Upcoming TLDs / .sov
Can you register a .sov domain?
Source: ICANN 2026 round applications, checked October 27, 2026. Not in the IANA root zone as of October 26, 2026.
What .sov would mean
In their own words, from the public part of each application (question 118):
No direct English translation. 'Sov' is a short form of 'sovereign,' chosen primarily for brevity and brandability, in the tradition of short technology domain names such as .io and .xyz.
Who applied for .sov
Namehash Public Benefit Corporation
US, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing, ICANN applicant support
The mission of the .sov top-level domain is to provide a short, memorable namespace for technology companies, developers, and builders. The string .sov is a short form of sovereign, chosen primarily for its brevity, sound, and brandability. In the tradition of TLDs such as .io and .xyz, which originated with narrow or unrelated meanings and became widely adopted across the technology sector as flexible, general-purpose naming options, .sov is intended to serve as a distinctive namespace for the technology community.
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 .sov 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 .sov and its registry announces launch dates.