New TLD Launches 2025-2026: Complete Guide to Upcoming Domain Extensions

Quick Answer

Table of Contents

The New TLD Landscape: 2025-2026 Overview

The domain industry is entering one of its most significant periods since the original 2012 new gTLD expansion. Two parallel developments are reshaping the landscape:

2025: New Extensions Continue Launching

Throughout 2025, several new TLDs are entering the market, offering fresh opportunities for domain registration:

• Early 2025: .crypto, .art extensions gain traction
• Mid-2025: .fast enters Sunrise and Trademark Claim periods
• Q4 2025: .yun Landrush window opens
• Late 2025: .talk trademark windows open

2026: ICANN Reopens the Door

After more than a decade, ICANN is reopening applications for entirely new top-level domains:

• April 30, 2026: Application window opens
• August 12, 2026: Application window closes (approximately 12-15 weeks)
• 2026-2028: Evaluation and delegation process

This represents the first opportunity since 2012 for organizations to apply for their own custom domain extensions. The previous round received nearly 2,000 applications and resulted in over 1,200 new gTLDs becoming available.

Why This Matters

For businesses:

• New branding opportunities with industry-specific TLDs
• .Brand domains become possible again ($227,000 application fee)
• Defensive registration opportunities

For investors:

• Early access to premium domain names
• New extension launches historically create investment windows
• Growing market (17.4% year-over-year growth)

For everyone:

• More domain availability
• Industry-specific extensions for clearer web identity
• Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) expanding to 300+ languages

New Extensions Launching in 2025

Several new TLDs are launching or gaining significant traction in 2025:

.free

Launch Status: Early 2025 Purpose: E-commerce campaigns, freemium offers, promotional content

Best Use Cases:

• Free trial landing pages
• Freemium product marketing
• Sample and giveaway campaigns
• Promotional microsites

Example domains: trial.free, demo.free, sample.free

Investment Consideration: Highly commercial nature makes strong generic terms valuable. Words like "download," "trial," "sample" could command premiums.

.yun

Launch Status: Q4 2025 Landrush window Purpose: Cloud computing (yun means "cloud" in Chinese)

Best Use Cases:

• Cloud service providers
• SaaS platforms
• Chinese tech companies
• International cloud businesses

Investment Consideration: Strong appeal in Chinese-speaking markets. Early Landrush bidders can secure premium names before GA pricing.

.fast

Launch Status: Mid-2025 (Sunrise and Trademark Claim periods) Purpose: Speed-focused brands, logistics, performance

Best Use Cases:

• Delivery and logistics platforms
• CDN services
• Performance-focused applications
• Speed-branded products

Example domains: ship.fast, load.fast, delivery.fast

Investment Consideration: Strong commercial appeal for logistics and tech sectors. Messaging around speed is universally valuable.

.talk

Launch Status: Late 2025 (trademark windows opening) Purpose: Communication, community, audio content

Best Use Cases:

• Podcasts
• Forums and community platforms
• Chat applications
• Customer support portals
• Conference and webinar platforms

Example domains: podcast.talk, community.talk, support.talk

Investment Consideration: Growing podcast and communication market makes this extension relevant. Community-focused domains could see strong demand.

.crypto

Launch Status: January 2025 Purpose: Cryptocurrency, blockchain, Web3

Best Use Cases:

• Cryptocurrency platforms
• Fintech startups
• Blockchain applications
• Web3 projects

Investment Consideration: Volatile crypto market affects demand. Strong during bull markets; weaker during downturns. Consider timing carefully.

.art

Launch Status: February 2025 (expanded availability) Purpose: Artists, galleries, creative communities

Best Use Cases:

• Individual artists
• Art galleries
• NFT marketplaces
• Creative collectives

Investment Consideration: Established extension with proven adoption. Focus on brandable terms and artist-relevant keywords.

Other Notable 2025 Extensions

ICANN's 2026 Application Round: A Historic Opportunity

The ICANN Board adopted the Applicant Guidebook on November 3, 2025, at the ICANN84 Annual General Meeting in Dublin, clearing the path for the most significant domain expansion since 2012.

