ICANN Confirms 1,616 Applications for 2026 New gTLD Round as Fees Top $350 Million

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has officially confirmed the final numbers for its upcoming expansion of the internet’s naming system, marking a significant milestone in the 2026 round of the New Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program. According to the latest data released by the organization, a total of 1,616 applications have successfully moved forward into the next phase of processing. This confirmation follows a period of high anticipation within the domain name industry, as corporations, entrepreneurs, and community organizations vied for a spot in what is expected to be the most substantial diversification of the internet’s root zone in over a decade.

The scale of the 2026 round is reflected not only in the volume of applications but also in the staggering amount of capital involved. ICANN reported that it has collected more than $350 million in application fees. While the organization initially received a total of 1,663 applications during the submission window, the final number of proceeding applications was adjusted downward to 1,616 after accounting for those that were not paid for by the final deadline. With a standard application fee set at $227,000 per string, the financial commitment required to participate in this round remains a significant barrier to entry, intended to ensure that applicants possess the necessary resources to manage a critical piece of internet infrastructure.

The total revenue figure of over $350 million accounts for the complexities of the fee structure, including the impact of the Applicant Support Program. This program was specifically designed to provide financial assistance and fee reductions to qualifying applicants, such as non-profit organizations or entities from developing economies, who might otherwise be priced out of the process. Despite these discounts, the sheer volume of full-price applications from major global brands and domain speculators has driven the total collection to record levels. ICANN has noted that this total is not yet static; as the evaluation process begins, some companies may choose to withdraw their applications for various strategic or financial reasons, which would trigger partial refunds according to the program’s established schedule.

The industry is now looking toward October 14, a date ICANN has identified as the latest possible deadline for "Reveal Day." This is the pivotal moment when the public will finally learn which specific strings have been applied for and which entities are behind them. The timing of Reveal Day is particularly strategic, as it falls just before the scheduled ICANN meeting in Bali. By releasing the data in mid-October, ICANN is providing a window for applicants to digest the information and assess their competitive landscape before the global community gathers in Indonesia.