ICANN Releases First Confirmed List of Evaluated RSPs for the 2026 New gTLD Round

On 30 January 2026, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers published the initial list of organizations participating in the Registry Service Provider (RSP) Evaluation Program for the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: 2026 Round. This initial publication includes providers that have successfully completed both technical screening and technical testing, as well as those that have passed technical screening and are still undergoing the testing phase.

Registry Service Providers are responsible for delivering the core backend technical services required to operate a gTLD. Because not all new gTLD applicants have the capacity to manage registry infrastructure independently, the RSP Evaluation Program exists to identify and validate third-party providers in advance of the application process.

At this stage, the list does not yet include some applications related to RSPs, Internationalized Domain Name Services, or additional Registry Services. ICANN has confirmed that these will be added in early March 2026 once the relevant evaluations are completed.

How RSP Requirements Tie Into the 2026 Round

Every new gTLD applicant must specify which evaluated Registry Service Provider will support their backend technical operations if their application proceeds toward delegation. This designation can be made either at the time of application submission or later, just before the Applicant and Application Evaluation stage, in line with the requirements set out in the 2026 Round Applicant Guidebook.

The release of the initial evaluated RSP list represents a key preparatory milestone ahead of the application window, which is expected to open on 30 April 2026. As the program advances, ICANN will continue to update the list to reflect providers that successfully complete the evaluation process.

In parallel, ICANN is operating a second RSP evaluation period that will run at the same time as the gTLD application window. This approach allows additional Registry Service Providers to be evaluated and approved even after the first list has been published.

Why the Initial Publication Timing Matters

Making the initial list of evaluated RSPs available before the application window opens gives prospective applicants the ability to plan their technical strategies in advance. Since the evaluation program assesses providers’ technical readiness ahead of time, applicants can rely on pre-approved partners to meet registry infrastructure requirements during later stages of the process.

As the list continues to expand through ongoing evaluations, applicants gain greater transparency and flexibility in selecting qualified technical partners. This step also helps ensure that the operational foundation of the domain name ecosystem is prepared and resilient as the 2026 new gTLD round approaches.