Key Dates and Timeline

Application Requirements

Financial Requirements:

• Application Fee: USD $227,000 per TLD application
• Additional fees may apply for evaluation processes
• Ongoing registry operating costs

Technical Requirements:

• Demonstrated technical capacity
• One-time certification for technical operations (new this round)
• Selection from certified technical provider list

Eligibility:

• Companies and organizations (not individuals)
• Must demonstrate operational capability
• Pass multi-stage evaluation process

What You Can Apply For

Generic TLDs:

• Industry terms (.solar, .fitness, .crypto)
• General purpose (.web, .home, .shop variants)
• Creative terms (.wow, .awesome)

.Brand TLDs:

• Exclusive company domains (.apple, .google style)
• Controlled namespace for corporate use
• Examples from 2012: .google, .amazon, .barclays

Geographic TLDs:

• City names (.miami, .berlin)
• Regional identifiers
• Cultural/community geographic terms

Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs):

• Non-Latin script TLDs
• 300+ languages supported
• Script-specific extensions

Important Restrictions

ICANN has confirmed that closed generic gTLD applications will not be permitted in the 2026 round unless an approved methodology and criteria are developed. This means generic terms like ".music" cannot be operated exclusively by one company without public access.

Preparation Timeline

Industry experts recommend up to six months of preparation before the application window opens. Key preparation steps include:

1. Business case development (January-March 2026)
2. Technical provider selection (February-March 2026)
3. Financial assessment and funding (Ongoing)
4. Application drafting (March-April 2026)
5. Stakeholder alignment (Ongoing)

Registration Phases: Sunrise, Landrush, and General Availability

Every new TLD follows a structured launch process. Understanding these phases is critical for securing valuable domains.

Phase 1: Sunrise Period

Duration: Minimum 30 days (ICANN requirement) Who can register: Trademark holders only

Requirements:

• Valid trademark registration
• Registration with Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)
• Participation fee (varies by registry)
• Annual TLD-specific fee

Strategic Importance:

• First opportunity to secure exact trademark matches
• Prevents cybersquatting on your brand
• Higher costs but guaranteed protection

Example Costs:

• TMCH registration: ~$150/year per mark
• Sunrise registration: Often premium pricing (2-10x GA price)
• Varies significantly by TLD

Phase 2: Trademark Claims Period

Duration: At least 90 days after launch What happens: Warning notifications for trademark matches

Process:

1. Registrant attempts to register domain matching a TMCH trademark
2. Registrant receives warning about existing trademark
3. Trademark holder receives notification of registration
4. Registration proceeds if registrant acknowledges

Strategic Use:

• Monitor notifications for your trademarks
• Take action if infringement occurs
• Relatively low-cost monitoring option

Phase 3: Landrush Period

Duration: Typically 30 days (varies by registry) Who can register: General public at premium prices

Characteristics:

• Open to everyone (no trademark required)
• Higher prices than General Availability
• Competition for premium names
• Some registries use auctions for contested names

Auction Types:

• First Come, First Served: Speed matters
• Round Robin: Equal processing of applications
• Collision Auction: Multiple applicants bid for contested names

Strategic Approach:

• Identify high-value generic terms early
• Set maximum bid limits before auctions
• Be prepared for six or seven-figure prices for premium names
• Balance speculation vs. certainty

Phase 4: General Availability (GA)

Duration: Ongoing (permanent) Who can register: Anyone Pricing: Standard registry rates

Characteristics:

• Open registration at regular prices
• First come, first served
• Best availability immediately after launch
• Premium names typically taken during earlier phases

Best Practices:

• Pre-register with your registrar before GA opens
• Be ready at exact launch time
• Have backup domain choices prepared
• Use automated registration tools if available

Registration Strategy by User Type

Evaluating New TLD Investment Potential

Not all new TLDs are created equal. Use this framework to evaluate investment opportunities.

