ICANN’s 84th Public Meeting lands in Dublin from October 25–30, 2025. The Convention Centre Dublin will host a global mix of government officials, civil society leaders, business stakeholders, and engineers. INEX (the Internet Neutral Exchange Association) is the local host. The timing is sharp. Decisions here will influence what happens next in domain expansion and Internet governance.
Why This Week Is Different
Two timelines collide. First, the WSIS+20 review, a United Nations process that evaluates 20 years of digital cooperation, is around the corner. Second, ICANN is moving the New gTLD Program: Next Round toward launch in April 2026. A gTLD (generic top-level domain) is the ending of a domain name, such as .com or .org. New endings change branding options, security expectations, and search behavior. The mix of WSIS+20 and the next gTLD round gives Dublin more weight than a typical meeting week.
The Rulebook Everyone Is Waiting For
The ICANN Board is expected to take up the final Applicant Guidebook. This document defines who can apply, how they apply, and what technical and policy obligations attach to a new extension. Approving it now sets the track for April 2026. Applicants will calibrate budgets, marketing plans, registry back-end choices, and compliance resources based on this text. If the guidebook changes, the market changes with it.
Internet Governance on Stage
The WSIS+20 co-facilitators, appointed by the U.N., will participate. That matters. Their presence links community discussion in Dublin with negotiations that shape global policy language. ICANN’s “multistakeholder model” — a process where governments, businesses, civil society, and the technical community share work — will be tested in real time. The goal is simple: keep a single, secure, and interoperable Internet. The method is public, documented, and consensus-driven.
What Will Be Debated
New gTLD Readiness
- Application mechanics: fees, timelines, and evaluation steps.
- Security and stability: DNS (Domain Name System) safeguards and abuse mitigation.
- Rights protection: trademark claims, sunrise periods, and dispute paths.
- Internationalized names: scripts, diacritics, and user experience.
Data, Safety, and Accountability
- DNS abuse: phishing, malware, and spam patterns with measurable controls.
- Registration data: accuracy, privacy, and disclosure workflows that comply with law.
- Bylaws and accountability: clarity on review mechanisms and community powers.
Who’s in the Room and What They’ll Do
Supporting Organizations drive policy drafts. Advisory Committees provide guidance. The GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization) focuses on gTLD policy. The ccNSO (Country Code Names Supporting Organization) addresses country code operations and incident response. The SSAC (Security and Stability Advisory Committee) weighs in on risks to the DNS. The GAC (Governmental Advisory Committee) delivers governmental advice on public policy concerns. Each group has open sessions, working meetings, and readouts. The Board meets with these groups in joint sessions that make priorities clear.
Official Voices, Plain Language
ICANN President and CEO Kurtis Lindqvist frames the week this way: protect security, preserve interoperability, and keep the Internet open for all. That requires joint work across sectors. INEX CEO Eileen Gallagher points to Dublin’s track record of practical collaboration and makes a simple point: choices made here affect how people use the Internet for years.
Registration, Format, and How to Join
In-person registration stays open until October 23, 2025. Remote participation is available. Sessions run in Dublin time with full streaming, transcripts, and archives. Expect a hybrid program: policy forums, technical briefings, and community Q&A. The opening ceremony will include community awards, and the AGM will induct new leadership seats.
Why This Matters to Operators, Brands, and Users
Operators will watch the Applicant Guidebook. The details set engineering work, SLAs, and compliance costs. Brands care about new naming options, trademark protections, and the cost of defensive registrations. Users experience the results in availability, safety signals, and clearer paths to trustworthy services. Policy choices ripple into search visibility, phishing defenses, and the economics of new namespaces.
My Take
I’ve followed this process for a long time — and it feels a bit like déjà vu. Back in 2013, I spoke at a Domain Name Association gathering at the last ICANN meeting in Dublin. My presentation shared findings from a study on how search engines and consumers were treating new domain endings. At the time, we were still figuring out whether search engines would treat a .guru or .photography like a .com. The data showed that, technically, search ranking wasn’t an issue. The real challenge was education — getting people to trust and remember new endings.
That conversation still feels relevant. The promise of variety in digital identity has always been there, but ICANN’s long pause between rounds left momentum on the table. Meanwhile, others filled that space. Web3 platforms are already selling blockchain-based TLDs, even if they don’t resolve through the traditional DNS. Whether or not one believes in those systems, their existence shows demand. People want naming freedom, and they’re willing to experiment outside traditional channels to get it.
In my view, ICANN has waited long enough. It’s time to open new gTLDs again — thoughtfully, yes, but without overcomplicating the process. Competition isn’t just coming from registries anymore. It’s coming from an entirely different Internet model. That alone should motivate action.
What to Watch as the Week Unfolds
- Does the Board approve the Applicant Guidebook with minimal changes?
- Do plenaries produce clear next steps on DNS abuse and registration data?
- Do WSIS+20 co-facilitators echo Dublin talking points in the run-up to the review?
- Do community groups align on timelines that applicants can actually meet?
Dublin is more than a calendar stop. It is a decision point that links Internet policy, market timing, and user safety. If the Applicant Guidebook moves and WSIS+20 signals converge, April 2026 will arrive fast. Prepare now, speak early, and document everything. The Internet runs on open standards and open process. Keep both strong, and the rest follows.
