ICANN launches webinar series for potential applicants to the 2026 New gTLD round
ICANN will host two informational webinars in January 2026 to support prospective applicants and community members ahead of the opening of the 2026 New gTLD Program.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced a two-part webinar series to support potential applicants and interested stakeholders ahead of the launch of the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: 2026 Round. Both webinars will take place in January 2026, will be recorded, and will include dedicated time for questions and answers.
The sessions are designed to provide a foundation in the New gTLD Program and are open to prospective applicants, ICANN community members, and other interested parties.
The first webinar, Introduction to the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round, will take place on 20 January at 08:00 Coordinated Universal Time. This 60-minute session is designed for participants new to the domain name industry or the New gTLD Program. It will cover the basics of generic top-level domains, the structure of the programme, how applications are processed, and the purpose of each evaluation stage.
The second webinar, 2026 Round New gTLD Applicant Journey Overview, is scheduled for 27 January at 16:00 Coordinated Universal Time. This 90-minute session will provide an end-to-end overview of the application process, outlining key stages, milestones, and requirements. It will also explain the roles of different groups involved throughout the application lifecycle, offering additional context for both applicants and community participants.
In parallel with the webinar series, ICANN has published a range of preparatory resources to support engagement with the 2026 Round. These include frequently asked questions, topic overviews, and other reference materials, all of which are available on the New gTLD Program website.
