The ICANN Contracted Parties Summit will be held in Manchester, England, from April 27 to April 29, 2026. The event is organized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and is focused on organizations that hold contracts with ICANN. These include domain name registrars and registry operators that manage top-level domains.
The ICANN Contracted Parties Summit is an annual event designed to support operational discussions within the domain name industry. Attendance is limited to contracted parties and invited participants. Registration for the summit is free, but advance registration is required.
Purpose of the ICANN Contracted Parties Summit
The ICANN Contracted Parties Summit is intended to provide a forum for registrars and registries to engage directly with ICANN staff and industry peers. The event emphasizes business operations, technical coordination, and industry collaboration rather than public policy development.
Sessions typically focus on topics affecting contracted parties. Planned discussion areas include new top-level domain programs, registrar and registry operations, DNS abuse mitigation, and interactions between traditional domain systems and emerging Web3 naming technologies.
Timing and Industry Context
The ICANN Contracted Parties Summit will take place immediately before the opening of the next new gTLD application window, which is scheduled to begin on April 30, 2026. The proximity of the summit to the application window is expected to influence agenda topics and participation levels.
The summit is scheduled for three days and will include structured sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Domain investors and other industry participants may attend depending on eligibility and interest.
Location and Event Background
Manchester was selected as the host city for the 2026 ICANN Contracted Parties Summit. The city has previously hosted international technology and internet governance events. Holding the summit in England marks a return of the event to the United Kingdom.
The Contracted Parties Summit is separate from ICANN’s public meetings and community forums. It serves as a dedicated space for contracted entities to discuss compliance, operational challenges, and coordination within the global domain name system.
The summit is part of ICANN’s broader 2026 calendar of industry meetings and events.
Source: https://domainnamewire.com/2026/02/06/icann-contract-parties-summit-going-to-manchester-in-april/
