Automattic signals a small portfolio for the 2026 new gTLD round

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and the operator of .blog, has signaled that it is participating in the 2026 new gTLD round with a focused portfolio.

In a post published on 20 August, Automattic said it is considering a small number of domain extensions that could complement .blog and reflect the wider range of businesses, stores, publications, communities, and services now built with WordPress.

It means thinking carefully about a small number of meaningful options that could complement .blog and better reflect the different ways people use WordPress today.

What Automattic’s statement indicates

The company is not presenting the effort as a search for another .com or as a large portfolio strategy. Its stated aim is to operate a limited set of TLDs that fit specific groups of WordPress users and give Automattic more control over pricing, policy, and the customer experience.

Automattic points to nearly ten years of operating .blog without increasing its registry price as an example of that approach.

What remains undisclosed

Automattic named no strings and stated no application count. The public record therefore does not establish which TLDs it may have applied for, how many primary applications it filed, or whether replacement strings are involved.

The Automattic applicant profile is recorded with an asterisk for an undisclosed portfolio. It is not assigned to any string or contention set until more specific evidence becomes public.