Registry Strength Assessment

Strong indicators:

• Established registry operator (GoDaddy Registry, Google Registry, Verisign)
• Clear marketing strategy and budget
• Industry partnerships and endorsements
• Technical excellence and uptime history
• Reasonable pricing structure

Warning signs:

• Unknown or new registry operators
• No marketing plan visible
• Unusually low prices (may indicate desperation)
• Limited registrar availability
• No industry support or adoption

Market Demand Indicators

High potential:

• Addresses clear market need
• Industry-specific with strong vertical
• Growing sector (AI, crypto, green tech)
• International appeal
• Memorable and intuitive

Lower potential:

• Novelty or gimmick extensions (.ninja, .rocks)
• Oversaturated market
• Unclear target audience
• Long or hard-to-spell extension
• Regional limitations without local support

Historical Performance Patterns

New gTLDs that succeeded:

New gTLDs that struggled:

Investment Scoring Matrix

Rate each factor 1-5, then total:

Interpretation:

• 4.0-5.0: Strong investment potential
• 3.0-3.9: Moderate potential, proceed with caution
• Below 3.0: High risk, limited upside

Success Stories: Learning from .io, .co, and .ai

Understanding how previous TLDs succeeded provides a roadmap for evaluating new opportunities.

The .io Phenomenon

Origin: British Indian Ocean Territory ccTLD (1997) Transformation: Tech startup standard (2014+) Current Status: 1.6+ million registrations

What Made It Work:

1. Perfect timing: Launched as tech startup ecosystem exploded
2. Memorable association: "Input/Output" resonated with developers
3. Major adoptions: GitHub Pages (github.io), Kubernetes, CodePen
4. Y Combinator effect: Second most popular extension among YC companies (9.36% of Summer 2021 batch)

Investment Returns:

• One portfolio achieved 100% ROI with 23% sell-through rate in under a year
• Premium 3-4 letter .io domains command $5,000-$50,000+
• Steady appreciation as tech adoption continues

Lessons for New TLDs:

• Industry alignment matters more than geographic meaning
• Major platform adoption drives credibility
• Startup ecosystem creates organic demand

The .co Transformation

Origin: Colombia's ccTLD (1991) Transformation: Global startup alternative (2010) Current Status: 2+ million registrations, top 25 globally by volume

The Turnaround Story:

1. Strategic relaunch: .CO Internet S.A.S. took over management in 2009
2. Massive marketing: Global campaign targeting startups and entrepreneurs
3. Celebrity and brand endorsements: Twitter, AngelList, 500 Startups, Bird
4. Google treatment: Recognized as generic TLD for ranking purposes

Key Achievements:

• Quarter-million domains registered in first days of 2010 relaunch
• Ranks 5th in traffic despite being 24th in size
• Acquired by Neustar for $109 million in 2014
• Currently operated by GoDaddy Registry

Lessons for New TLDs:

• Marketing investment can transform a ccTLD into global brand
• Startup and entrepreneur targeting creates adoption flywheel
• Premium pricing is sustainable with right positioning

The .ai Explosion

Origin: Anguilla ccTLD Transformation: AI industry standard (2023+) Current Status: 600,000+ registrations (up from 50,000 in 2018)

Growth Drivers:

1. AI industry boom: $100.4 billion raised in AI sector in 2024
2. Perfect branding fit: .ai = Artificial Intelligence
3. Major adoptions: Perplexity.ai, Copy.ai, Stability.ai, X.ai (Elon Musk)
4. Investment returns: 7.8% growth in recent period, 38,900 new registrations

Notable Sales:

• Top 10 .ai sales range from $150,000 to $700,000
• One investor reported ~$600,000 in total .ai sales
• Domains registered in 2015-2016 saw massive appreciation

Current Considerations:

• Two-year mandatory registration: ~$167.98 total ($83.99/year)
• Higher barrier to entry reduces speculation
• Quality matters: lesser strings may not perform as well

Lessons for New TLDs:

• Industry alignment with growing sectors creates explosive demand
• Timing matters: early .ai investors saw 10-50x returns
• Premium pricing filters for serious registrants

Common Success Factors

Across all three success stories:

New gTLD Market Growth and Statistics

The new gTLD market is experiencing significant growth, making it an increasingly important segment of the domain industry.

