Upcoming TLDs / .merch
Can you register a .merch domain?
Source: ICANN 2026 round applications, checked October 27, 2026. Not in the IANA root zone as of October 26, 2026.
What .merch would mean
In their own words, from the public part of each application (question 118):
Merch commonly refers to merchandise or goods offered for sale, particularly products associated with a brand, creator, organization, or other entity.
Merch is the everyday short form of merchandise: goods offered for sale, and in particular the shirts, prints, and other items offered to an audience.
short for merchandise
Informal abbreviation of merchandise, particularly branded fan and creator products
"Merch" is an informal English word, short for "merchandise," meaning goods offered for sale, especially branded products associated with a creator, artist, brand, team, or event.
Who applied for .merch
Bird Pepper, LLC
US, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
The mission of .MERCH is to provide a namespace associated with the concept of merch as merchandise or goods offered for sale, particularly products associated with a brand, creator, organization, or other entity. The .MERCH 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.
Intercap Registry Inc.
KY, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
The proposed .merch top-level domain represents merch - the everyday short form of merchandise - goods offered for sale, and in the word's familiar modern sense, the shirts, prints, accessories, and other items that creators, performers, venues, events, and businesses of all kinds offer to their audiences and customers.
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.
101130013 Saskatchewan Ltd.
CA, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
"A namespace for creators, artists, and brands to sell official merchandise directly under a recognizable commerce label.
Radix Technologies Inc SEZC
Radix Technologies Inc SEZC, KY, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
1. Mission and purpose: The mission of .merch is to provide a namespace for merchandise: the commerce layer of fandom and brand affinity. Intended registrants include musicians, creators, athletes, teams and entertainment properties selling merchandise to their audiences; print-on-demand, fulfillment and e-commerce platforms; and brands and retailers of branded goods. Intended users are the fans and customers who buy merchandise worldwide. Following delegation, the applicant will, as registry operator of the .merch TLD, conduct a phased launch, implement all ICANN-required rights protection …
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 .merch 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 .merch and its registry announces launch dates.