In advance of the launch of the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: 2026 Round, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is publishing an updated String Similarity Evaluation (SSE) Guidelines document for Public Comment. This document intended to be used by the SSE Panel during the evaluation for applied-for strings in the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round.
For more information and to participate in the proceeding, please visit the Public Comment webpage.
Submissions Opening Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Submissions Closing Date: Thursday, 22 January 2026
About ICANN
ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.