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ICANN85 Public Meeting in Mumbai: Building an Inclusive Internet for All

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced its 85th Public Meeting, which will take place from March 7 to 12, 2026, in Mumbai, India. This significant gathering is being organized by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) under the auspices of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). With over a billion Internet users and a thriving digital economy, India serves as the perfect backdrop for this global assembly, where participants will engage in crucial discussions about the technical and governance aspects that ensure the smooth operation of the Internet.

Strengthening Global Collaboration

ICANN85 comes a decade after the organization hosted a similar meeting in Hyderabad. This year, it offers a unique platform for the Indian Internet community to engage in a global dialogue on paramount issues surrounding Internet governance. Samiran Gupta, ICANN’s Stakeholder Engagement Vice President and General Manager for the Asia Pacific region, expressed gratitude to NIXI for hosting this vital forum, emphasizing the promising opportunities it presents for fruitful interactions among stakeholders.

Shri S. Krishnan, the Secretary in the MeitY and Chairman of NIXI, highlighted that India's digital transformation is founded on an open, secure, and inclusive Internet. Hosting ICANN85 underscores India's commitment to a multi-stakeholder governance model, which supports innovative policy frameworks aiming to enhance trust within the global Internet ecosystem.

Key Themes at ICANN85

The ICANN85 meeting will address several critical themes including the New gTLD Program, the importance of ICANN’s community in advancing a multilingual Internet, and the multi-stakeholder model. This meeting is particularly timely, as it precedes the upcoming launch of a new round of applications for the New gTLD Program in April. This program represents an expansion of the Domain Name System (DNS) that will allow various organizations, communities, and governments to apply for new top-level domains better suited to their particular interests and local cultures.

Key updates regarding the forthcoming application round and submission guidelines will be shared during the sessions. The New gTLD Program aligns with ICANN’s vision for 2030, aiming to manage unique Internet identifiers responsibly to foster a singular, interoperable global Internet accessible to all. This represents an essential step in realizing a truly multilingual Internet, facilitating broader access to those who wish to engage online in their native languages and scripts, thereby aligning with the Indian Government's goal of increasing Internet accessibility.

ICANN85 marks the first public meeting since the United Nations General Assembly ratified the WSIS+20 Final Document on December 17, 2025. This affirmation highlights the importance of Internet stability, openness, and interoperability, relying heavily on a multi-sectoral approach—a position strongly supported by both ICANN and the Indian Government. The WSIS+20 outcome reiterates the commitment to sustained efforts in the multi-stakeholder model, encouraging incorporation of diverse voices into the Internet governance framework, nurturing knowledge transfer, and enhancing capacity building while ensuring continued participation in public forums like ICANN meetings.

ICANN Community Excellence Awards

As has been tradition, ICANN85 will also feature the presentation of the ICANN Community Excellence Awards during the Welcome Ceremony on March 9, 2026. This award acknowledges outstanding contributions from community members who have significantly invested in consensus-based solutions and made notable contributions toward ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model.

Registration Details

In-person registration for ICANN85 is currently open and will remain so until March 6, 2026. No onsite registration will be permitted, but attendance is free and open to everyone interested in attending. For further details and to register, please visit the official meeting website.

About ICANN

Founded in 1998, ICANN is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. The organization's mission includes coordinating the unique identifiers necessary for effective interaction online.

About NIXI

The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) operates as a non-profit organization under MeitY, playing a pivotal role in fortifying India’s Internet infrastructure. NIXI promotes the efficient exchange of Internet traffic nationally, manages country-code top-level domains (.IN and .भारत), and strives to enhance Internet service adoption across India, aligning with the country’s digital growth ambitions.