The Results Are in From ICANN's New gTLD Reveal Day - Here's Who Went Big and What They Went After

ICANN's highly anticipated Reveal Day arrived Thursday (Oct. 7, 2026), when the non-profit organization that coordinates the Internet's domain name system announced that 1,615 applications to run new top level domains (TLDs) had been received. More importantly, ICANN revealed all of the new strings that had been applied for and who applied to run them. In many cases, multiple parties are seeking to operate the same new TLD. The most sought after extension is .agent with 13 suitors. .bit was next with 11 applicants and three others - .api, .brand and .hub - are being sought by 10 applicants each. The eventual winner of those contested TLDs will be resolved through ICANN's Contention Sets process. Those often lead to an auction in which the rights to go to the top bidder.

The 2026 round was the first opportunity to apply for new TLDs since the initial round was held in 2012, 14 years ago. The biggest player then was Identity Digital (then known as Donuts) who, as a result, now has the largest portfolio of TLDs on the Internet - over 270 of them. So it's no surprise that they filed for more new TLDs than anyone else this time too - 216 in all. 

The newly formed Link Freedom Group was next with 158 primary applications (they also filed 158 replacement strings - an option that allows applicants to switch to a pre-selected second choice under certain circumstances). 

XYZ Registry went big too, seeking 139 strings, followed by GoDaddy at 77 and Intercap Registry at 71. All strings applied for and their applicants can be looked up on the ICANN website here.

Identity Digital's huge volume of applications is spread across 13 categories, including AI, web3, commerce, and finance. Their CEO, Akram Atallah, said, "We see the internet as a home for everyone, and new extensions give more people and businesses a way to show who they are and what they stand for. AI is accelerating that need, and these applications are designed to give everyone building online a relevant, trusted name. We approached this round with the same ambition we had in 2012, backed by a disciplined selection process and long experience running domains at scale." 

Regarding the next phase, after the two week replacement window, ICANN will publish the final list of strings that will proceed through the program on String Confirmation Day November 17, 2026. This will then begin the Community Input and Objections Period, a formal application comment period. Additional information on the program timeline and milestones can be found here.  

Recommended reading: If you are interested in a broader examination of what the 2026 round of new gTLDs tells us about the current state of domains, the internet and related technology, compared to its status when the first round was held in 2012, be sure to see Simone Catania's excellent article, From Apps to Agents: How the 2026 New gTLD Strings Mirror a Changed Internet, at CircleID.

(Posted October 8, 2026)   

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