New gTLD Reveal Day 2026 is today: at 18:00 UTC on 7 October, ICANN publishes the applications proceeding in the 2026 round, the strings applied for, the applicants and the contention sets. ICANN confirmed in September that 1,616 applications would proceed. For brand owners, the list answers three practical questions: is anyone applying for a string that matches or imitates your mark, which new extensions in your sector will open for registration, and what are competitors planning.
Key takeaways
- The list goes live on ICANN’s Application Publication and Statistics (APS) website at 18:00 UTC on 7 October 2026; ICANN has warned against relying on information that does not come from it directly.
- It includes primary strings and any variant and replacement strings, so screening only the primary strings leaves gaps.
- Applicants can switch to their pre-selected replacement string between 8 and 21 October; the final list follows on 17 November.
- No objection or comment can be filed yet: the community input and objections period runs from 17 November 2026 to 16 March 2027.
What does ICANN publish on new gTLD Reveal Day 2026?
Under section 1.2.2.2 of the 2026 Applicant Guidebook, Reveal Day follows the Administrative Check, in which ICANN confirms fee payment and groups applications for identical strings. ICANN’s announcement of 29 September 2026 set the date and time.
| What is published | Why it matters to a brand owner |
|---|---|
| List of applications that passed the Administrative Check | The universe of new extensions that may launch from this round |
| Applied-for strings, plus any variant and replacement strings | The strings to compare with your marks, including those an applicant could still switch to |
| Public portions of each application | Who is behind the string, the intended model (open, restricted or .brand) and the registration policies proposed |
| Contention sets for identical strings | Where several applicants want the same string, which affects timing and who is likely to operate it |
ICANN’s update of 22 September reported 1,663 applications submitted, of which 1,616 paid and proceed, and said the APS website draws public data from ICANN’s application system. Unofficial lists circulated before Reveal Day are not a safe basis for decisions.
How should a brand owner read the list?
The quickest approach is to sort the results into four groups, each with its own response and timing:
| Finding | Main risk | Tool and window |
|---|---|---|
| A third party has applied for your mark, or a string that reproduces it | A top-level domain that exploits your brand | Legal Rights Objection before WIPO and application comments, from 17 November 2026 to 16 March 2027 |
| A string similar to your mark or to your own .brand application | Confusion at top level | ICANN’s own String Similarity Evaluation runs automatically; String Confusion Objections are reserved for TLD operators and applicants, so brand owners usually rely on comments or the Legal Rights Objection |
| A generic term in your sector (for example a product category) | Cybersquatting at second level once the extension opens | Trademark Clearinghouse record for the Sunrise and Claims periods; plan priority registrations |
| A competitor’s .brand or sector extension | Strategic, not legal | Monitor its progress and launch |
Standing and grounds come from Module 4 of the Applicant Guidebook (section 4.5.2): rights holders can file Legal Rights Objections, administered by WIPO, while String Confusion Objections belong to existing TLD operators, other applicants and certain significantly interested parties.
Why the replacement period matters
From 00:01 UTC on 8 October to 23:59 UTC on 21 October, applicants that pre-selected a replacement string can notify ICANN that they will use it instead of their original string (Applicant Guidebook, section 1.2.2.3). A replacement cannot match another applied-for primary or replacement string. Two consequences follow for brand owners:
- Screen the replacement strings published today, not only the primary ones. A harmless primary string may be replaced by one closer to your mark.
- Treat the 7 October list as provisional. Objections and comments will be filed against the final list that ICANN publishes on String Confirmation Day, 17 November 2026, with updated contention sets.
What comes after Reveal Day?
| Date (UTC) | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 8 to 21 October 2026 | Replacement period |
| 17 November 2026 | String Confirmation Day: final list and updated contention sets |
| 17 November 2026 to 16 March 2027 | Application comments, GAC Early Warnings, objections; singular and plural notifications only in the first 30 days |
| 27 November 2026 | Last day for applicants to withdraw with a 65% refund of the evaluation fee |
| First half of 2027 | Prioritisation draw that sets the processing order |
A GAC Early Warning is a notice from a government member of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee that an application is sensitive or problematic. Companies cannot issue one, but the warnings are part of the same window and can shape how an application evolves.