Overall Market Performance

Total registrations (Q3 2024): 35.4 million new gTLD registrations

Year-over-year growth: 17.4% (one of the fastest-growing segments)

Growth trajectory:

• 2014: ~3 million registrations
• 2024: ~37 million registrations
• 922% growth over a decade

Quarterly Growth Rates

Market Share Context

New gTLDs vs. Total Market:

• New gTLDs: ~10% of total domain registrations (2024)
• Projected: 50+ million registrations by 2026
• Growing faster than legacy TLDs

Legacy TLD Decline:

• .com and .net combined: 169.6 million (Q3 2024)
• Quarterly decline: 0.6% (1.1 million registrations)
• Year-over-year decline: 2.5% (4.4 million registrations)

Leading New gTLDs by Registration

Price Drivers

Why new gTLDs are growing:

1. .com wholesale price increases: 28% increase between 2021-2024, with more hikes expected
2. Availability: Short, memorable .com names exhausted
3. Industry relevance: Sector-specific extensions provide clearer branding
4. Startup economics: $15 .app registration vs. $15,000 equivalent .com premium

Projections for 2025-2026

Expected developments:

• New gTLD registrations to exceed 40 million by end of 2025
• 2026 application round to add 500-2,000 new TLD applications
• First delegations from 2026 round expected 2027-2028
• Continued legacy TLD market share erosion

Risks of Investing in New TLDs

While new TLDs offer opportunities, they also carry significant risks that investors must understand.

Liquidity Risk

The Challenge: Unlike stocks and bonds with active brokers and exchanges, domain names have no centralized marketplace. Sales can take months, years, or even decades.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Focus on extensions with proven aftermarket activity
• Price domains for the market, not your aspirations
• List on multiple platforms (Afternic, Sedo, Dan.com)
• Maintain realistic expectations about sale timelines

Valuation Subjectivity

The Challenge: Domain values are inherently subjective. What seems like a $10,000 domain to you might be worth $100 to the market.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Study comparable sales (use DomainDetails.com to research)
• Focus on objective factors: length, keywords, search volume
• Get multiple appraisals before major purchases
• Start with lower-risk, lower-cost domains while learning

Registry Pricing Risk

The Challenge: Many new TLD registries use tiered pricing:

• Standard domains: $15-30/year
• Premium domains: $50-5,000+/year (ongoing)
• Premium pricing can change with ownership or renewal

Mitigation Strategies:

• Always check renewal pricing before registration
• Factor premium renewal costs into investment calculations
• Avoid "premium" designations unless justified by value
• Read registry pricing policies carefully

Extension Failure Risk

The Challenge: Not all new gTLDs succeed. Some fade into obscurity or are abandoned entirely.

Warning Signs:

• Declining registration numbers
• Registry financial troubles
• No marketing investment
• Limited registrar availability
• High spam/abuse percentages

Mitigation Strategies:

• Invest in extensions from established registries
• Monitor registration trends and renewal rates
• Diversify across multiple extensions
• Set stop-loss points (drop domains if extension fails)

ICANN Official Risk Warnings

From ICANN's own guidance for 2026 applicants:

"There is no guarantee you will get the string you applied for. If you do not pass the extensive evaluation process you could lose some or all of your initial investment."

"Competition is a risk: Your applied-for TLD could compete with a same or similar string(s), and indirectly with all TLDs."

"It's uncharted territory: You will be pioneering on the cutting edge of technological innovation in a relatively new sector."

Trademark and Legal Risk

The Challenge: Registering domains that match trademarks can result in:

• UDRP disputes (forced transfer)
• Legal action and damages
• Forfeiture without compensation

Mitigation Strategies:

• Search USPTO, EUIPO, and international trademark databases
• Avoid brand names, even with different extensions
• Consider trademark monitoring services
• When in doubt, don't register

Risk Mitigation Framework

Diversification Strategy:

Portfolio Management:

• Limit new/unproven TLDs to 10-20% of portfolio
• Set maximum per-domain investment limits
• Review and cull non-performing domains annually
• Track renewal costs as percentage of portfolio value

New TLDs vs. Established Extensions

Understanding how new TLDs compare to established extensions helps inform investment and registration decisions.

