How many new gTLD applications will there be in the Next Round?
A frequently asked question at ICANN meetings—especially as we approach the 2026 application phase—is: how many unique string applications will be submitted in the New gTLD Program: Next Round?
Beyond simply speculating on a number, let’s take an analytical approach. Our methodology considers two key types of factors: lessons from the past (2012 Round) and changes since then including industry shifts, technological innovation, regulatory updates and market demand.
For context, 2012 saw a total of 1,490 unique gTLD string applications. There are various factors that could lead to either an increase or a decrease in applications for the next round.
Factors that would result in seeing an increased number of applications in the Next Round:
- FOMO: it’s been a while since the 2012 Round, so applicants may seize this fleeting opportunity for fear of their next opportunity being far in the distant future.
- IDNs: with a push for Universal Acceptance, many geoTLDs and brands may opt for IDNs (outside of ASCII characters).
- Web3: many companies have already publicly announced their plans for strings that will connect Web3 (crypto) domains to Web2 (DNS). This wasn’t on anyone’s radar in 2012. However, based on what we’ve seen, this could contribute to hundreds of new gTLDs applications.
- Security and brand protection: with the never-ending rise of cybercrime and bad internet actors, one solution is for official TLDs to be used by companies, brands, organizations and governments. For example, a bank could apply for a string, increasing people’s trust that when they visit a domain with that TLD, they’re visiting a legitimate website.
- New brands: there are numerous brands and companies that didn’t exist in 2012 and this is their first chance to get a unique TLD.
- Process improvements and experiences: learnings from 2012, like the application process being refined, may make it simpler for applicants in the Next Round. Applicants from the 2012 Round may be back for more (if they were not scared away entirely). We can expect at least a few applicants to return for multiple strings, relying on their previous application experience and bringing years of registry management expertise and learnings to inform their business plans.
Factors that would result in seeing fewer applications in the Next Round:
- Price: the application fee will be over $200,000 USD per string, whereas the fee in 2012 was $185,000 USD. That’s a serious financial commitment that not everyone can make.
- Utility: domains could arguably be less relevant in an internet ecosystem where people don't just rely on websites for information. With the rise of selling products and sharing content on social media, less people may see the need for a domain name and website.
- Precedence: this isn’t the first rodeo, so now we’re able to see that not every string was a glamourous success. People’s expectations of some TLDs were overblown and knowing that not every TLD was a lucrative business opportunity or worth the effort of applying may deter some people.
- Saturation: if we think of TLDs as online real estate, many of the most desirable combinations of letters may already be taken. The number of available, viable strings—those that are short, meaningful and marketable—are now more limited compared to 2012.
Our grand total guess
We’re estimating that the Next Round will see 1,200 unique string applications. We won’t keep you on the edge of your seat though—we’ll loop back to this blog in 2026 to see if our prediction was right.
Has anything else changed since the 2012 Round?
CIRA has grown its registry services beyond running .CA for Canada. We’re now back-end providers for other ccTLDs including .ie (Ireland) and .nz (New Zealand), as well as gTLDs (such as .eco and .kiwi).
In other big news, we’ve partnered with .nl (SIDN) to create the next generation of the CIRA Registry Platform: Hello Registry. The unique partnership between two of the world’s leading ccTLDs solidifies the registry platform as among the best in the industry. CIRA and SIDN are similar organizations in many ways with complementary values, priorities and objectives.
By bundling expertise, development capacity and investment power, we’re advancing and solidifying the platform’s position as an industry leader for years to come.
Curious about the possibilities of Hello Registry? Come say hello and see how easy it is to manage your TLD with our unique features.