ICANN87 will take place in Bali, Indonesia, from October 17–22. This meeting is highly anticipated, following the close of the 2026 new generic top-level domain (gTLD) application window and the official application reveal.
With more than 1,600+ applications in this round, there will be plenty to discuss, from proposed extensions and potential conflicts to brand-protection considerations. For companies managing large domain portfolios, these conversations matter.
GCD will be on-site throughout the week, attending sessions, engaging with policymakers, and meeting with clients. We’ll be following the 2026 new gTLD round, DNS abuse, and developments around access to domain registration data. Can’t attend? Join our recap webinar on November 5, 2026.
Key Milestones for the 2026 Application Round:
Reveal Day: October 7, 2026
With the applications now public, much of the discussion will focus on who applied, which extensions they’re seeking, and what comes next. ICANN’s release includes the public portions of each application, any proposed variant or alternate extensions, and initial contention sets showing where applicants are seeking the same extension.
For brand owners, this is an opportunity to review applications that could affect their trademarks, customers, or broader digital strategy.
Want to know if your marks are in contention or if similar brands or your peers applied? Use our interactive New gTLD Tracker to review all applications.
Replacement Period: October 8–21, 2026
Eligible applicants may switch to an alternate extension submitted with their application. This means the list published on Reveal Day may change.
String Confirmation Day: November 17, 2026
ICANN will publish the confirmed list of proposed extensions and updated contention sets. This also marks the start of the formal community input and objections period.
Community Input and Objections: November 17, 2026–March 16, 2027
The community may submit feedback on applications, and eligible parties may file formal objections under the applicable procedures. For brand owners, this is an important window to review potential concerns with their legal and brand-protection teams.
Even if your company hasn’t applied for a dotBrand, this round is worth following. Reviewing the proposed extensions now can help your team identify potential conflicts and plan for future domain registrations and brand protection.
Consider attending these sessions:
- GAC Discussions On Next Round: An opportunity to hear the Governmental Advisory Committee’s (GAC) initial views on the published applications.
- 2026 Round: Timeline Overview and What’s Next: This session covers key 2026 Round milestones, next steps in evaluation, and tools for viewing applications, submitting
- 2026 Round: Application Community Input Stage Overview : ICANN will explain how brand owners and other stakeholders can review applications, raise concerns, and participate in the Community Input and Objections Period, along with what to expect as applications move forward.
- 2026 Round: String Evaluation Stage Overview : ICANN will walk through key milestones before application evaluation begins, including the reveal of proposed extensions, opportunities to switch to an alternate extension, confirmation of the application list, and how processing order is determined.
Domain Name System (DNS) Abuse
DNS abuse will also remain a priority, including how registries and registrars identify and respond to phishing, malware, botnets, and related threats.
Policy work is already underway. One current effort focuses on checking for additional domains associated with identified abuse, with the working group scheduled to review public feedback at ICANN87.
For enterprise companies, the practical interest is how these efforts could improve responses to malicious domains targeting their brands and customers. For dotBrand applicants, we’ll also be watching for developments that could affect future registry responsibilities.
Consider attending this session:
WHOIS and Registration Data
Access to domain registration data remains important for brand owners, especially when investigating suspicious domains or pursuing enforcement.
The Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) became the definitive source for gTLD registration information in January 2025, replacing traditional WHOIS services.
For enterprise companies with large domain portfolios, the practical questions remain familiar: what information is available, how can nonpublic data be requested, and how can that information support brand protection? These are the issues we’ll be following throughout the meeting.
Consider attending this session:
Leadership Transitions: As the definitive Annual General Meeting of the calendar year, ICANN87 serves as the formal transition point where new members of the ICANN Board of Directors officially take their seats and assume leadership roles across various advisory committees.
I’ll be in Bali with the GCD team, following these discussions and what they mean for your domain portfolio. If you’re attending, I’d love to connect. If there’s a topic you’d like us to keep an eye on, please reach out.
