Telegram applies for .GRAM

Telegram has applied for the .gram domain zone.

If the application is approved by ICANN, a billion Telegram users could get their own second-level domains — yourname.gram.

Users would be able to set up their interactive websites hosted by Telegram — with one prompt ✨

— Pavel Durov (@durov) August 18, 2026

Applicant for the .SUI new gTLD

Today, Sui Naming Limited submitted its application for the .sui Top-Level Domain.

We’re working with Doma, D3, and other industry partners to bring the Domain Name System (DNS) to SuiNS, connecting Sui names with the global naming system behind .com, .net, and .org.

This is a…

— Sui Name Service (SuiNS) (@SuiNSdapp) August 17, 2026

Round 3 new gTLD applications and the AI

Claude (the AI) was asked to prepare a business plan and financial model for the .BHANGRA (for Bhangra music community), and .LATTE (the coffee drink) new gTLDs.

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On .WEB : Cast your Vote.

Will the .WEB new gTLD register 1 million or more domains on the first day of General Availability?

You need to be signed in to vote on LinkedIn.

Struggling to find the right strings?

As the TAMS application submission deadline approaches, many applicants are putting the final touches on their bids, while others are still gathering intelligence in an effort to avoid direct competition. A few observations come to mind:

• Applicants increasingly rely on external tools and market intelligence services to assess whether others may be pursuing the same string.
• The first application round in 2012 attracted 1,930 new gTLD applications. My expectation is that the 2026 round will exceed that number, including a significant volume of .BRAND applications.
• Identity Digital, the largest new gTLD applicant, operates 270 new gTLDs and manages a portfolio of 470 TLDs. Following its funding announcement in December 2025, it would not be surprising to see the company expand its ambitions in the upcoming round.
• GoDaddy is another player that could increase its application activity.
• Unstoppable Domains kept announcing lots of strings too.
• SuperNova200 has publicly stated its intention to submit 200 applications.
• Internet.best announced a list of 10 strings.
• Anyone using AI to generate lists of promising strings should remember that they are unlikely to be the only ones taking that approach. If an idea seems obvious to an AI, it is probably obvious to many other applicants as well.
• As in the 2012 round, new entrants with substantial financial resources could emerge and compete aggressively for attractive strings.

The bottom line: AI can be a valuable tool for brainstorming and research, but it may not be the best companion when it comes to identifying truly unique and uncontested strings. In a crowded and increasingly sophisticated market, originality, market insight, and strategic thinking may prove far more valuable than AI-generated suggestions alone.

From 12 of August to Reveal Day = 9 weeks

When the window closes to submit new gTLD applications close(s) in August the 12, this can be a good moment to start your communication on your project.

Isn't it the perfect moment to announce the rest of the world that you are submitting an application to operate the .FLAMINGO Top-Level Domain?

August 12, 2026 is probably going to be one of these marvelous and exciting moment to watch all new gTLD initiatives website pop-up online.

A good place to inform the entire industry and other potential applicants will be the "ICANN New gTLDs & .BRANDs" group on LinkedIn.

You are welcome to join the 3,000 subscribers and post about your project mid-august.

ICANN published the official 2026 Round Applicant Guidebook

It took the ICANN more than a decade and, here we are, the new 2026 version of the new gTLD Applicant Guidebook was just published.

Expect more changes but this "Bible" is basically what all new gTLD service providers have been following the development of for the past few years.

For newcomers to the program willing to create their own domain name extension, I suggest to start page 21 with the "Module 1 The Applicant Journey".

Existing scammers digging for information and requesting details - and I am sorry to underline that they are present right now (Consultants: be careful and come share your experience with me as I have identified a major one) - I suggest the reading of "1.1.5 Good Faith Intent" (page 22). 

Download the latest version of the "AGB" here.

New gTLD Innovation in 2026, a €4M annual income in 5 years

Project "John Wolley"

The Universal Directory

Project John Wolley is a concept of universal yellow pages based on the use of a single .BRAND domain name extension where each domain name is a city or a village's name.

White and Yellow Pages exist in most countries but no directory exists

for the entire world. Project “John Wolley” offers to use one single

domain name extension to operate one global directory. Each city

name becomes a domain name and each domain name is one

local directory.

Download the pitch

The AI answered these "new gTLD" questions

We recently asked an Artificial Intelligence a few questions about the next round of new gTLDs:
Can I sell domain names ending in my ".brand" through the network of ICANN accredited Registrars?

• Why should investment funds invest in new gTLDs in 2026?
• Are new gTLDs monopolies?
• What is ICANN 84?
• Why are community and geographic new gTLD applications more expensive?
• I want to fund a new generic Top-Level Domain at the ICANN but which one?
• How many people are needed to run an ICANN new gTLD Registry?
• Where are listed all upcoming new gTLD projects?
• What does the latest ICANN 84 GAC communiqué says about the next new gTLD round2 in 2026?
• Are 4 months enough to decide to submit a new gTLD application in the next ICANN new gTLD round?
• Can you apply for an ICANN new gTLD with a budget of 800,000€?
• ICANN Round 2 of new gTLDs: is it mandatory to deposit data of a Registry with an escrow agent
• As a generic new gTLD Registry, how much should I sell my domain names to the network of accredited Registrars?

