gTLD Contracting: You Won… Now the Work Begins
Winning your gTLD is only the beginning. The ICANN contracting phase turns your victory into a binding registry agreement. Here’s how to navigate deadlines, documentation, and technical readiness to bring your new TLD to life.
Registry Service Provider (RSP): Choosing the Right Backend
Use our RSP Selector to quickly shortlist registry service providers for your new gTLD. What is a Registry Service Provider (RSP), why does it matter for your new gTLD application?
gTLD String Evaluation: Passing the Technical Gauntlet
Before your dream TLD can go live, it must survive the ICANN gTLD string evaluation – a rigorous technical and policy gauntlet designed to protect the stability of the internet. From string similarity reviews to Public Interest Commitments and Universal Acceptance readiness, this guide breaks down every step you’ll need to master to ensure your application makes it through the 2026 round unscathed.
gTLD Financial Projections: How to Pass ICANN’s Toughest Test
ICANN’s 2026 application round isn’t just about branding and legal firepower — it’s about proving survival. The gTLD financial projection is the single hardest hurdle, a stress test designed to show you can fund operations, manage risks, and sustain a registry even in worst-case scenarios. Fail the numbers, and your application fails.
ICANN gTLD Background Check: When the Internet Plays Detective
The ICANN gTLD background check 2026 is the ultimate pass-fail test for applicants. ICANN plays detective, scrutinizing your organization, leadership, and history to keep bad actors out of the root zone. Learn what’s reviewed, the risks, and how to prepare so your application clears this crucial hurdle.
gTLD-Public-Comments 2026: How To Survive Scrutiny
The gTLD-Public-Comments 2026 process is the first big test for applicants. Learn how to manage community scrutiny, respond to feedback, and avoid costly objections.
ICANN gTLD Reveal Day: The Red Carpet for the Internet’s Future
ICANN gTLD Reveal Day is the red carpet moment of the new gTLD application process. It’s when every hidden string is unveiled, competitors are exposed, and strategies shift in real time. Discover why this high-stakes announcement shapes the future of the internet.
Which Type of gTLD Application Are You?
The upcoming ICANN 2026 round isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are five distinct types of gTLD applications — General, Brand, Community, Geographic, and IDN — and each comes with its own rules, costs, and strategic advantages. Choosing the right type is critical, because your application path determines your risks, your fees, and even your odds of success.
gTLD String Selection: The Secret Sauce
he Secret Sauce of gTLD String Selection is knowing that the string you choose isn’t just a name after the dot — it’s the foundation of your entire gTLD application. Get it right, and you unlock a digital identity that can stand strong for decades. Get it wrong, and your application could collapse before it’s even reviewed. In ICANN’s 2026 round, gTLD string selection means navigating blocked and reserved names, similarity reviews, DNS stability checks, and the ban on closed generics. The process may sound technical, but it’s really about strategy: balancing brand power with compliance, and always keeping a smart replacement string ready. This guide breaks down the pitfalls, rules, and insider strategies to help you make the right choice. Download our free String Selection Scorecard and ensure your gTLD is built for long-term success.
gTLD Application System: Building in ICANN’s TAMS
gTLD Application System: Building in ICANN’s TAMS The gTLD Application Journey (3/12) So, you’ve decided to launch a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) – maybe the next game-changer like .shop, the next cool kid like .guru, or a brand masterpiece like .bmw. Your entire journey starts, lives, and (hopefully) triumphs inside a single, high-security portal: ICANN’s TLD Application Management System, […]
Counting the Costs: ICANN 2026 gTLD Fees & Refunds
Counting the Costs: Fees, Refunds, and Support in ICANN’s 2026 gTLD Round The gTLD Application Journey (2/12) Thinking about launching a new top-level domain in the 2026 round? The number that gets tossed around is the $227,000 gTLD application fee. While that’s certainly a hefty price tag, assuming it’s the final bill is a bit like buying […]
Are You Even Allowed to Apply? gTLD Eligibility 2026
Who can apply for a gTLD in 2026? Learn ICANN’s eligibility rules, from legal entities to good faith requirements, before risking a $227k fee.