Market Share Comparison

Trust and Recognition

Consumer Trust Studies (2024):

Age Demographics:

SEO Considerations

Google's Official Position:

"Google treats new gTLDs like other gTLDs. Keywords in a TLD do not give any advantage or disadvantage in search."

Practical Reality:

• No algorithmic penalty for new gTLDs
• .com may have slight indirect advantage (higher CTR, more backlinks)
• Industry-specific extensions can help with niche relevance
• Content quality matters far more than extension

Investment Comparison

When to Choose New TLDs

New gTLDs are better when:

• .com equivalent costs $5,000+
• Industry-specific extension adds credibility (.ai for AI, .law for legal)
• Target audience is tech-savvy (18-44 years old)
• Building modern, innovative brand identity
• Budget constraints require affordable options

Established extensions are better when:

• Target audience is 45+ years old
• Traditional industry (finance, healthcare, legal)
• Universal recognition required
• Offline marketing is significant
• Long-term brand building (10+ year horizon)

Best Practices for New TLD Registration

Pre-Launch Preparation

6-12 Months Before Launch:

1. Monitor TLD launch announcements (ICANN, registrar newsletters)
2. Research registry operator background and marketing plans
3. Identify target domains and alternatives
4. Budget for Sunrise/Landrush premium pricing
5. Register with Trademark Clearinghouse if applicable

1-3 Months Before Launch:

1. Pre-register interest with preferred registrar
2. Set up automated alerts for launch dates
3. Prepare multiple domain choices (primary + backups)
4. Verify payment methods work for quick checkout
5. Review registry terms and conditions

Registration Timing Strategy

For Trademark Holders:

• Always participate in Sunrise period
• Cost is worth guaranteed brand protection
• Set up Claims notifications for ongoing monitoring

For Businesses:

• Consider Landrush if exact match is critical
• Weigh premium Landrush cost vs. GA availability risk
• Have backup domain strategy ready

For Investors:

• Evaluate extension potential before committing capital
• Landrush can capture premium generics
• GA often offers better value for speculative plays
• Monitor first-week registrations for market interest

Post-Registration Actions

Immediate:

1. Set up auto-renewal to prevent accidental loss
2. Enable registrar lock to prevent unauthorized transfers
3. Configure WHOIS privacy if desired
4. Point to landing page or park appropriately

Ongoing:

1. Monitor for similar domain registrations
2. Track extension adoption and growth
3. List for sale on appropriate platforms if investing
4. Reassess annually: renew, develop, or drop

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

When does ICANN's 2026 application round open?

The application window opens on April 30, 2026, and closes on August 12, 2026. This is approximately 12-15 weeks to submit applications. The evaluation process will take 13-18+ months depending on application volume, with the first delegations expected in 2027-2028.

How much does it cost to apply for a new TLD in 2026?

The expected evaluation fee is USD $227,000 per TLD application. This is higher than the 2012 round ($185,000) and covers the evaluation process. Additional ongoing costs include registry operations, technical infrastructure, and marketing. Total first-year investment can exceed $500,000 when including operational setup.

Which new TLDs are launching in 2025?

Key 2025 launches include: .free (e-commerce/freemium), .yun (cloud computing, Q4 Landrush), .fast (logistics/speed, mid-2025), .talk (communication/podcasts, late 2025), .crypto (cryptocurrency, January), and .art (expanded February). Check TLD-List.com for the most current launch schedule.

What is the Sunrise period and should I participate?

The Sunrise period is the first registration phase (minimum 30 days) exclusive to trademark holders registered with the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH). You should participate if: you own registered trademarks, brand protection is important, and you want guaranteed first access to exact-match domains. Costs are higher than General Availability but provide certainty.

Are new TLDs a good investment in 2025-2026?

It depends on your strategy and risk tolerance. The market is growing 17.4% year-over-year, and success stories like .io, .co, and .ai demonstrate significant returns. However, risks include liquidity challenges, registry pricing changes, and extension failure. Best approach: diversify, focus on proven extensions, and limit speculative investments to 10-20% of portfolio.

