New gTLD Program: Next Round: Difference between revisions

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On February 18, 2021, the GNSO Council approved all SubPro outputs that achieved "Full Consensus" or "Consensus" and transmitted them to the ICANN Board.<ref name="history-new-gtld" /> In 2023, the Board adopted ninety-eight of the recommendations and marked thirty-eight as pending while it consulted further with the GNSO and the GAC.<ref name="gac-next-round">[https://gac.icann.org/activity/new-gtld-program-next-round ICANN GAC: New gTLD Program Next Round] Retrieved December 1, 2025</ref> The Board also requested an implementation plan from ICANN org describing how a subsequent round could be operationalized.<ref name="impl-plan-2023">[https://newgtlds.icann.org/sites/default/files/new-gtld-next-round-implementation-plan-31jul23-en.pdf ICANN: The New gTLD Program Next Round Implementation Plan] Retrieved December 1, 2025</ref>

== Applicant Guidebook and ICANN Board Adoption ==

The Applicant Guidebook (AGB), or [[2026 Round Applicant Guidebook]], is the primary rulebook for the 2026 Round, setting out application requirements, evaluation and objection procedures, contention resolution, contracting steps, and the conditions for delegation and operation of new gTLDs.<ref name="agb" />

On November 3, 2025, ICANN announced that the Board adopted the AGB at [[ICANN 84]] and directed ICANN org to publish the AGB no later than 30 December 30, 2025 (with only insignificant changes while final consistency checks and alignment with Dispute Resolution Service Provider rules were completed).<ref name="board-agb-announcement">[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-board-adopts-next-round-applicant-guidebook-clears-path-to-2026-launch-03-11-2025-en ''ICANN Board Adopts Next Round Applicant Guidebook; Clears Path to 2026 Launch''], ICANN, published 3 November 2025, retrieved 30 January 2026.</ref> The final AGB (V1-2025.12.16) was published on 16 December 2025.<ref name="agb" /><ref name="year-progress">[https://www.icann.org/en/blogs/details/a-year-of-progress-on-the-path-to-opening-the-2026-round-of-new-gtlds-22-12-2025-en ''A Year of Progress on the Path to Opening the 2026 Round of New gTLDs''], ICANN Blog, published 22 December 2025, retrieved 30 January 2026.</ref>

== Policy Framework ==

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 On February 18, 2021, the GNSO Council approved all SubPro outputs that achieved "Full Consensus" or "Consensus" and transmitted them to the ICANN Board.<ref name="history-new-gtld" /> In 2023, the Board adopted ninety-eight of the recommendations and marked thirty-eight as pending while it consulted further with the GNSO and the GAC.<ref name="gac-next-round">[https://gac.icann.org/activity/new-gtld-program-next-round ICANN GAC: New gTLD Program Next Round] Retrieved December 1, 2025</ref> The Board also requested an implementation plan from ICANN org describing how a subsequent round could be operationalized.<ref name="impl-plan-2023">[https://newgtlds.icann.org/sites/default/files/new-gtld-next-round-implementation-plan-31jul23-en.pdf ICANN: The New gTLD Program Next Round Implementation Plan] Retrieved December 1, 2025</ref>
+== Applicant Guidebook and ICANN Board Adoption ==
+The Applicant Guidebook (AGB), or [[2026 Round Applicant Guidebook]], is the primary rulebook for the 2026 Round, setting out application requirements, evaluation and objection procedures, contention resolution, contracting steps, and the conditions for delegation and operation of new gTLDs.<ref name="agb" />
+On November 3, 2025, ICANN announced that the Board adopted the AGB at [[ICANN 84]] and directed ICANN org to publish the AGB no later than 30 December 30, 2025 (with only insignificant changes while final consistency checks and alignment with Dispute Resolution Service Provider rules were completed).<ref name="board-agb-announcement">[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-board-adopts-next-round-applicant-guidebook-clears-path-to-2026-launch-03-11-2025-en ''ICANN Board Adopts Next Round Applicant Guidebook; Clears Path to 2026 Launch''], ICANN, published 3 November 2025, retrieved 30 January 2026.</ref> The final AGB (V1-2025.12.16) was published on 16 December 2025.<ref name="agb" /><ref name="year-progress">[https://www.icann.org/en/blogs/details/a-year-of-progress-on-the-path-to-opening-the-2026-round-of-new-gtlds-22-12-2025-en ''A Year of Progress on the Path to Opening the 2026 Round of New gTLDs''], ICANN Blog, published 22 December 2025, retrieved 30 January 2026.</ref>
 == Policy Framework ==