Only 21 applications for internationalized domain names (IDNs) were submitted in ICANN’s 2026 round of new generic top-level domains, representing approximately 1.3% of all applications. The unexpectedly low participation has raised concerns among government representatives that the latest expansion of the domain name system may fall short of its goal of increasing linguistic and geographic diversity.

The figures remain preliminary. In its Bali Communiqué, published October 26 following ICANN87 in Indonesia, the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) highlighted the limited number of IDN applications as a potential setback for efforts to make the Internet more accessible across languages and writing systems. Final application figures are expected following String Confirmation Day in November.

Internationalized domain names allow Internet addresses to use characters from scripts other than the Latin alphabet, including Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic. Their adoption has been a longstanding priority within ICANN’s efforts to support a multilingual Internet and expand participation beyond markets traditionally served by Latin-script domain names.

Government representatives questioned whether the new round would deliver meaningful linguistic diversity. The GAC’s Human Rights and International Law Working Group warned that the preliminary figures may indicate that the 2026 expansion will not achieve the increase in linguistic and geographic representation anticipated by the ICANN community.

The concerns emerged alongside broader questions about accessibility in the application process. The GAC acknowledged increased participation in ICANN’s Applicant Support Program compared with the 2012 round but identified disparities between initiated and approved applications, as well as uneven participation across regions.

The committee requested an evaluation of the program, including structured interviews and exit surveys to understand why some prospective and approved applicants did not proceed. It also called for an examination of financial assistance, technical support, and regional participation, with initial findings ideally available before ICANN88 in March 2027.

Universal Acceptance remains another challenge. The GAC encouraged governments to incorporate Universal Acceptance into national digital strategies, helping ensure that software, websites, and online services recognize internationalized domain names, internationalized email addresses, and newer top-level domains.

During ICANN87, Indonesia’s initiatives to introduce local-language domain names using non-Latin scripts under its country-code top-level domain were highlighted as an example of national efforts to improve multilingual Internet access.

The November confirmation of application figures will provide a clearer indication of the new round’s linguistic diversity. Meanwhile, the GAC’s proposed review of applicant support could help identify barriers that prevented prospective applicants, particularly those from underserved regions, from participating.