Email from ICANN Monday, 11 May 2026 ICANN Community Digest Click here to learn more about the New gTLD Program 2026 Round Applicant Guidebook 2026 Round Vendor Sourcing Timeline The ICANN organization Policy Development Support function publishes this twice-weekly digest to help ICANN community groups track requests and follow updates. Do you have any ideas for improving the ICANN Community Digest? Write to us at policyinfo@icann.org! Table of Contents ICANN86 Prep Week Information Sharing NEW: ICANN Board Adopts FY27–31 Operating Plan and FY27 Operating Plan and Budget NEW: Approved Resolutions | Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board | 3 May 2026 NEW: Call for Expressions of Interest: ICANN 2027 NomCom Chair and Chair-Elect NEW: ICANN Publishes U.S. Tax Returns for Fiscal Year Ending 30 June 2025 NEW: ICANN Request for Proposal: 2026 Round Financial and Operational Evaluation Helping the Ombuds Office Learn and Improve 2026 Round New gTLD Program: 2026 Round Opens Today ICANN Opens Second Application Period for the 2026 Round RSP Evaluation Program ICANN 2026 Round Application System User Guide, Support Model Available CLOSES TODAY: ICANN Extends Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 2026 Round Independent Objectors Webinars TOMORROW: ICANN to Host Question-and-Answer Sessions for New gTLD Applicants Webinar Series on 2026 Round Objections and Appeals Processes 🚨 Action Items 🚨 ICANN Issues Request for Proposal: 2026 Round Auction ICANN Board Seeks Input on Additional Funds for 2026 Round Applicant Support Program ICANN Request for Proposal: 2026 Round Financial and Operational Evaluation ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers Public Comment Events These events occur in May 2026. ICANN86 Prep Week Information Sharing NEW: ICANN Board Adopts FY27–31 Operating Plan and FY27 Operating Plan and Budget The FY27–31 Operating and Financial Plan and FY27 Operating Plan and Budget were the result of 11 months of collaboration among the ICANN organization and the Board, the community, and the Public Technical Identifiers Board. Read more. NEW: Approved Resolutions | Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board | 3 May 2026 Please find the Approved Resolutions from the 3 May 2026 Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board here. NEW: Call for Expressions of Interest: ICANN 2027 NomCom Chair and Chair-Elect The Chair position blends time management and negotiation skills with the practical aspects of conducting a worldwide search for individuals to fill various ICANN leadership positions. Deadline: 29 May 2026 Read more. NEW: ICANN Publishes U.S. Tax Returns for Fiscal Year Ending 30 June 2025 The publication of ICANN's financial and tax information is part of ICANN's fundamental commitment to accountability and transparency. The community and the public are invited to review these tax returns and send any questions to planning@icann.org. Read more. NEW: ICANN Request for Proposal: 2026 Round Financial and Operational Evaluation Prospective providers are invited to submit proposals for ICANN to evaluate capabilities and expertise. This RFP is public and any potential provider may respond. Deadline: 12 June 2026 Read more. Helping the Ombuds Office Learn and Improve Understanding client experience is key and community members who have used the Ombuds Office have valuable information. Read more and request a survey. 2026 Round New gTLD Program: 2026 Round Opens Today New gTLDs have demonstrated their benefits in building brand trust, creating vibrant local digital ecosystems, and providing more intuitive navigation for users. 2026 Round Launch Page Press Release Announcement ICANN Opens Second Application Period for the 2026 Round RSP Evaluation Program The second application period for the RSP Evaluation Program runs from 30 April to 12 August 2026. Read more. ICANN 2026 Round Application System User Guide, Support Model Available ICANN has made several resources available to help prospective applicants familiarize themselves with ICANN's TLD Application Management System (TAMS). This online system will be used by all applicants, evaluation panelists, and ICANN staff to submit, manage, and process new gTLD applications. These resources are available to help prospective applicants prepare for the application completion and submission process through TAMS: System user guide Frequently Asked Questions Demo videos Q&A webinar recordings Read more. CLOSES TODAY: ICANN Extends Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 2026 Round Independent Objectors The Independent Objectors will file Community and Limited Public Interest objections and appeals and participate in mediation, where appropriate. Deadline: Monday 11 May Read more. Webinars TOMORROW: ICANN to Host Question-and-Answer Sessions for New gTLD Applicants Dates: 12 May, 16:00 UTC | 26 May, 16:00 UTC Read more and register. Webinar Series on 2026 Round Objections and Appeals Processes Introduction: 19 May, 14:00 UTC | 26 May, 06:00 UTC WIPO, Dispute Resolution Service Provider: 20 May, 14:00 UTC | 27 May, 06:00 UTC International Chamber of Commerce, Dispute Resolution Service Provider: 21 May, 14:00 UTC | 28 May, 06:00 UTC Read more and register. Action Items ICANN Issues Request for Proposal: 2026 Round Auction The selected provider will implement the ascending-clock, second-price auction method and must have the capability to accommodate a high volume of auctions, including both direct and indirect contention sets. Deadline: 2 June 2026 Read more. ICANN Request for Proposal: 2026 Round Financial and Operational Evaluation The Financial and Operational Evaluation occurs during the applicant evaluation phase of the New gTLD Program, expected to begin in Q3 2027. Deadline: 12 June 2026 Read more. ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers ICANNWiki is seeking volunteers to assist with creating and editing articles and content for the site. Do you want to help? Getting started is as simple as requesting an account. Then, make sure to read the short content guide to get a feel for what belongs in the wiki. Also, feel free to take a look at some data source suggestions on where to find reliable data. Happy editing! Public Comment See upcoming proceedings. See other public consultations. Events These events occur in May 2026. To learn more, please visit our community engagement calendar. West Africa IGF 2026 Abrint Global Congress 2026 At-Large Webinar: At-Large Webinar: At-Large Meets ICANN Contractual Compliance and NetBeacon Institute Africa–Europe AI Governance Roundtable | Africa Forward Summit DNS-OARC 46 RIPE 92 DNSSEC workshop in Yamoussokro, Cote d'Ivoire 2026 Round Objections and Appeals Processes - ICANN hosts 1 of 2 Africa Tech Policy Summit Volume 8, Issue 33 | Archive | Next Issue: Thursday, 14 May 2026 STAY INFORMED: Subscribe here ICANN | 12025 Waterfront Drive Suite 300 | Los Angeles, CA 90094-2536 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice