Applications down slightly from 2012 round.
ICANN announced today that it received 1,600 applications for top-level domain (TLD) names by the application deadline yesterday. That total represents a decline of roughly 17% compared with the 2012 expansion round, reflecting a smaller but still significant level of interest from brands, registry operators, and other parties seeking to operate new generic top-level domains.
Of those 1,600 filings, approximately 1,100 include one or more replacement strings. Replacement strings are alternate TLD choices that applicants designate in case their primary string becomes unavailable or is otherwise unacceptable under program rules. Including replacement strings allows applicants to preserve an opportunity to participate in the program even if they must change course during review or contention resolution.
ICANN emphasized that the publicly announced count is preliminary. The final number of active applications will not be confirmed until after the payment deadline, which falls in about a week. Until that deadline passes and fees are received, some applicants may choose to withdraw, and others may fail to complete payment for various reasons.
If every applicant completes the required payment, the application round would bring an estimated $360 million in application fees to ICANN. That sum is intended to cover the cost of evaluation, dispute resolution, and program administration. ICANN also notes that a portion of those funds may be refunded later — for example, when applicants formally withdraw or when fees are returned after contention sets are resolved and applicants relinquish duplicate or competing claims.
ICANN plans to set and announce the date for “Reveal Day” in mid-September. Reveal Day is when the organization publicly posts the full list of submitted applications and related details. According to ICANN, barring extraordinary circumstances, Reveal Day should occur no later than nine weeks after the application deadline. That timeline gives stakeholders and the public a predictable window for when the application roster will become visible.
A Reveal Day in mid-October would coincide interestingly with ICANN’s Annual General Meeting in Bali later that month. On Reveal Day, ICANN’s publication of applications triggers a period during which applicants are restricted from negotiating or coordinating with one another to form partnerships or settle contention sets prior to prescribed processes. That restriction is intended to preserve fairness and avoid premature agreements that could circumvent formal contention-resolution procedures. Practically, the restriction means some applicants may need to refrain from discussing potential collaboration during conference social events.
Between the payment deadline and Reveal Day, applicants and observers will be watching for several possible developments. Some applicants may withdraw voluntarily if they decide not to pursue their chosen string, face financing constraints, or reassess their commercial plans. Others may remain in contention groups that will later require community objections, string contention resolution, or auctions if multiple parties seek the same TLD. The presence of replacement strings in many applications adds another layer of flexibility, allowing applicants to pivot if needed while maintaining participation in the program.
Overall, this application round shows continued demand for new namespace options, though at a reduced level compared with the earlier expansion. The next few weeks — the payment window and the upcoming Reveal Day announcement — will clarify how many applications remain active and how contention patterns will shape the evaluation and resolution phases. Stakeholders should monitor ICANN’s official communications for the confirmed application list and for any updates to timelines or procedures.