ICANN84 in Dublin: A Pivotal Moment for the Future of the Internet

The upcoming 84th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is set to take place from October 25-30, 2025, at the Dublin Convention Centre in Ireland. This pivotal event, hosted by the Internet Neutral Exchange Association (INEX), will gather stakeholders from all corners of the globe, representing various sectors including government, civil society, business, and the technical community.

The ICANN84 meeting comes at a significant juncture for global internet governance. This gathering is strategically timed, occurring just weeks before the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) review, a vital United Nations process aimed at evaluating 20 years of progress in digital cooperation. Simultaneously, ICANN is making strides in preparing the next round of the generic top-level domains (gTLD) program, set to launch in April 2026, allowing organizations to secure new domain name extensions beyond the well-known .com and .org.

The AGM also marks a transition period, welcoming new members into leadership roles, where past successes and future opportunities will be critically assessed, and strategic plans will be established for the forthcoming year.

One of the most anticipated outcomes from ICANN84 is the Board's approval of the applicant guidebook for the upcoming gTLD program series. This decision will pave the way for the application window in April 2026. Another focal point of the meeting is a broader discussion concerning the future of internet governance, directly linking ICANN84 to preparatory debates and outcomes anticipated during the WSIS+20.

The presence of WSIS+20 co-facilitators at ICANN84 underscores the meeting's role as a neutral, multi-stakeholder platform, where the technical community is essential in shaping the future of the Internet. ICANN firmly asserts its commitment to maintaining a collaborative technical coordination approach that is globally representative and rooted in a multi-stakeholder model, which has preserved the internet's security, stability, and interoperability over the past two decades.

Kurtis Lindqvist, the CEO of ICANN, stated, "ICANN84 takes place at a crucial crossroads for the future of the Internet. The WSIS+20 review and the upcoming series of top-level domains underline the stakes involved in this meeting, which will significantly influence the internet's governance to keep it safe, interoperable, and accessible to all. The multi-stakeholder model is vital here, enabling governments, business sectors, and the technical community to collaborate and ensure the Internet remains unique and global."

As the WSIS+20 process approaches its conclusion, conversations at ICANN84 will contribute to defining how the Internet will serve individuals and communities for years to come. INEX stated, "We believe in the power of collaboration and view the internet and our community as a force for good. Ireland provides a conducive environment for open, forward-thinking discussions and exemplifies the potential of teamwork. We are thrilled to welcome the global internet community back to Dublin and proud to sponsor ICANN84 during this critical time for internet governance."

Registration to participate in-person remains open until October 23, 2025, with remote participation also available. For further information and to register, please visit the meeting's web page.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to ensure a safe, stable, and unified global internet. To connect with someone online, a unique name or number must be entered, which ICANN coordinates globally. Established in 1998 as a non-profit organization, ICANN gathers participants from around the world to fulfill its mission.

About INEX

INEX serves as the Internet access point for the island of Ireland. Founded in 1996, it is a neutral, non-profit association owned by the industry, providing IP peering facilities to its members, which currently number 113 organizations interested in IP traffic peering.