---
title: "What Is New gTLD Program? Domain Glossary | Grit Brokerage"
description: "The New gTLD Program is ICANN's process for creating new top-level domains. The 2026 round took applications from April 30 to August 12, 2026. ICANN..."
url: https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/new-gtld-program
publisher: Grit Brokerage
contact: https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/contact
offer: https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/inquiry
---

Industry and events

# New gTLD Program

The New gTLD Program is ICANN's process for creating new top-level domains. The 2026 round took applications from April 30 to August 12, 2026. ICANN revealed 1,615 applications on October 7, 2026.

## Why it matters

New extensions do not make .com less valuable overnight, but they bring new options and new risks for brands. Some applicants are brands, cities or communities. Next steps include a replacement period, string confirmation on November 17, 2026 and an objections period through March 2027. New extensions will take years to launch. A common mistake is buying names in a new extension before it exists. Watch contention sets and sunrise dates.

Source: [icann.org](https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-reveals-2026-round-applications-for-new-generic-top-level-domains-07-10-2026-en)

[Read nextThe State of the Domain Industry](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/post/the-state-of-the-domain-industry)

## Where we use this term

-   [ICANN's 2026 gTLD Round: What 1,615 Applications Mean](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/post/icann-2026-new-gtld-round-what-it-means)

## Buying or selling a domain?

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