What this means for your business
- Prepare the list of marks, variants and key generic terms to search before 18:00 UTC today.
- Search the APS data for exact matches, misspellings, translations and transliterations of your marks, in primary, variant and replacement strings.
- Note the applicant, the model proposed and the contention set for every hit, and save dated copies.
- Check again after 21 October and on 17 November.
- Decide, case by case, between doing nothing, a comment, a Legal Rights Objection or a commercial approach to the applicant, well before 16 March 2027.
- Confirm that your core marks are recorded in the Trademark Clearinghouse for the extensions that will open to the public.
If you need the screening done across several brands and markets, our team for new gTLD watching and domain name protection can run it and report the hits that need action.
Where brand owners get Reveal Day wrong
- Using unofficial lists. ICANN has said that only its own data is verified; decisions should be based on the APS website.
- Searching only for the exact mark. Misspellings, plurals, translations and replacement strings are where problems tend to hide.
- Waiting until March. Building a Legal Rights Objection takes time: evidence of rights, analysis of the applicant and a clear argument.
- Choosing the wrong instrument. A String Confusion Objection is not open to most brand owners, and a comment is not an objection; picking the wrong route wastes the window.
- Forgetting second-level risk. An unobjectionable generic extension can still attract cybersquatters once it opens; a Clearinghouse record and our trademark registrations in the relevant markets are the base for Sunrise and Claims protection.
Frequently asked questions
What time is new gTLD Reveal Day 2026?
ICANN set Reveal Day for 7 October 2026 at 18:00 UTC, which is 20:00 in Madrid and 12:00 in Mexico City. At that time the list of applications proceeding, the strings, the applicants, the public portions of the applications and the contention sets appear on ICANN’s Application Publication and Statistics website.
Can I object to a gTLD application now?
Not yet. Objections, application comments and GAC Early Warnings can only be submitted during the community input and objections period, from 17 November 2026 to 16 March 2027. Use the weeks before to screen the list, gather evidence of your rights and decide which instrument fits each case.
What is a contention set?
A contention set is a group of applications for identical strings. Other applications can join a set later, for example when ICANN confirms that two strings are the singular and plural of the same word. Since a string can only be delegated once, contention affects timing and who ends up operating the extension. ICANN publishes the sets on Reveal Day and updates them on String Confirmation Day.
Can IP Global Guard review the Reveal Day list for our brands?
Yes. We screen the published strings and replacement strings against your marks and key terms, assess each hit and recommend whether to comment, object or simply monitor. We prepare Legal Rights Objections before WIPO and coordinate them directly where our professionals are qualified and otherwise through qualified representatives.
How IP Global Guard can help after Reveal Day
The 2026 round gives brand owners a fixed window to act against problematic strings, and it closes in March. IP Global Guard, the IP services line of META Channel Corporation Limited, coordinates new gTLD watching, objections, Clearinghouse records and domain enforcement from a single point of contact across more than 25 jurisdictions; see our coverage in Europe, Latin America and Africa.
Tell us which marks and sector terms matter to you. We will screen the Reveal Day list, flag what needs attention before String Confirmation Day and plan the next steps. Ask our team for a Reveal Day screening.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the position on the date of publication.
Sources
- ICANN, ICANN announces date for Reveal Day and other 2026 round milestones (29 September 2026)
- ICANN, ICANN confirms number of applications proceeding in the 2026 round (22 September 2026)
- ICANN, 2026 Applicant Guidebook, Module 1: The applicant journey
- ICANN, 2026 Applicant Guidebook, Module 4: Community input, objections and appeals
- ICANN, Trademark Clearinghouse requirements, 2026 base registry agreement (12 March 2026)
