ICANN

🗓️ Join #ICANN on 23 April 2026 for a webinar previewing the FY27–31 Operating and Financial Plans. The session will present the community’s input and review the updated plans ahead of consideration by the ICANN Board of Directors in May 2026. ⏰ 23 April 2026 | 15:00–16:00 UTC 🔗 Learn more and register >> go.icann.org/4sj6NF1

🗓️ On 23 April at 18:00 UTC, join Roy Arends, #ICANN Distinguished Technologist for insights into a 2024 DNS anomaly that drove unexpected traffic to the top of global rankings—and the lessons it holds for the DNS community. 💻 Register now! bit.ly/3N5VTUT

How can the DNS remain a resilient foundation for the Internet after 40+ years? 💻 Roy Arends, #ICANN Distinguished Technologist, explores how the #IETF’s DELEG Working Group is rethinking DNS delegation to enable a more secure, encrypted, and flexible future. Read more >> go.icann.org/4caSZXg

💡 Ensuring #DNS security and stability is vital as we approach the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round. Join us on 15 April at 16:00 UTC for a deep dive into the #NewgTLDProgram, covering key technical and policy challenges—from string collisions to variant label management—that shape DNS security. 💻 Register here: bit.ly/4bYUfOk

📢 Read #ICANN Board Chair Tripti Sinha’s blog on the Applicant Support Program (ASP) for the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round. The ICANN Board is requesting community input on additional funding for the ASP to expand support for more applicants. Responses are requested by 12 April to inform next steps. 🔗 Read more and share your input >> go.icann.org/4vm6k83

🌎 #ICANN Near You: meeting stakeholders across Latin America & the Caribbean! From government meetings to technical training and public outreach, we bring tailored activities directly to local communities. The next edition will take place in Lima, Peru 🇵🇪, on 14–16 April 2026. Stay tuned!

📊The #ICANN85 By the Numbers report is now available! This document offers key data and stats from the ICANN85 Community Forum held in Mumbai, India. Check it out here >> go.icann.org/4c9Sz3t #ICANN

📢 #ICANN has issued a Request for Proposal seeking a provider to design, administer, and operate auctions to resolve string contention in the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round. The auction process will be used when multiple applications are in contention for the same or confusingly similar gTLD strings that are not resolved through other mechanisms. The selected provider will oversee the process in accordance with the Applicant Guidebook, using an ascending-clock, second-price auction method. 🗓 Deadline: 2 June 2026. Learn more >> go.icann.org/4v7GVyJ

🔎 Is your registry planning to deploy #DNSSEC? The DNSSEC Roadshow supports African #ccTLD operators working to strengthen DNS security and operational resilience. If DNSSEC is on your roadmap, this is the moment to move forward. 👉 Apply before 1 May 2026. Submit your application: bit.ly/4r9X57o

💡 Staying aligned with global trends is vital for a secure and resilient internet! Joe Catapano, from #ICANN’s North American Stakeholder Engagement team, took the stage at #CanWISP2026 today to share critical insights into the evolving global regulatory landscape and what these shifts mean for Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Read the February 2026 #ICANN Contractual Compliance Report for key highlights and an overview of activities >> go.icann.org/4tcHqWm

📢 The second application submission period for the #ICANN New gTLD Program: 2026 Round Registry Service Provider (RSP) Evaluation Program opens 30 April 2026 and closes 12 August 2026. The RSP Evaluation Program helps streamline the evaluation of gTLD applications by separating the evaluation of back-end technical services from the application for the label. Organizations that clear evaluation in this period will join the RSPs cleared in the first application period. 🔗 Learn more here >> go.icann.org/4sPhiRS

📖 Read #ICANN Board Chair Tripti Sinha’s blog recapping the March Board Workshop and #ICANN85. The update highlights key discussions and decisions, including preparations for the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round, approval of the 2026 Base Registry Agreement, progress on strategic planning, and other priority areas. 🔗 Read more >> go.icann.org/4bH6sXN

📖 Read #ICANN President and CEO Kurtis Lindqvist’s blog looking back at #ICANN85. The update highlights participation across 112 countries and territories, meaningful progress on priority areas, including preparation for the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round, adoption of the 2026 Base Registry Agreement, and continued work on Universal Acceptance, DNS Abuse, and registration data policy. 🔗 More details >> go.icann.org/4td21db

📢 #ICANN continues making progress toward the opening of the 2026 Round on 30 April. The latest program news includes the selection of Analysys Mason Limited as the Community Priority Evaluation provider, continued comprehensive testing of the TLD Application Management System, and the availability of new webinar recordings and updated FAQs to help prepare participants for the round opening. 🔗 Read more in ICANN SVP, Global Domains & Strategy Theresa Swinehart’s blog >> go.icann.org/3PNTdfn

At the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Development Forum for Europe (RDF-EUR 26) in Prague, Czech Republic yesterday, Janis Karklins, ICANN’s Head of Government Engagement, presented on the state of Universal Acceptance (UA) in Europe. He underlined that “There can only be meaningful connectivity to the Internet, if it can be used in all languages and scripts.” Regina Fuchsova, Industry Relations Manager at EURid also shared how .eu is implementing Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) and how registry infrastructure supports a multilingual Internet. ICANN and @EUregistry hosted a cocktail reception at the conclusion of the meeting. Thank you to the @ITU and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunication Administrations (CEPT) for organizing this event, and to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic (@mpo_tweetuje) for hosting. #ICANN #UniversalAcceptance #Internet4All #DigitalInclusion #RDFEUR26 #Czechia

🌟 Applications Open for NextGen@ICANN87! University students aged 18-30 in the APAC region are invited to apply for the NextGen@ICANN87 Program and attend the #ICANN87 Annual General Meeting in Muscat, Oman from 17–22 October 2026. 🌐 This program offers you the opportunity to gain insight into how to engage and contribute to the work that supports the stability, resiliency, and reliability of the #Internet. Participants will receive travel grants and stipends, plus experienced mentors support throughout the program. Application Deadline: 1 May 2026 🔗 Learn more and apply here >> go.icann.org/4sPqSEl #ICANN

#AI has become the central focus of the tech landscape, but what does it actually mean for the identifier layer of the Internet? 🌐 In our latest blog, Matt Larson explores how AI is driving changes in DNS traffic, shifting the balance between defense and abuse, and bringing new considerations to multistakeholder participation >> go.icann.org/4t3nnJT

🔎 Burkina Faso (.bf) and Cameroon (.cm) have deployed DNSSEC-signed zones. These deployments were supported through the DNSSEC Roadshow led by @ICANN through the Coalition for Digital Africa, helping registries strengthen #DNS security and operational practices. 🗓 Applications for the DNSSEC Roadshow are now open! Apply before 1 May 2026 >> bit.ly/4r9X57o

⏰ Happening tomorrow! Tune in live at 12:00–12:45 UTC for our #ICANN EMEA webinar. Don’t miss this deep dive into the L-root—exploring its design, global deployment, and resilience at scale. 🔗 For more information >> go.icann.org/40Exfh9 #DNS #OneWorldOneInternet