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Time:2026-08-17 16:11:09 Author: windy 
But that does not mean 1,600 new domain extensions are about to become available for registration.
The complete official application list has not yet been published, some strings may have competing applicants, and every application still needs to move through additional ICANN processes before an approved TLD can eventually launch.
The next major milestone is Reveal Day.
Quick Answer
Here is what domain buyers, brand owners and resellers need to know right now:
ICANN received more than 1,600 primary new gTLD applications.
More than 1,100 applications also included replacement strings.
The final application count is not yet confirmed because applicable evaluation fees must still be received.
ICANN expects Reveal Day no later than nine weeks after the August 12 application deadline, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Reveal Day will provide the first official disclosure of applications that passed the Administrative Check.
The proposed extensions are not available for public registration yet.
There is currently no single confirmed date when the new TLDs will become available to domain buyers.
Looking for a domain you can register today? The 2026 applications are not available yet, but you can explore new gTLDs already available at NiceNIC.
What Does "1,600+ Applications" Actually Mean?
ICANN announced on August 13 that it had received more than 1,600 primary applications during the 15-week application window.
More than 1,100 of those applications also included replacement strings.
An application in this context is very different from registering a normal domain name.
A company applying for a new gTLD is seeking the opportunity to operate an entire top-level namespace, such as a future extension comparable in structure to .com, .shop or .cloud.
The standard evaluation fee for a 2026 Round application is $227,000 per application, before any applicable conditional evaluation fees.
Submitting an application, however, does not guarantee that the proposed extension will eventually become part of the Domain Name System.
Why 1,600 Applications Will Not Mean 1,600 New TLDs
Several things can change the final number.
Multiple Applicants Can Apply for the Same String
Two or more applicants may apply for an identical proposed extension.
When eligible applications compete for the same string, they may be placed into a contention set.
Those applicants will then need to resolve the contention through the processes available under the New gTLD Program.
Some Applicants May Use Replacement Strings
The 2026 Round introduced a replacement-string mechanism.
Eligible applicants that included replacement strings in their applications may have an opportunity after Reveal Day to switch from their original string under ICANN's rules.
That is particularly important because more than 1,100 applications included replacement strings.
Applications Still Need to Pass Later Stages
Applications must continue through ICANN's evaluation process.
Some applications may also face objections, contention, additional evaluation requirements or withdrawal.
So the number of applications submitted in August 2026 should not be interpreted as the number of new extensions that will eventually launch.
2026 New gTLD Timeline: What Happens Next?
The next few months will make the picture much clearer.
| Stage | Current Status / Expected Timing |
|---|---|
| Application Window Closed | August 12, 2026 |
| ICANN Announced 1,600+ Applications | August 13, 2026 |
| Evaluation Fee Payment | Applicable deadlines continue after the application window |
| Administrative Check | Approximately 8 weeks |
| Reveal Day | Expected no later than 9 weeks after August 12, barring extraordinary circumstances |
| Replacement Period | Expected to run for 14 days after Reveal Day |
| String Confirmation Day | Currently planned for approximately November 2026 |
| Later Stages | Evaluation, objections, contention resolution, contracting, technical testing and delegation |
ICANN has said it expects to announce the specific Reveal Day date and later milestone dates in mid-September 2026.
What Is Reveal Day?
Reveal Day is the next event domain-industry participants should watch closely.
ICANN plans to publish information about applications that successfully pass the Administrative Check, including the public portions of the applications.
It will also publish initial contention information where multiple applicants have applied for identical strings.
This means Reveal Day should answer questions that cannot yet be answered from unofficial disclosures:
- What strings were actually submitted?
- Who applied for them?
- Which strings have multiple applicants?
- How many brand TLD applications are in the round?
- Which industries attracted the most applicants?
Eligible applicants may still use the Replacement Period after Reveal Day.
What Is String Confirmation Day?
After the Replacement Period, ICANN plans to publish the updated list of confirmed applied-for strings and updated contention sets.
This milestone is referred to as String Confirmation Day.
ICANN currently projects this for around November 2026.
For anyone trying to understand the future new gTLD landscape, the distinction matters:
Reveal Day provides the first official broad disclosure of the applications.
String Confirmation Day shows the updated picture after eligible replacement strings have been considered.
Can You Register These New TLDs Yet?
No. A proposed extension appearing in an application does not mean domains under that extension can already be registered.
For example, if a company publicly says it applied for a particular new TLD, that does not mean a user can immediately register:
mybrand.exampletld
The application still needs to progress through the New gTLD Program.
A simplified path looks like this:
Application → Administrative Check → Reveal Day → Replacement Period → String Confirmation → Evaluation → Objections / Contention Resolution → Contracting → Technical Testing → Delegation → Registry Launch
Even after a successful TLD is delegated, the registry operator still needs to establish its launch process and registration policies.
Only then can registrars eventually begin offering domains under that extension where applicable.
When Will the New TLDs Become Available?
There is currently no single confirmed public-registration date for the 2026 Round TLDs.
Different successful applicants may reach delegation and commercial launch at different times.
That means users should be cautious when they see websites or social-media posts suggesting that recently disclosed 2026 applications are already available for preorder or registration.
For now, the most important milestones to follow are:
Reveal Day
and
String Confirmation Day.
After those stages, the industry will have a much clearer view of which proposed extensions are moving forward and which face competition or other challenges.
What Should Domain Buyers Do Now?
There is no need to rush into unofficial preorders for extensions that have not yet been approved.
Instead, watch the official application data once Reveal Day arrives.
If you are interested in a particular proposed extension, look at:
- who applied for it;
- whether multiple applicants are competing for the string;
- whether it is intended to become an open public TLD;
- what registration restrictions may eventually apply;
- how the future registry plans to price and distribute domains.
Pricing, registrar distribution, renewal demand, premium-domain strategy and real end-user adoption will all matter.
What Should Brand Owners Watch?
Brand owners should pay particular attention to Reveal Day.
The official application list may include strings related to:
- company names;
- product names;
- industries;
- customer categories;
- commonly used commercial terms.
For a deeper explanation, see ICANN 2026 New gTLD Round: What Brand Owners Should Know.
What Should Domain Resellers and Hosting Providers Watch?
For resellers and hosting providers, the commercial opportunity comes later.
A new TLD may eventually need:
- registrar distribution;
- API integration;
- reseller channels;
- hosting-company distribution;
- customer education;
- regional-market reach.
As successful 2026 Round applicants move closer to launch, distribution will become an increasingly important part of the new gTLD story.
What to Watch Next
For now, three milestones matter most:
- Evaluation fee completion
- Reveal Day
- String Confirmation Day
String Confirmation Day should then provide the updated picture after eligible replacement strings are considered.
NiceNIC will continue tracking the 2026 New gTLD Round as ICANN publishes the official applications, contention information and later launch developments.
Until then, users can explore new gTLDs already available today or search currently available domains at NiceNIC.
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