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ICANN to Address Future of Digital Identity at Web Summit

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), known for its crucial role in managing the Internet's Domain Name System (DNS), is set to lead essential conversations regarding digital identity and the implications of Internet fragmentation at the upcoming Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. Taking place on November 11, 2025, these sessions will strategically delve into how the expansion of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) intersects with the geopolitical landscape affecting global Internet governance.

Critical Sessions at Web Summit

Web Summit attendees can look forward to two significant sessions that promise to shed light on pressing issues:

1. The Geopolitics of the Internet: Unity or Division?
Scheduled for November 11 from 15:20 to 15:45 WET at Stage 13 during the Government Summit, this session will feature ICANN President and CEO Kurtis Lindqvist alongside key figures from the Internet Society and The National Interest. The discussion will focus on the importance of cross-border collaboration in defending against geopolitical forces that threaten to divide the Internet.

2. Revolutionize Your Online Presence with a New Domain
From 11:30 to 12:15 WET at Masterclass 5, a panel including ICANN’s Theresa Swinehart and industry leaders will discuss how personalized domains can enhance brand visibility and security. Particularly aimed at Chief Marketing Officers and technical leaders, this session is designed to prepare stakeholders for the upcoming gTLD applications that will commence in April 2026.

A Pivotal Moment in the Digital Sphere

These discussions occur at a critical juncture in the digital realm, where the future of the Internet, and by extension, its governance, hangs in the balance. With opportunities for innovation and growth on the horizon, ICANN emphasizes the necessity for society to remain vigilant in preventing fragmentation — a phenomenon that could jeopardize the Internet as a shared resource.

As ICANN gears up for the launch of the New gTLD Program 2026 Round, businesses and organizations will have the unprecedented chance to secure unique gTLDs. This initiative, slated to open its application window in April 2026, proposes custom domain options that serve as powerful tools for increasing visibility, fostering consumer trust, and spurring innovation in an increasingly crowded online environment. Importantly, the 2026 Round will promote the availability of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), enhancing accessibility for users who utilize non-Latin scripts.

Kurtis Lindqvist elaborates, "This next round of new gTLDs marks a major milestone in the journey of the Internet. We are set to empower organizations to forge distinctive digital identities, which in turn fuels consumer choice and market competition. However, along with this growth, we must remain steadfast in defending the multistakeholder governance model that underpins such innovation. At Web Summit, we look forward to discussions with global leaders about the looming threats we must tackle together to maintain a unified and interoperable Internet for future generations."

For additional insight into the New gTLD Program 2026 Round, visit ICANN's official site.

About ICANN

Established in 1998, ICANN’s mission is to ensure a stable, secure, and harmonized global Internet. The organization facilitates the functioning of the Internet by coordinating unique identifiers required for seamless online communication, thereby maintaining an effective address system that users rely on worldwide.