ICANN84 Preview: Dublin Sets the Stage for the Next Round

ICANN’s 84th Public Meeting, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), will take place 25–30 October 2025 in Dublin, Ireland, marking the final meeting for ICANN in 2025. If you are unfamiliar, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, is the organization that coordinates the assignment of domain names and IP addresses on the Internet. This meeting’s focus areas will feel familiar: DNS Abuse, the Next Round implementation, and the WSIS (The World Summit on the Information Society)+20 process all dominate the agenda. 

The Road to the Next Round 

The Next Round of the New gTLD Program is the defining topic of ICANN84—and for good reason. Following the May 2025 publication of the draft Applicant Guidebook (AGB), public comment closed in July; the final AGB is on track for December 2025, maintaining the target for an April 2026 application window lasting 12–15 weeks.  

Key milestones expected around ICANN84 include: 

• Finalization of the Base Registry Agreement – out for public comment until 17 November. The new version introduces updated provisions on DNS Abuse mitigation and data-sharing obligations. 

• Registry Service Provider (RSP) Program results – a list of pre-approved technical back-end providers will be published in December, streamlining the application process for brands. 

• Applicant Support Program (ASP) – remains open until 19 November 2025, offering fee reductions and pro bono support to eligible applicants in underserved regions. 

For brand owners, these developments mark the first time ICANN has provided such a clear timeline and support structure since the 2012 round.  

For brands considering whether to apply for a dotBrand TLD in 2026, ICANN84 offers the clearest preview yet of what the process will look like: 

• Greater clarity on application requirements and evaluation timelines. 

• More defined contractual expectations around DNS Abuse, data accuracy, and Universal Acceptance. 

• Continued commitment to the predictability and transparency sought by brand applicants since 2012. 

With the next round less than six months away, now is the time for trademark owners to review the draft AGB, assess internal readiness, and begin considering string strategies and governance models. For more on whether you should consider applying for your own dotbrand, download our dotBrand strategy guide for the essentials on what to consider, how to budget, and how you could use it.  

Want to follow this issue at ICANN? Consider attending these sessions: 

• Subpro IRT (subsequent procedures implementation review team) Session 1 of 6:  The Subpro will be hosting 6 open community briefing sessions to further review the stages of the next round. 

• GAC (government advisory committee) discussion on new gTLD program next round: This session will be a discussion between government representatives on several topics about the next round of new gTLDs 

• Community Outreach and Next Round for dotBrands GNSO (generic names supporting organization) RYSG (Registry stakeholder group) BRG (brand registry group): This session will focus on community outreach, focusing on the next round for dotBrands 

DNS Abuse: Policy Development and Practical Action 

DNS Abuse remains a major priority for many within the ICANN community, with several sessions in Dublin exploring how contractual requirements will evolve before new TLDs are delegated. The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) is preparing a new Policy Development Process (PDP) to define practical, enforceable measures on DNS Abuse reporting and data sharing. At the same time, the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) continues to call for stronger compliance mechanisms. 

While these discussions are largely technical, the outcome will influence the contractual obligations for all new TLD operators, including dotBrands, particularly around monitoring, reporting, and demonstrating good-faith mitigation. 

Want to follow this issue at ICANN? Consider attending these sessions: 

• GNSO (Generic Name Supporting Organization) DNS Abuse Work session: This session will focus on beginning preparations for the anticipated PDP by discussing the three priority topics and gaining an initial understanding of the various goals and interests across the community. 

• Government Advisory Committee (GAC) discussion on DNS abuse mitigation: In this session, the GAC aims to discuss the advancement of ICANN policy work on DNS Abuse before further delegation of new gTLDs, and build the subject matter capacity of GAC Members on DNS Abuse. 

• Joint session of the GAC and GNSO: The focus of this session will be a conversation between the two groups on several pertinent topics, including DNS Abuse and Urgent Requests/Law Enforcement Authentication.  

WSIS+20: The Internet Governance Crossroads 

The WSIS+20 review process, a United Nations-led evaluation of 20 years of global Internet governance, will also feature prominently at ICANN84. The draft outcome document emphasizes preserving the multistakeholder model and strengthening the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).  

For trademark owners, this matters because it underpins ICANN’s ability to continue governing the DNS in an open, predictable way rather than under intergovernmental control. 

At ICANN84, expect: 

• A geopolitical plenary featuring UN co-facilitators from Kenya and Albania. 

• ccNSO and GNSO sessions on national digital sovereignty and the Global Digital Compact. 

• Continued focus on the Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism 

If you want to learn more about the recent WISIS + 20 developments, there was an excellent ICANN Prep week session on the topic; the recording is available here: ICANN Board Engagement Session. 

We’ll be on-site throughout the week, tracking sessions, engaging with policymakers, and meeting clients preparing for DOTBRAND applications.  

Follow our post-meeting recap for ICANN84 Outcomes and Insights, coming in November.