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ICANN reveals 1,615 new gTLD applications for 2026 round
ICANN has released the application list for its 2026 round of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), marking the first major expansion of the Domain Name System since 2012. The disclosure, known as ‘Reveal Day’, includes 1,615 applications from 481 applicants.
Artificial intelligence is a dominant theme in this round. Major tech firms are competing for AI-centric suffixes, with .agent being one of the most contested strings, receiving applications from companies including Meta and OpenAI. Other notable AI-related requests include .agi, .asi, .intelligence, and .superintelligence. Meta submitted 21 applications, while OpenAI filed 15.
Beyond technology trends, the round presents a significant landscape for trademark holders. There are 345 brand-specific applications from entities such as Bank of America, Applebee’s, and Zillow. Because ICANN does not filter applications for potential intellectual property infringements, brand owners may use the Legal Rights Objection (LRO) process, administered by WIPO, to contest strings that threaten their trademarks.
Applicants facing contention sets—where multiple parties seek the same string—have a window to swap to backup strings or prepare for potential auctions. The next major milestone is ‘String Confirmation Day’ on November 17, 2026, which will lead into a period for community comments and formal objections.
Entities
ICANN · Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers · Kurtis Lindqvist · Meta · OpenAI · WIPO
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The final list of strings will be announced on String Confirmation Day, scheduled for November 17, 2026. pingtungtimes.com.tw
- [● 2 SOURCES] The round includes 333 brand-related applications. pingtungtimes.com.tw · ohsem.me
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 506 applications originated from Europe. pingtungtimes.com.tw
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 864 applications originated from North America. pingtungtimes.com.tw
- [● 2 SOURCES] There were 1,615 total applications submitted for the 2026 Round. pingtungtimes.com.tw · ohsem.me
- [● 3 SOURCES] ICANN published the list of new generic top-level domain (gTLD) applications for the 2026 Round. pingtungtimes.com.tw · ohsem.me · trademarklawyermagazine.com