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ICANN86 Policy Forum in Seville: A Global Gathering for Internet Governance

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is set to convene its 86th Public Meeting, known as the ICANN86 Policy Forum, from June 8 to June 11, 2026, at the FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain. This important meeting will bring together diverse stakeholders from governments, civil society, the business sector, and technical communities to collaborate on critical policy and governance issues affecting the Internet on a global scale.

Held under the auspices of the Spanish Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration, the ICANN86 Policy Forum will focus on various pressing topics such as combating malicious use of the Domain Name System (DNS), ensuring data access for domain name registration, and enhancing DNS security and resilience. The meeting will also cover global coordination of Internet numbering resources, internationalized domain names, and universal acceptance, all of which are crucial for maintaining an interoperable and stable Internet.

Kurtis Lindqvist, the CEO of ICANN, emphasized the significance of this forum, stating, "ICANN86 comes at a time when there is increasing attention on how Internet coordination functions across borders. This underscores the importance of ICANN's multistakeholder model, which is built on consensus. Our community will continue its work on technical and policy issues under ICANN's mandate, aiming to preserve a stable and safe Internet that is interoperable worldwide."

The forum will also allow ICANN’s supporting organizations and advisory committees to further their policy-making efforts and opinions concerning significant Internet governance matters. Notably, ICANN has encouraged student and young professional participation through its NextGen@ICANN and scholarship programs, fostering future leaders in the field of Internet governance.

Attendees can look forward to key events, including the opening plenary session of the Government Advisory Committee and workshops focused on DNS security and women's role in tech forums related to DNS. This meeting marks the second time ICANN has held a public meeting in Spain, following the successful event in Barcelona in 2018.

With a hybrid format, participants can join in-person or virtually, making this forum accessible to a broader audience. On-site registration will close on June 7, 2026, while remote participation will remain open until the end of the meeting.

In conclusion, María González Veracruz, Spain's Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting the ICANN86. She expressed pride in welcoming such a vital global discussion on the coordination of systems that ensure the Internet functions efficiently for users around the world.

For more details and registration, visit the ICANN86 official website. As ICANN continues to coordinate and support unique identifiers globally, this forum represents a critical step toward ensuring a safe, stable, and unified Internet.

About ICANN

Established in 1998 as a non-profit organization, ICANN operates to guarantee a globally unified and secure Internet. By coordinating unique identifiers, ICANN facilitates communication across digital platforms, which is essential for the functioning of the Internet as we know it.