CSC Domain Outlook
October 26, 2026
A global perspective on what's next in domains.
Domain releases
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Ongoing domain launches
Extension and phases
Start date
Order deadline
.DOT (gTLD)
Medium risk
Sunrise*
21-Jul-2026
17-Nov-2026
Early access*
20-Nov-2026
01-Dec-2026
General availability*
02-Dec-2026
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.EAT .FLY .HERE (gTLD)
Low risk
Sunrise*
01-Sep-2026
05-Nov-2026
Early access*
10-Nov-2026
16-Nov-2026
General availability*
17-Nov-2026
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.TH (ccTLD)
Low risk
Limited registration – Round 3
01-Oct-2026
25-Nov-2026
.PHONE (gTLD)
Medium risk
Sunrise*
06-Oct-2026
30-Dec-2026
Early access*
05-Jan-2027
18-Jan-2027
General availability*
19-Jan-2027
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Premium name releases
Extension and type
Release date
Number of domains
.SHOP (gTLD)
Medium risk
Domains that were formerly reserved are released as premium domains.
29-Oct-2026
13,000+
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Launch notes
.DOT: Unrestricted extension. Recommended sectors: Software developers and builders, independent developers, and technical brands. The Registry has announced an extension to the .dot Sunrise Phase.
.EAT, .FLY, .HERE: Unrestricted extensions. Recommended sectors: Food, airlines, and travel.
.TH: Restricted extension. Third round of availability.
.PHONE: Unrestricted extension. Recommended sectors: Telecommunications carriers, resellers, and repair shops.
.SHOP: The .shop registry will release more than 13,000 reserved .shop domain names as premium names on October 29, 2026. Please contact your Client Service Team if you would like to review the name list for registration.
*This phase of domain registration is first come, first served, where the first person or entity to register an available domain name becomes the rightful owner. See glossary for descriptions of the various phases.
Knowledge check
Keep your finger on the pulse of the latest domain news and trends
Additional insights
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Watch list
Get ahead of the curve with this list of anticipated releases.
More details will be shared as they become available
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.WEB delegation
In July 2026, Verisign announced the delegation of .web. Stay tuned for more information. -
.PAY general availability
The sunrise phase for .pay has been completed. The registry has yet to announce a date for the general availability launch.
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Industry updates
Changes that affect you
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Reveal Day for New gTLD Program: Round 2
On October 7, 2026, Reveal Day arrived for the ICANN New gTLD Program: 2026 Round, as ICANN published the list of applied-for strings for new top-level domains. ICANN confirmed it received 1,615 applications from 481 applicants across the globe, demonstrating strong demand for the next expansion of the domain name system.
Reveal Day is just the beginning. ICANN will publish its finalized list of applied-for strings on String Confirmation Day in November 2026 before applications advance through the evaluation process.
Now is an ideal time to begin developing your 2027 new gTLD strategy. This includes reviewing applied-for strings, assessing Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) readiness, and identifying future registration, monitoring, and enforcement priorities to prepare for the next wave of domain name expansion.
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Verisign to retire auxiliary .name services
Verisign, the registry operator for .name, is retiring some of its legacy .name services, including third-level .name registrations and Defensive registrations. This change affects third-level domains such as john.smith.name, as well as Standard and Premium Defensive registrations. Second-level .name domains will not be affected.
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Mind the gaps
Rights protection mechanisms and security controls to mitigate risks in your threat landscape
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Trademark Clearinghouse Filings
With the upcoming launch of .web and as Round 2 of the New gTLD Program approaches, the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) remains the foundation of domain name rights protection. A validated TMCH record provides access to priority registration opportunities during Sunrise periods and help alert brand owners when matching domains are registered across participating new gTLDs.
Reviewing your TMCH coverage now can help ensure you're ready when the next generation of new gTLDs begins to go online. Audit your TMCH portfolio today and confirm that your key trademarks are validated, current, and aligned with your 2027 new gTLD strategy.
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In case you missed it
Past updates that should be considered in your domain strategy
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.LATINO
Earlier this year, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Oman—the .OM registry—announced a policy The extension .latino entered General Availability in June 2026. To register a .latino domain or request additional information, log into CSCDomainManager or contact your Client Service Team.
Glossary
General availability: Domain registration is available to public.
Sunrise: Domain registration is restricted to trademark holders before public access.
Landrush/early access/limited registration: periods typically between sunrise and general availability phases that allow pre-registrations at a premium.
ccTLD: Country code top-level domain primarily used by countries and territories, e.g. .jp for Japan and .uk for United Kingdom.
gTLD: Generic top-level domain, e.g., .com and .org, including newer extensions such as .club and .shop.
Risk assessments estimate the level of threat associated with potential third-party domain registrations. They are based on a combination of factors such as similar top-level domains (TLDs), enforcement options, historical trends, and other relevant considerations. The impact of these factors may vary based on your organization and domain portfolio. Please reach out to your account manager to discuss specific concerns.