ICANN Board Finalises Applicant Guidebook, Paving Complete Route to the 2026 New gTLD Launch

On 3 November 2025, the Board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) adopted the Applicant Guidebook (AGB) that will govern the upcoming round of the new generic top-level domain (gTLD) programme. This decision was taken at the ICANN84 meeting in Dublin and marks a critical procedural milestone in the rollout of the next gTLD round.

The Guidebook finalisation signals that the rules, requirements and evaluation framework for applicants are now set, and ICANN has directed its organisation to publish the final version no later than 30 December 2025.

With the adoption complete, ICANN has charted a clear path toward launching the application window for new gTLDs in 2026.

What the Guidebook Covers and Why It Matters

The AGB lays out eligibility criteria, application procedures, evaluation phases, fee schedules and dispute-resolution processes for entities seeking to operate new gTLDs.

By adopting the Guidebook, ICANN confirms that all major policy and operational dimensions have been addressed, enabling the next round of the gTLD programme to proceed with transparency and structure.

The timing meets the requirement that the Guidebook be published at least four months before the window opens, providing prospective applicants time to prepare.

Next Steps and 2026 Timeline

With the guidebook adopted, ICANN now targets April 2026 for the opening of the application window, subject to its internal readiness and any further community consultation.

In the interim, ICANN will finalise the contractual arrangements with dispute-resolution service providers, align operational systems with Guidebook provisions, and complete any minor edits that do not affect policy substance.

Applicants, brand owners and registry service providers now have a defined framework and timeline to begin planning their participation in the 2026 round.

Implications for Applicants and the DNS Ecosystem

For organisations planning to apply, the adopted Guidebook offers a foundation of certainty: they now know what will be required in order to apply, what evaluation criteria will apply, and how objections and disputes will be handled.

From a broader perspective, the 2026 gTLD round embodies an opportunity to enhance competition, increase diversity of the domain namespace (including non-Latin scripts) and expand utility in the global Domain Name System.

In summary, by approving the Applicant Guidebook and specifying the path toward April 2026, ICANN has moved the next round of gTLDs from “planning” into the implementation phase.