ICANN Extends Submission Deadline for String Similarity & Variant Evaluator Panels RFP to Support 2026 New gTLD Round

ICANN has announced an extension to the submission deadline for its Request for Proposal related to evaluator panels supporting the 2026 New gTLD Program. The revised deadline for submitting proposals is now 23:59 UTC on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, giving interested providers additional time to prepare their responses.
 

This RFP forms part of ICANN’s broader preparations for the next round of new generic top-level domains, which is expected to open for applications in April 2026. The evaluator panels selected through this process will play a key role in safeguarding the stability, predictability, and overall clarity of the Domain Name System.

Scope of the Evaluation Work

The RFP covers two core evaluation areas within the New gTLD Program: String Similarity evaluation and Variant String evaluation. Both evaluation processes are designed to minimize potential confusion among Internet users and ensure consistent interpretation of applied-for gTLD strings.

String Similarity evaluations assess whether a proposed gTLD is visually or technically too close to an existing string. Variant String evaluations focus on alternative or related string forms that could influence how domain names are understood or used across different scripts and linguistic contexts.

Expectations for Selected Providers

ICANN welcomes proposals from any qualified provider capable of delivering expert evaluation services. Respondents may submit proposals covering String Similarity evaluations, Variant String evaluations, or both, either through a single combined panel or through separate panels.

Beyond assembling expert evaluators, selected provider(s) will work closely with ICANN to refine evaluation guidelines. These guidelines are intended to support transparent, consistent, and repeatable decision-making throughout the evaluation phase of the New gTLD Program.

Participation and Submission Details

Organizations interested in participating are required to formally express their interest by submitting basic contact information to ICANN. Complete proposals must be submitted through ICANN’s designated sourcing system no later than 18 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC.

By extending the submission deadline, ICANN aims to promote broader participation and ensure that the evaluator panels supporting the 2026 New gTLD application round are fully prepared to meet the program’s technical and policy requirements.