Advice, Singular/Plural Notification, and Application Comment Period provide the broader community with the opportunity to engage in ICANN’s Next Round processes and provide specific inputs on applications.
• Objections, which provide relevant parties with the ability to formally object to applications on limited grounds.
• String evaluation, which is the first set of formal evaluations that ICANN will perform on applications. At the end of this evaluation, ICANN will publish the initial contention sets.

Some applicants may be submitting community-based applications, where strings are intended to serve a specific community rather than general use. For such applications, the Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) provides a path to resolve contention. This optional process, conducted by a third-party evaluator, determines whether a community application has a higher priority claim to a contested string. There is an additional fee for CPE, and specific evaluation criteria apply. More details are available in ICANN’s CPE fact sheet.

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Path to Delegation

For straightforward applications–those without contentions or objections–delegation is expected to occur 14.5 - 19.5 months after Reveal Day. This timeline puts the first Next Round TLDs on track to launch in late 2027 or early 2028.

If your application does encounter significant contention or challenges and you wish to withdraw your application, ICANN offers a structured refund schedule with three windows to help applicants recoup a portion of application costs. 

What this Means for Applicants

Although the Next Round application process builds on lessons learned from 2012, it remains a rigorous undertaking that requires careful planning and technical expertise. 

Working with a pre-approved RSP like Identity Digital minimizes evaluation uncertainties, provides a faster path to launch, and allows you to apply with confidence. We have the expertise to guide you through each milestone and help you navigate the application process successfully. 

The application window opens in just a few weeks. If you’re planning to apply, now is the time to finalize your strategy, select your RSP partner, and prepare your submission.

Ready to discuss your Next Round plans? Contact us today at rsp@identity.digital or visit identity.digital/nextround to learn how we can support your application.