The new gTLD application deadline for 2026 is 12 August: ICANN confirmed on 24 June that applications for the 2026 round must be submitted by then and that the USD 227,000 evaluation fee must reach ICANN by 23:59 UTC on 19 August. With seven weeks left, brand owners face two decisions: whether to apply for their own .brand extension, and how to protect their marks against applications filed by others.
Update (October 2026): ICANN announced on 22 September 2026 that it received 1,663 applications and that 1,616 of them, those for which the evaluation fee was paid, will proceed. It expects to publish the applied-for strings on Reveal Day, no later than 14 October 2026, before the objection period opens. ICANN, 22 September 2026.
Key takeaways
- Applications close at 23:59 UTC on 12 August 2026; the evaluation fee is due by 19 August, or seven days after the invoice if later.
- ICANN asks applicants to test payment in its TLD Application Management System (TAMS) before submitting and not to leave filing to the last days.
- The evaluation fee is USD 227,000 per application, partly refundable on withdrawal depending on the stage.
- Companies that do not apply should prepare to review the published applications and, where needed, file a Legal Rights Objection with WIPO.
What did ICANN announce about the new gTLD application deadline?
In a blog post of 24 June 2026, Theresa Swinehart, ICANN’s Senior Vice President for Global Domains and Strategy, reminded applicants of the closing dates and asked them to test payment processing in TAMS before submitting and to file early. ICANN also pointed to a searchable library of frequently asked questions and a new Applicant Journey page. The key dates and figures, from that post and ICANN’s programme pages, are these:
| Item | What ICANN has set |
|---|---|
| Application window | Opened 30 April 2026; closes 23:59 UTC on 12 August 2026 |
| Evaluation fee | USD 227,000 per application (75% to 85% discount for applicants qualified for the Applicant Support Program) |
| Payment deadline | The later of 23:59 UTC on 19 August 2026 or seven days after the invoice is sent |
| Refunds on withdrawal | USD 147,500 up to 10 days after String Confirmation Day, then USD 79,500 and later USD 45,400, depending on the stage |
| Application types | Include .Brand, generic, community, geographic name and IDN applications, among others |
Source: ICANN’s evaluation fee FAQs and Prepare to Apply page. Conditional evaluation fees, where they apply, are invoiced separately.
Should your company apply for its own .brand?
A .brand top-level domain (such as .yourbrand) gives a company full control over a namespace it operates itself. It is a long-term infrastructure decision, not a marketing purchase. With the deadline weeks away, three questions decide whether it still makes sense to apply:
- Budget beyond the fee: the USD 227,000 evaluation fee is only the entry cost. A registry needs technical operation, compliance with ICANN’s registry agreement and internal governance for years.
- A clear use: customer portals, product or country sites, or secure communications under a namespace no one else can register in.
- Readiness: the application requires corporate, financial and technical information. If that information is not ready now, a rushed application is a risk, not a shortcut.
Our recommendation is to make the decision now, either way, and record it. A brand that decides not to apply can still defend itself in the round.
Not applying? How to protect your brand in the 2026 round
For most brand owners, the 2026 round matters because of what others apply for. Two mechanisms are relevant.
First, objections. The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center has been appointed exclusive provider for Legal Rights Objections (LRO), which a trade mark owner can file against an applied-for string that infringes its rights, and for String Confusion Objections. WIPO expected the objection phase in the third and fourth quarters of 2026, once ICANN publishes the applications. Its LRO fee schedule sets a filing fee of USD 2,000 and a panel fee of USD 8,000 for a single-member panel.
Second, the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH). Once new extensions launch, each registry must offer a sunrise period of at least 30 days for marks recorded in the TMCH and a claims period of at least 90 days, under ICANN’s TMCH requirements of 12 March 2026.
What this means for your business
- Decide on a .brand application this month, with finance, IT and legal at the table.
- If you apply, test payment in TAMS now and plan for the fee to arrive by 19 August.
- If you do not apply, list the strings that would hurt you: your marks, close variants and sector terms you depend on.
- Budget for reviewing the published applications and, where justified, an objection.
- Record your core marks in the TMCH before the new extensions launch.
If you want a single team to handle the review, the objection and the follow-up registrations, our domain name and new gTLD protection service can coordinate them alongside your trade mark portfolio.
When to bring in an adviser
- Missing the payment window. An application whose fee does not arrive on time does not proceed.
- Waiting for publication to start preparing. Objection windows are fixed; evidence of rights in each country takes time to assemble.
- Thin trade mark coverage. An objection relies on rights you can prove; gaps in key markets weaken it.
- Treating .brand as a one-off project. Without a registry operator, governance and budget for the years ahead, the extension becomes a liability.
Frequently asked questions
When is the new gTLD application deadline in 2026?
Applications for ICANN’s 2026 round must be submitted by 23:59 UTC on 12 August 2026. The USD 227,000 evaluation fee must reach ICANN by the later of 23:59 UTC on 19 August 2026 or seven days after the invoice is sent. ICANN advises testing payment in TAMS before submitting and filing early.
Can I object if someone applies for a gTLD that matches my brand?
Yes. A trade mark owner can file a Legal Rights Objection, administered exclusively by WIPO for the 2026 round, once ICANN publishes the applications. WIPO’s schedule sets a USD 2,000 filing fee and a USD 8,000 panel fee for a single-member panel. Preparing evidence of your rights early matters because the objection period is limited.
Can IP Global Guard help us decide on a .brand or prepare an objection?
Yes. We review the business case and readiness for a .brand application with your teams and coordinate specialist registry and technical providers. If you do not apply, we monitor the published strings and prepare and coordinate Legal Rights Objections with WIPO, directly where our professionals are qualified and otherwise through qualified representatives.
How IP Global Guard can help before 12 August
The 2026 round is an opportunity to run your own top-level domain and, for every brand, a new source of risk. IP Global Guard, the IP services line of META Channel Corporation Limited, handles domain names and trade marks with one strategy across more than 25 jurisdictions in Europe, Latin America and Africa.
Tell us which marks matter most and whether a .brand is on the table. We will help you decide before the deadline and set up the watch for the applications that follow. Contact our domain team.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the situation on the date of publication.
Sources
- ICANN blog, Update on the New gTLD Program 2026 Round (24 June 2026)
- ICANN, gTLD evaluation fee FAQs (2026 Round)
- ICANN, Prepare to Apply for a New gTLD (2026 Round)
- WIPO, 2025 record year for domain name disputes (14 January 2026)
- WIPO, Schedule of fees for Legal Rights Objections
- ICANN, Trademark Clearinghouse Requirements, 2026 Base gTLD Registry Agreement (12 March 2026)
- ICANN, ICANN confirms number of applications proceeding in the 2026 Round (22 September 2026)