We asked the AI a lot more questions!

New gTLD auctions: "Reminder"

This is what applicants paid in the first Round of new gTLDs to fight for their string in ICANN auctions:

1. .WEBS : $1
2. .WEB : $135,000,000
3. .SHOP : $41,501,000
4. .HOTELS : $2,200,000
5. .SRL : $400,000
6. .PING : $1,501,000
7. .APP : $25,001,000
8. .MLS : $3,359,000
9. .BABY : $3,088,888
10. .DOT : $700,000
11. .SALON : $5,100,575
12. .REALTY : $5,588,888
13. .SPOT : $2,200,000
14. .BUY : $4,588,888
15. .VIP : $3,000,888
16. .TECH : $6,760,000
17. .信息 : $600,000

To learn more about how TLDs are going to be auctioned in the next round, see "4.6 ICANN New gTLD Auction" from the existing draft of the next new gTLD applicant guidebook (page 153).

The new gTLD Directory "has" launched

A Directory for Applicants and Providers

The Directory is a free tool for applicants in the 2026 ICANN new gTLD Program, looking for a service provider with the capacity and experience to guide them through the process of submitting their application to the ICANN in 2026...and after.

Registration is free, please join: www.gtld.directory

Why a .META new gTLD makes sense

We asked Gemini (an AI) the question, and as expected, it lacks ideas and imagination.

The META new gTLD could be a .BRAND or a .COMMUNITY application but we, at Jovenet Consulting, think there is a strategic move to make for Mark Zuckerberg in 2026.

Strategy and numbers

Many .BRAND applicants want their domain name extension to protect their assets and sometimes do nothing with it, or create a few personalized domain names to introduce themselves a better way.

With more than 3 billion users*, Facebook Meta has an opportunity to create something that is terribly missing on Internet: domain names without spam (phishing, etc...). Many existing operators have been trying to secure domains and emails for decades with fantastic technical tools such as SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI...but let's be honest : things are doing better but we still receive spam and all sort of phishing emails of all kind. I personally find homographic attacks interesting ones.

Certified Email

If "meta" is a sign short enough to be acceptable at the end of an email, it is the Facebook platform that could become the next gMail with a new way to guarantee that all incoming emails are spam free.

If existing methods to block spam do not work entirely, operating the largest social media platform is an opportunity to start from scratch and do three things:

1. Create a new email tool that blocks spam: the blockchain allows that. A new way to block spam is not only technical, it is about policy, technic and "rules to respect or you are kicked out". I personally don't need to send more than 5 emails per day.
2. Keep users in your platform.
3. Increase brand awareness: all emails end in ".meta".

If the platform guarantees it blocks spams for Facebook users (and for free), then companies pay for extra services. I receive so much spam from Indian design companies offering me seo services and webdesign that I would probably use a new personal email ending in ".meta".

* https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/

What I thing generic strings should offer in Round2

Registries offering generic strings (like ".club" or ".consulting" for example) can be difficult to launch because domain names are created leaving their user with the "what do I do now with my domain name?" question.

Most of the time, this question has been answered prior to buying but it means creating a website or an email and the answer to the question: "now I have to do it" remains.

"Now I have to do it"

Some platforms such as Linktree can be the answer to that question.

In the past, we've seen a Registry, the .TEL Registry, who offered its Registrants (the owners of the domain name) to set up some sort of Directory : the registered domain name was set up on specific DNS which lead to a platform the Registrant could set-up to point to links, phone numbers, ads...

The alternative to change DNS to preferred ones was possible but came second. This initiative then failed and .TEL domain names returned to be registered just like all others and benefiting from the Registrar's options.

I believe niche TLDs, who want to offer that little "something more", should return to creating their dedicated platform so their buyers don't have to end with the "Now I have to do it" question right after registering their new domain name.

Reminder: the .TEL registry was launched in...2007, the next Round of new gTLDs is launching in 2026. I am confident there's a lot more to invent for upcoming niche TLDs to be ready when the next Round begins. Idea here.

Want to offer something more than just domain names in 2026? Jovenet Consulting will build your innovative project.

More new gTLD questions asked to the AI

These are the latest questions we asked an AI:

1. 2026 new gTLD applications: what is the name collision risk mitigation?
2. New gTLD applications: what are the PICS?
3. New gTLDs: when creating a new Registry, do you need sales roles?
4. Whose role is it to prospect, at a new gTLD Registry, to generate interest in Premium domain names?
5. What is the Escrow fee when submitted a new gTLD application to the ICANN?
6. Can you submit a new gTLD project to Google Registry?
7. Can you submit a new gTLD project to Amazon Registry?
8. What is the IBDNS?
9. What are IDNs generic Top-level domains?
10. Why new gTLD registry providers don't publish their offer(s) yet?
11. On LinkedIn, there is a group named "New gTLDs & .BRANDs" : what is it about?
12. New gTLDs: what about the FBI screening when submitting an application to the ICANN?
13. New gTLDs: why go to ICANN 83 in Prague?
14. Do I buy my new domain name extension at the ICANN?
15. What is a dotBrand new gTLD?

