Verisign .web review: Sunrise Period, Priority Access and Registration Mechanics

Verisign .web review shows the new gTLD entered the root zone in July 2026 after Verisign secured the string for a reported $135 million in 2016. The registry follows the standard ICANN Base Registry Agreement without .com-style price caps. Launch phases begin with a Qualified Launch Program on November 20, 2026, followed by a Sunrise period for trademark holders.

Verisign .web Registry Overview and Launch Timeline

The .web extension was delegated to Verisign on July 22, 2026. Total reported acquisition costs reached approximately $171.4 million after earlier auctions and disputes. The registry operates under standard ICANN rules that allow Verisign to set wholesale prices without external caps.

Launch dates were confirmed in Verisign’s November 11, 2026 press release and the ICANN-filed Startup Information document. The Qualified Launch Program runs from November 20, 2026 through January 11, 2027. Sunrise opens December 10, 2026 at 00:00 UTC and closes January 11, 2027 at 23:59:59 UTC. Priority Access starts January 12, 2027 at 04:00 UTC and ends April 5, 2027 at 23:59:59 UTC. General registration begins April 6, 2027 at 00:00 UTC.

Verisign may allocate names to itself or third parties during the Qualified Launch phase according to Trademark Clearinghouse rules. A separate China Exact Match Opportunity is scheduled after general availability for qualifying .com registrants in that market. No wholesale or retail pricing has been published for .web names.

Registration Phases and Eligibility Rules

The Sunrise period limits registrations to verified trademark holders who hold valid Signed Mark Data files from the ICANN Trademark Clearinghouse. Only exact-match strings are accepted, and processing follows first-come, first-served order. Registrars must complete integration testing before accepting Sunrise applications, and Claims Services notifications apply throughout the window.

Priority Access is restricted to holders of qualifying .com domains registered before the Add Grace Period cutoff and still active at the start of the window. Eligible registrants must use the same registrar of record that manages their .com name. Transfers of the underlying .com domain can change eligibility timing. Exact-match .web names become available exclusively during this period if not claimed earlier.

General registration opens to the public on April 6, 2027 on a first-come, first-served basis through ICANN-accredited registrars. A perpetual Claims Period begins at that point and may be ended at Verisign’s discretion. Premium names may be introduced at registry discretion during any phase, though no list has been released yet. All registrations require participating registrars; direct registry access is not available.

Key Considerations for .web Domain Users

Trademark owners should prepare SMD files and confirm registrar readiness ahead of the December 10, 2026 Sunrise start. .com holders planning to secure matching .web names need to verify their registrar supports the Priority Access program and confirm domain age requirements.

Because no pricing details exist, registrants should expect wholesale fees above .com levels and possible markups on premium strings during early phases. Claims Services notifications will continue into general availability, requiring attention to potential trademark alerts even after April 2027.

Verisign .web review notes that the registry’s standard agreement structure gives the operator flexibility on pricing and allocation that differs from legacy restrictions on .com. Users evaluating early registration should track registrar announcements for integration status and any announced fees before each window opens.