How do I evaluate if a new TLD is worth investing in?

Assess these factors: 1) Registry operator reputation and resources, 2) Clear market demand and target audience, 3) Industry support and early adoption signals, 4) Reasonable and stable pricing structure, 5) Marketing investment and launch strategy. Extensions from established registries (Google, Verisign, GoDaddy Registry) generally carry lower risk.

What happened to domains from the 2012 ICANN round?

Of nearly 2,000 applications, over 1,200 new gTLDs were delegated. Some succeeded spectacularly (.xyz, .shop, .app), while others struggled (.sucks, .ninja). The total new gTLD market now exceeds 35 million registrations, representing about 10% of all domains. Success varied dramatically based on registry marketing, industry fit, and pricing strategy.

Will new TLDs hurt my SEO?

No. Google officially treats all gTLDs equally in search rankings. A website on .tech, .ai, or .blog has the same ranking opportunity as .com if content quality, backlinks, and user experience are comparable. The slight advantage .com may have comes from higher click-through rates and user trust, not algorithmic preference.

Key Takeaways

• Historic opportunity in 2026: ICANN opens applications April 30-August 12, 2026, for the first time since 2012, with $227,000 application fee
• New gTLDs growing rapidly: 17.4% year-over-year growth, reaching 35.4 million registrations, while legacy TLDs decline
• 2025 launches to watch: .free (e-commerce), .yun (cloud), .fast (logistics), .talk (communication) offer early-mover opportunities
• Success stories provide roadmap: .io, .co, and .ai succeeded through industry alignment, major brand adoption, and strategic marketing
• Registration phases matter: Sunrise protects trademarks, Landrush captures premiums, GA offers value - plan accordingly
• Risks are real: Liquidity, valuation subjectivity, registry pricing changes, and extension failure can impact investments
• SEO is neutral: Google treats new gTLDs equally; content and backlinks matter far more than extension choice
• Diversification essential: Balance established extensions with strategic new gTLD positions; limit speculative investments

Next Steps

Monitor Upcoming Launches

• Check launch schedules: Visit TLD-List.com for current TLD launch dates
• Set alerts: Configure notifications for extensions matching your interests
• Pre-register: Submit interest to registrars for priority access

Prepare for ICANN 2026

If considering a TLD application:

1. Review the Applicant Guidebook
2. Begin business case development
3. Identify technical operation providers
4. Assess financial requirements ($227,000+ investment)

Research and Learn

• New gTLDs vs Traditional Extensions - Compare modern and classic TLDs
• Understanding Domain Extensions - Complete TLD overview
• AI Domain Investing - Deep dive on .ai opportunities

Use DomainDetails Tools

• Domain Lookup: Research domain history and ownership
• TLD Explorer: Compare available extensions
• Pro Monitoring: Track domains for changes and opportunities

Research Sources

This article was researched and verified using the following sources:

• ICANN New gTLD Program: Next Round - Official 2026 round information
• ICANN Press Release: Applicant Guidebook Published - December 2025 announcement
• CircleID: Domain Industry 2025 Current Landscape - Market statistics
• Verisign Domain Name Industry Brief - Registration data
• nTLD Stats - New gTLD statistics
• TLD-List Launch Schedule - Upcoming TLD launches
• Openprovider: A New Era of gTLDs - 2026 round analysis
• Managed-IP: New gTLDs Second Round 2026 - Application timeline
• Rouse: ICANN's 2026 Application Window - Brand TLD guidance
• ICANNWiki: Sunrise Period - Registration phase details
• ICANNWiki: Landrush Period - Landrush process
• Dynadot: Investing in New TLDs - Investment guidance
• Domain Sherpa: .IO Portfolio Results - Investment case study
• Register.domains: .AI Domain Guide - .ai market analysis
• Namecheap: How .CO Became Hot for Startups - .co success story
• Vodien: New Domain Extensions 2025 - 2025 launches

Last verified: January 1, 2026