FAQs for the upcoming ICANN 2026 application round
(Part 1): what to know before getting started

Do existing .com, .net, .org, or other domain names need to be abandoned or replaced?

No, obtaining a dotBrand top-level domain does not require you to abandon your existing domain names. Rather, it complements and structures your protection strategy while providing an effective response to future Internet developments that organisations may encounter.

In practice, you can keep your existing .com or .fr domain names to protect your brand, maintain your reputation and ensure business continuity for your users. These domain names can continue to serve as entry points to your websites or redirect to new dotBrand addresses as your digital ecosystem evolves.

This gradual approach lets you build on your existing strengths (SEO, usage and visibility) while deploying your dotBrand without disrupting your existing system.

Deploying your dotBrand and taking a defensive position are complementary—not competing—approaches.

Where can I find the full list of existing TLDs?

There are nearly 1,600 currently active TLDs. More than 1,200 TLDs were created during the 2012 round, including 500 brand TLDs.

These TLDs encompass:

• countries (.fr, .de, .es, ai, .tv, etc.),
• cities and regions (.paris, .london, .berlin, .nyc, .bzh, .corsica, .eus, etc.),
• generic terms (.cars, .moto, .photo, .blue, etc.),
• professions, business sectors and communities
  (.dentist, .bank, .realestate, .insurance, .catholic, .museum, etc.) and
• brands (.leclerc, .bnpparibas, .sncf, .canon, .aws, .orange, etc.).

Public registries published by ICANN (https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db) can help you identify TLDs that are already in use, as well as their allocated category.

If you want to apply for your own TLD, we recommend first verifying that the name (string) you want is available. This step is critical for assessing the opportunities available.

How much does an application cost?

The fee to apply for your own dotBrand TLD is $227,500. This amount, set by ICANN, is based on the 2012 fee and adjusted for average global inflation.

We recommend budgeting for a total of €300,000 for the first year (2026), including the application fee and related support costs.

The recurring annual costs for operating the TLD range from around €50,000 to €80,000 per year. These costs include ICANN’s annual fee ($25,650), plus any fees associated with the back-end operator, registrar and the registry’s data escrow provider.

How many characters can a Top-Level Domain contain?

The rules defined by ICANN establish the permitted length of a TLD.

A TLD must comply with the following limits:

• Minimum: 3 characters.
• Maximum: 63 characters.

These characters must consist of alphabetic letters (a–z). Numerals and special characters (such as hyphens) are not allowed.

Organisations considering a dotBrand TLD must demonstrate that they are the trademark owner, as recorded in ICANN’s Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) database. In practice, applicant brands almost always choose their exact brand name, but they may request up to four alternative strings to mitigate the risk of contention between multiple applications.

Can a third party apply for a TLD on behalf of another brand or for its own brand that may be similar to another TLD?

Any global organisation can apply to ICANN’s proposed programme, even if the requested string matches an existing or similar brand name.

An organisation that is unable to produce a valid trademark certificate may still apply with the intention of operating the requested TLD on an open, unrestricted basis, as long as it does not clearly infringe trademark rights or result in a successful objection.

Planning ahead for an application is thus the best form of protection, especially if your brand name is a common or generic term (e.g. .orange) or if other known organisations share the same name as yours (homonymous names).

What happens if more than one application requests the same character string?

Proof of trademark ownership at the time of application is required solely to justify a single-registrant model, by which the brand exclusively operates the domain names associated with the dotBrand. It does not prevent other organisations from applying.

If multiple applicants submit applications to ICANN for the same TLD, a resolution procedure is established, beginning with the ability for applicants to amend their requested string and ending with a private auction to determine legitimacy.

Rights holders may also demonstrate their trademark rights. However, it is highly unlikely that another legitimate application will be withdrawn.

What happens if a company does not apply during the application window?

If an organisation does not apply during the short round opened by ICANN, it will have to wait for a possible new application round to request its dotBrand.

In the meantime, there is a risk that a third party with rights to a similar or identical name may claim it.

It should be noted that no future application phase dates have been announced, and that the previous round was held in 2012. Under ICANN’s multi-stakeholder operating model, the next application round may not take place for another 10-15 years.

Some strategic TLDs may already have been allocated by then.

Ultimately, the decision often comes down to planning ahead versus waiting in the unknown.

Are applications limited to large companies?

It’s true that dotBrand TLDs are primarily sought after by organisations with a strong brand and international presence, as the venture requires a significant investment and structured approach.

However, company size is not a requirement (see our article “SMEs: don’t deprive yourselves of the opportunity of a dot brand”). Theoretically, any organisation holding trademark rights may submit an application.

Can it be profitable to operate a dotBrand?

Profitability mainly depends on the strategic use of the TLD.

For organisations that use domain names extensively under their dotBrand, it can reduce the need for a large number of defensively registered domain names and simplify their domain name management.

The benefits are frequently indirect, including increased security, less reliance on intermediaries, a stronger brand image and more control over the digital ecosystem.

A dotBrand should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as a medium-term strategic digital asset and not a simple technical cost.

To learn more, we have published a comprehensive article on the ROI of the dotBrand: “Return on investment of a brand TLD, a strategic asset that is often undervalued”.