All TLDs / .next

What is .next?

The short answer
.next is a brand top-level domain, operated by Next plc. It's a “dot-brand” registry (ICANN Spec 13) — reserved for the operator's own use, so it isn't open for the public to register. It's live in the official IANA DNS root zone.
Type
Brand (dot-brand)
Registration
Closed (brand)
In DNS root
Yes
Operator
Next plc

Source: IANA root zone database, checked October 18, 2026.

Is .next a real domain extension?

Yes — .next is a real top-level domain. It's present in the official IANA DNS root zone, which is the authoritative list of every live TLD on the internet.

Who runs .next?

.next is operated by Next plc, per the IANA root database.

What is .next used for?

.next is a dot-brand registry — it's reserved for Next plc and isn't used for third-party websites.

Can anyone register a .next domain?

No. .next is a closed brand registry, so it isn't available for public registration. A registrar search will confirm the current policy for any specific name.