The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), responsible for the allocation of top-level domains (TLDs), first launched a major application round for custom domain extensions back in 2012. Now, the opportunity is coming around again: a new round for applying for your own TLD is expected to begin next year.

Back in 2012, over 1,900 applications were submitted for new TLDs. However, not all were successfully delegated by ICANN. Today, including established TLDs like .de, .fr, and others, there are around 1,580 domain extensions in existence. Several TLDs, such as .amazon, received multiple competing applications, and in some cases, resolution took years. In other cases, applicants withdrew their requests during the process for various reasons. Even after delegation, some contracts with ICANN were terminated by the applicants themselves – often due to a lack of economic viability.

For months, it has been clear that a second application round will take place, offering the chance to apply for a custom TLD. ICANN has now confirmed that the application window will open in Q2 of 2026. This gives potential applicants nearly 12 months to prepare – but preparation is both complex and costly.

Submitting an application requires an initial fee of over €200,000. In addition, there are ongoing operational costs for running the TLD. ICANN itself charges almost €23,000 annually, not including expenses for consulting services, technical operation, and compiling the application materials.

As mentioned, some businesses who were initially granted a TLD have since terminated their contracts with ICANN and dropped their domain extensions. We therefore strongly recommend that anyone interested carefully weigh the benefits of owning a custom TLD against the financial and organizational demands of the application process.

We’re excited to see what new domain extensions will emerge from the upcoming round – and we’ll continue to provide updates here. If you would like more information on this topic or need support with your domain portfolio, feel free to reach out to us anytime at info@123domain.eu or by phone at 0049 (0) 231/58698-123 during our business hours.

Sources: Own research, icann.org