ICANN seeks expert panels for New gTLD evaluations ahead of 2026 round
Official responses to this RFI should be electronically submitted using ICANN’s sourcing tool by 23:59 UTC on 11 August 2025. Access to this tool may be requested via the same email address.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has issued a public request for information (RFI) to identify qualified providers capable of forming expert panels for evaluating String Similarity and Variant Justification in the context of its New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program. This effort comes in preparation for the next round of the program, scheduled to launch in April 2026.
The evaluations will play a crucial role in safeguarding the stability and trustworthiness of the Domain Name System (DNS). The RFI invites potential providers to share their methodologies, expertise, and views on possible challenges in conducting the two types of assessments. Interested parties may offer services for either one or both evaluation areas.
The String Similarity evaluation, part of the program’s String Evaluation phase, focuses on identifying applied-for gTLDs that may be visually confusingly similar to existing strings. This process helps minimise the risk of user confusion and protects the integrity of domain navigation.
The Variant Justification evaluation, scheduled during the Application and Applicant Evaluation phase, assesses whether an applicant has provided valid reasoning for requesting variant gTLDs. These variants are typically relevant in non-Latin scripts or script systems with visually or semantically related characters.
By combining both evaluation areas into a single RFI, ICANN aims to streamline vendor coordination and planning, enhancing consistency and efficiency in the overall evaluation process. Providers are encouraged to express their interest regardless of whether they specialise in one or both areas. All responses must be submitted by 23:59 UTC on 11 August 2025.
For civil society, the launch of this RFI carries significant implications. The evaluation mechanisms being developed directly influence which gTLDs are approved and how multilingual and culturally diverse domain names are represented. Robust, fair, and transparent assessments help ensure that internet users, especially those from linguistically diverse communities, can access online spaces in ways that reflect their identities, languages, and scripts. Civil society engagement and oversight in these technical processes are essential for preserving openness, inclusivity, and equity in the global internet ecosystem.
