ICANN reminds registry service providers of 12 August 2026 evaluation deadline

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has reminded prospective registry service providers that the current application window for the 2026 Round Registry Service Provider Evaluation Program will close on 12 August 2026 at 23:59 UTC.

Registry service providers, or RSPs, provide technical back-end services for generic top-level domain registries. These services can include Domain Name System operations, Registration Data Access Protocol services, and DNS Security Extensions.

A generic top-level domain is the final part of an internet address, such as .com, .org, or a newly proposed domain ending. Registry operators are responsible for managing these domain spaces. Some registries run their own technical services, while others use third-party RSPs.

Under ICANN’s New gTLD Program: 2026 Round, every applicant for a new generic top-level domain must name an RSP that has successfully completed ICANN’s evaluation process.

ICANN says the evaluation programme is intended to streamline the application process. It separates the review of the technical capacity needed to run a registry from the review of the proposed domain string itself.

RSPs need to qualify only once, even if they plan to support multiple gTLD applicants. This means an evaluated provider can be named by more than one applicant during the round.

The first RSP evaluation period ran from 19 November 2024 to 20 May 2025. A second application window has been open in parallel with the New gTLD Program application period.

ICANN said additional information, including applicant statistics, the RSP Handbook, portal access instructions, application guidelines, and the list of evaluated providers, is available through its RSP programme pages.

The deadline for prospective RSPs to apply for evaluation is 12 August 2026.