Upcoming TLDs / .ion
Can you register a .ion domain?
Source: ICANN 2026 round applications, checked October 27, 2026. Not in the IANA root zone as of October 26, 2026.
What .ion would mean
In their own words, from the public part of each application (question 118):
Ion commonly refers to a broadly recognized term used across a wide range of contexts.
atom or molecule
The common English and French suffix “-ion”.
ION is an atom or molecule with an electrical charge because it has gained or lost electrons. Ions drive chemistry, batteries and countless technologies. Charged by definition.
Who applied for .ion
Fore Course, LLC
US, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
The mission of .ION is to provide a namespace associated with the applied-for string. The .ION gTLD is intended to serve a broad range of registrants and users, including individuals, businesses, organizations, communities, projects, and other entities that identify with, relate to, or wish to be associated with the concept represented by the applied-for string.
Link Freedom Group / LFG
Link Freedom Group Ltd, MT, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
Link Freedom Group (LFG) aspires to become a best-in-class, vertically integrated domain name registration authority, see linkfreedomgroup.link. This TLD is part of a carefully curated portfolio of strings that LFG intends to pursue in ICANN’s 2026 New gTLD Program. In assembling this portfolio, LFG focused on securing meaningful, memorable, and commercially compelling strings that resonate strongly with end users and offer long-term growth potential.
XServer Cloud Inc.
XServer Cloud Incorporated, JP, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
The mission and purpose of the .ion gTLD is to provide a short, memorable and highly versatile namespace built around one of the most productive word-endings in the world's major languages. The sequence "-ion" is a live, generative suffix shared across English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and other languages, forming enormous families of nouns that denote actions, processes, states and results: action, solution, connection (English); création, information, région (French); solución, creación, región, misión (Spanish); soluzione, creazione, regione (Italian). Operated at the top level, …
XYZ.COM LLC
US, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
1. Mission and purpose. This gTLD will be operated as an open, unrestricted generic top-level domain. Its purpose is to expand naming choice in the DNS by making this term available at the top level for any lawful use chosen by the registrant. Registrations will be available to all registrants on a first-come, first-served basis through ICANN-accredited registrars, subject only to the Registry Agreement, ICANN Consensus Policies, and applicable law. The applicant will not operate this gTLD on an exclusive basis.
What happens next
- April 30, 2026: Application window opened (done)
- August 12, 2026: Application window closed (done)
- October 7, 2026: Reveal Day: ICANN published every applied-for string (done)
- October 21, 2026: Replacement period ended (applicants could switch to a backup string) (done)
- November 17, 2026: String Confirmation Day: the final list of applied-for strings
- March 16, 2027: Community input and objections period ends
Dates from ICANN’s Reveal Day announcement, checked October 27, 2026. We re-check the applications every day and this page changes when they do.
When will .ion be available?
ICANN has not set a date. The final list of applied-for strings comes on String Confirmation Day (November 17, 2026), community input and objections run until March 16, 2027, and ICANN processes applications after a prioritization draw in 2027. Registration opens only after ICANN delegates .ion and its registry announces launch dates.