Upcoming TLDs / .story
Can you register a .story domain?
Source: ICANN 2026 round applications, checked October 27, 2026. Not in the IANA root zone as of October 26, 2026.
What .story would mean
In their own words, from the public part of each application (question 118):
Story commonly refers to a narrative, account, or expression of events, experiences, or ideas.
a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.
Common English noun. A story is an account of events, real or invented, told or written; in current online usage it also names a short published item shared with an audience. The string is used in those ordinary senses.
Who applied for .story
Fore Course, LLC
US, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
The mission of .STORY is to provide a namespace associated with the concept of story as a narrative, account, or expression of events, experiences, or ideas. The .STORY 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.
Knock Knock WHOIS There, LLC
US, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
We hold this truth at the center of our mission: content is valuable. When you publish online—whatever you publish—you are adding something to the world, and that contribution deserves a home you control. Owning your domain means you're not at the whims of an ever-changing algorithm; it's a claim of ownership, independence, and authenticity. Every top-level domain we operate is built on that principle: a meaningful, memorable namespace that marks your corner of the internet as unmistakably your own, in essays, images, music, videos, storefronts, and whatever comes next.
XRegistry Inc.
XRegistry Incorporated, JP, stage: Pre-Evaluation Processing
The mission of .story is to give published narrative an address of its own. The string is the ordinary English noun ""story"" - an account of events, told or written - and, in current online usage, a short item shared with an audience. It is applied for and will be operated in those ordinary senses, as an open namespace.
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 .story 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 .story and its registry announces launch dates.