2026 ROUND ICANN Application Window Open

Your gTLD partner from application to operations

First-round veterans since 2012 with deep technical expertise in DNS security, registry operations, and ICANN compliance. Sokomi takes you from idea to live namespace — and keeps it running.

.brand
Fortune 500
.city
Geographic
.eco
Community
.ai
Innovation
.health
Industry
.ngo
Non-Profit
First-Round Veterans Application • Launch • Operations
Proven Experience

Not a new consultant.
A first-round veteran.

At the centre of the gTLD ecosystem since ICANN opened the first round in 2012. Unmatched operational depth across every TLD type.

DNS Security
DNSSEC, DDoS mitigation, zone integrity, Anycast architecture
Registry Operations
SRS, EPP, WHOIS/RDAP, abuse monitoring, SLA management
Compliance
ICANN contractual, GDPR, rights protection, annual reporting
Incident Response
24/7 crisis management, BCP, disaster recovery, IANA coordination
Since
2012
Round 1 veterans
99.99% uptime
Across managed TLDs
Ready for
2026
Round 2

Brand TLDs

Guided Fortune 500 companies through .brand applications, defensive strategies, and internal namespace deployment. Automotive, finance, luxury, tech.

.brandDefensiveInternal DNS

Community TLDs

Supported community applications with eligibility criteria, governance frameworks, and Community Priority Evaluation strategies. NGOs, cities, cultural groups.

.communityCPEGovernance

Open TLDs

Full lifecycle: application, evaluation, delegation, sunrise, general availability, ongoing policy compliance, and ICANN reporting.

.genericLaunchOperations
Understanding gTLDs

What is a gTLD
and why should you apply?

A generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) is the extension at the end of a web address — like .com, .org, or .net. But since ICANN's first round in 2012, organisations can own their own TLD. Think .google, .bmw, .paris, .bank.

Brand Protection
Own your brand in the DNS. No more domain squatters or lookalike fraud. .yourbrand is exclusively yours.
Community Identity
Give your community a digital home. Cities (.london), industries (.bank), and causes (.eco) have already done it.
Revenue Opportunity
Open TLDs generate recurring revenue from domain registrations. Some TLDs manage millions of domains.
Who has a gTLD?
.google
Technology
.bmw
Automotive
.london
City / Geographic
.bank
Industry / Trust
.eco
Community / Cause
.app
Technology
1,200+ new gTLDs launched in the 2012 round
2026 Round at a Glance
Application fee From $227,000
Application window April 2026
TLD types Brand, Community, Open
IDN support 27 scripts

How a gTLD works in practice

www.shop.yourbrand
.yourbrand — the gTLD you own
shop — a domain registered under it
careers.yourbrand
support.yourbrand
investor.yourbrand
app.yourbrand

You control the entire namespace. Create unlimited domains, set your own policies, and build a trusted digital ecosystem under your TLD.

End-to-End Services

From first conversation to live namespace

Every phase of the gTLD lifecycle. No handoffs. No knowledge gaps. One partner throughout.

Application Strategy

String selection, business case, financial modelling, RSP evaluation, and Guidebook-aligned application drafting.

Application Submission

End-to-end management through ICANN's TLD Application Management System. Completeness checks and compliance review.

Evaluation Support

String similarity, DNS stability, objection response, GAC Early Warnings, dispute resolution, and clarifying questions.

Launch Programme

Pre-delegation testing, sunrise/landrush, trademark claims, GA strategy, registrar channels, and marketing launch.

Ongoing Operations

Registry compliance, WHOIS/RDAP, DNSSEC, abuse mitigation, annual reporting, and ICANN contractual management.

Governance & Legal

Registry agreement negotiation, rights protection mechanisms, policy input, and multi-jurisdictional compliance.

Future-Ready

Novel use cases for the next generation

The 2026 round isn't 2012 repeated. Sokomi helps applicants build TLDs for the world we're moving into — agentic AI, data sovereignty, and human-machine ecosystems.

.agent
.sovereign
.quantum
.identity
These aren't hypothetical. They're the namespaces that will define the next decade of the internet. Sokomi helps you build them.

Agentic AI Ecosystems

Dedicated namespaces for AI agent identity, discovery, and trust. Machine-readable DNS for autonomous systems.

Human-Tech Communities

TLDs bridging human communities with technology. Cross-over namespaces for DAOs, creator economies, decentralised orgs.

Data Sovereign Namespaces

Jurisdiction-aware DNS for a world of data sovereignty. GDPR-aligned, cross-border governance built into the namespace.

Future-Tech Verticals

Namespaces for quantum, biotech, clean energy, and space. Purpose-built digital homes for emerging industries.

2026 Round Timeline

Key milestones for applicants

The ICANN 2026 New gTLD Round application window is open. Here's the path from application to delegation.

1

Application Open

April 2026 — Submit via ICANN portal with evaluated RSP

2

Completeness

Admin review, Reveal Day, String Confirmation Day

3

Evaluation

String review, technical, operational, financial assessment

4

Objections

String confusion, legal rights, community, public interest

5

Delegation

Pre-delegation testing, IANA delegation, registry go-live

Why Sokomi

The numbers speak for themselves

13+

Years in gTLDs

Continuous experience since the first ICANN round in 2012

99.99%

DNS Uptime

Enterprise-grade Anycast infrastructure and DNSSEC management

100%

Application Success

Every application we've managed has passed ICANN evaluation

24/7

Incident Response

Crisis management, disaster recovery, and IANA coordination

The 2026 round is here.
Let's build your TLD.

Whether you're a Fortune 500 brand, an industry body, a city, or an innovator — Sokomi has the experience and depth to make it happen.