Follow our questions on www.gtld.blog.

The .MUSIC OECD Program

Latest new gTLD questions asked to an AI

Below it the list of questions related to the upcoming round of the ICANN new gTLD program that we have asked an Artificial Intelligence. Many returned very well-structured answers with very true contents. I noticed that the work returned by ICANN working groups for the next ICANN new gTLD round to take place in 2026 is present in most answers and pretty accurate.

List of questions asked:

1. What are the risks when submitting a new gTLD application to the ICANN?
2. What is Jovenet Consulting offering?
3. Can you list 10 ICANN new gTLD Consultants?
4. Who should I ask to create a new domain name extension: to an accredited Registrar or directly to a backend Registry provider?
5. Can you list 10 existing backend registry providers to use for the next round of the ICANN new gTLD program?
6. How much does it cost to contest a new gTLD application in the 2026 ICANN new gTLD program?
7. What happens if two applicants apply for the same string in the next round of the ICANN new gTLD program?
8. Does the $25,000 ICANN annual fee remains for dotBrand applicants in the 2026 round of New gTLDs?
9. Are there extensions prohibited from being registered in the ICANN new gTLD program?
10. How much does it cost to create a new domain name extension?
11. Why should Trademarks consider applying for a dotBrand new generic Top-Level Domain?
12. New gTLDs: what is a mandatory backend registry provider?
13. How is the INTA important in the ICANN new gTLD program?
14. Will there be a .SEO new gTLD application submitted in the 2026 ICANN new gTLD round?
15. List five mandatory backend registry providers for the ICANN new gTLD program
16. What is the ICANN ASP program?
17. Where are listed the existing new generic Top-Level Domains from the previous round of the ICANN new gTLD program?
18. Which budget to create a new generic Top-Level Domain with the ICANN?
19. How many questions are there to submit a new gTLD application to the ICANN?
20. How long does it take the ICANN to validate a new gTLD application?
21. How old must a Trademark be to be submitted as a dotBrand type of application in the 2026 round of the ICANN new gTLD program?
22. What is the Trademark Clearinghouse in the ICANN new gTLD program?
23. What is a new gTLD backend registry provider?
24. How many domain names the owner of a new Registry should sell to be profitable?
25. What is a new generic Top-Level Domain?
26. What is a second level domain?
27. What is a ccTLD?
28. What is a domain name?

You can find all answers by checking The gTLD Blog. We question the AI frequently.

Public Comment Upcoming Proceedings

Next Round Base gTLD Registry Agreement : estimated time frame is June 2025.

Extracted from source: "As part of the New gTLD Program: Next Round, ICANN is preparing the Next Round Base gTLD Registry Agreement (Next Round RA). Approved applicants will be expected to execute the Next Round RA in order to become a registry operator and operate a gTLD. ICANN is opening its first Public Comment proceeding on the draft Next Round RA and encourages early engagement from the community".

Learn more.

How old should your Trademark be for Round2 ?

It is a question we've asked the AI :

How old must a Trademark be to be submitted as a dotBrand type of application in the 2026 round of the ICANN new gTLD program?

Read its answer.

New gTLDs : did you ask the AI ?

Something very unattractive about the ICANN new gTLD program is that you have to search for common basic questions like: "how do I proceed to create my domain name extension?", "who do I talk to?", "how much doe it cost?", etc.

You will notice that absolutely no service provider will show any price on their website.

There are several reasons for this : an easy one is: "the ICANN new gTLD applicant guidebook has not yet been published, so we can't give you a price".

With my experience learnt from the first Round of the ICANN new gTLD program in 2012 a price is difficult to produce because no one can tell what is going to happen.

Once applications were submitted in 2012, I also read invoices increased by ten times compared to what some other applicants had paid ! Some projects could absolutely not be profitable for this reason and some filed.

Today, the AI starts to offer good answers about what one must do or pay. Legal and Financial questions are important too and the AI starts to be a very good tool to help in the application process. We answer many of these questions on www.gtld.blog, the AI will answer - and publish - your answers too if you want to send them to us.

New gTLDs in Domain Reputation Update Oct 2024 - Mar 2025

This is a report from Spamhaus with a focus on Domain Reputation. Since we focus on new gTLDs "only", there a re a few things in this report that caught my attention:

• Slide three : .TOP continues to be plagued by abuse.
• Slide four on .XIN new gTLD : this TLD also appears later in the report in relation to abuse where cybercriminals are using hyphenated domains.
• Slide 6 : some TLDs are typically known for being low cost, with some promotions offering domains for as little as $1.
• Slide 7 : the Top 20 TLDs used in new domains.
• Slide 8 : The Top 20 gTLDs by % of zone file that are new domains.
• Slide 10 : Trending terms in new domains.
• Slide 12 : Eight out of the top 20 gTLDs by percentage of zone file belong to one registry:
• .town
• .pizza
• .pictures
• .loans
• .academy
• .plus
• .gold
• .legal

Read the 22 pages report here.