- Joined
- Mar 29, 2014
- Messages
- 2,206
- Reaction score
- 830
ICANN has confirmed that its ICANN87 Annual General Meeting will no longer take place in Muscat, Oman, and will instead be held in Bali, Indonesia, from 17 to 22 October 2026.
The decision was approved by the ICANN Board during its regular meeting on 3 May 2026. In the approved resolution, the Board authorized ICANN’s President and CEO, or their designee, to take all actions necessary to change the location of ICANN87 to Bali and to enter into venue and hotel contracts for the meeting.
According to ICANN, the move was made because of uncertainty linked to ongoing events in the Middle East and the recent escalation of activity in the region. ICANN said this created concerns around travel and security for meeting participants, which could affect its ability to hold a successful meeting in Muscat at this time.
ICANN87 will now be hosted at the Bali International Convention Centre, which is managed by and attached to The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.
Muscat postponed again, not abandoned
The Board also formally thanked the local host for Muscat, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman, as well as the local venue and hotel partners that had already supported preparations for the meeting.
Importantly, ICANN has not ruled out Oman as a future meeting location. The Board asked ICANN’s President and CEO to work with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman to identify a mutually acceptable future date for an ICANN Public Meeting in Oman.
This is the second time Muscat has been affected by an ICANN meeting relocation. ICANN84 was also originally scheduled for Muscat in 2025, but was later moved to Dublin, Ireland, because of regional flight disruption and planning uncertainty.
Why this matters to the domain name industry
ICANN Public Meetings are major working meetings for the global domain name system. They bring together registries, registrars, policy groups, governments, technical operators, intellectual property interests, civil society, investors, consultants and other internet governance participants.
For the domain name industry, ICANN87 will be especially important because it falls during a very active period for ICANN and the next round of new gTLDs. The 2026 round of new gTLD applications, registry service provider work, applicant support, policy implementation and contract-related discussions are all expected to remain major topics across ICANN’s meeting cycle.
ICANN says each Public Meeting brings together participants from more than 150 countries, with accessibility, travel reliability and both in-person and online participation being essential to the event’s success.
The Bali location keeps ICANN87 within the Asia/Australia/Pacific region, consistent with ICANN’s geographic rotation approach for its Public Meetings.
Financial details remain partly redacted
The Board resolution states that ICANN’s venue and hotel contracting for ICANN87 in Bali is authorized up to an amount that remains redacted as confidential negotiation information.
ICANN noted that Board approval was required because the contracting and disbursement policy requires Board approval for expenditures above US $750,000. The Board Finance Committee reviewed the financial risks and recommended approval.
What attendees should know
Anyone planning to attend ICANN87 should now treat Bali, Indonesia, as the confirmed location for the meeting.
Key details:
The relocation gives the ICANN community more certainty several months before the event. For registrars, registries, new gTLD applicants and other domain industry participants, the main practical consequence is that travel planning, accommodation and visa arrangements should now be based on Bali rather than Muscat.
Sources
ICANN Board resolutions, 3 May 2026:
https://www.icann.org/en/board-acti...g-of-the-icann-board-03-05-2026-en#section2.f
ICANN announcement, 2 June 2026:
https://www.icann.org/en/announceme...ng-to-be-held-in-bali-indonesia-02-06-2026-en
ICANN87 engagement calendar page:
https://www.icann.org/en/engagement...nn87-muscat-annual-general-meeting-2026-10-17
ICANN meeting selection criteria:
https://meetings.icann.org/en/host
The decision was approved by the ICANN Board during its regular meeting on 3 May 2026. In the approved resolution, the Board authorized ICANN’s President and CEO, or their designee, to take all actions necessary to change the location of ICANN87 to Bali and to enter into venue and hotel contracts for the meeting.
According to ICANN, the move was made because of uncertainty linked to ongoing events in the Middle East and the recent escalation of activity in the region. ICANN said this created concerns around travel and security for meeting participants, which could affect its ability to hold a successful meeting in Muscat at this time.
ICANN87 will now be hosted at the Bali International Convention Centre, which is managed by and attached to The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.
Muscat postponed again, not abandoned
The Board also formally thanked the local host for Muscat, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman, as well as the local venue and hotel partners that had already supported preparations for the meeting.
Importantly, ICANN has not ruled out Oman as a future meeting location. The Board asked ICANN’s President and CEO to work with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman to identify a mutually acceptable future date for an ICANN Public Meeting in Oman.
This is the second time Muscat has been affected by an ICANN meeting relocation. ICANN84 was also originally scheduled for Muscat in 2025, but was later moved to Dublin, Ireland, because of regional flight disruption and planning uncertainty.
Why this matters to the domain name industry
ICANN Public Meetings are major working meetings for the global domain name system. They bring together registries, registrars, policy groups, governments, technical operators, intellectual property interests, civil society, investors, consultants and other internet governance participants.
For the domain name industry, ICANN87 will be especially important because it falls during a very active period for ICANN and the next round of new gTLDs. The 2026 round of new gTLD applications, registry service provider work, applicant support, policy implementation and contract-related discussions are all expected to remain major topics across ICANN’s meeting cycle.
ICANN says each Public Meeting brings together participants from more than 150 countries, with accessibility, travel reliability and both in-person and online participation being essential to the event’s success.
The Bali location keeps ICANN87 within the Asia/Australia/Pacific region, consistent with ICANN’s geographic rotation approach for its Public Meetings.
Financial details remain partly redacted
The Board resolution states that ICANN’s venue and hotel contracting for ICANN87 in Bali is authorized up to an amount that remains redacted as confidential negotiation information.
ICANN noted that Board approval was required because the contracting and disbursement policy requires Board approval for expenditures above US $750,000. The Board Finance Committee reviewed the financial risks and recommended approval.
What attendees should know
Anyone planning to attend ICANN87 should now treat Bali, Indonesia, as the confirmed location for the meeting.
Key details:
- Event: ICANN87 Annual General Meeting
- Dates: 17-22 October 2026
- New location: Bali, Indonesia
- Venue: Bali International Convention Centre
- Format: Both virtual and in person
- Previous location: Muscat, Oman
- Registration: Expected to open in early July 2026
The relocation gives the ICANN community more certainty several months before the event. For registrars, registries, new gTLD applicants and other domain industry participants, the main practical consequence is that travel planning, accommodation and visa arrangements should now be based on Bali rather than Muscat.
Sources
ICANN Board resolutions, 3 May 2026:
https://www.icann.org/en/board-acti...g-of-the-icann-board-03-05-2026-en#section2.f
ICANN announcement, 2 June 2026:
https://www.icann.org/en/announceme...ng-to-be-held-in-bali-indonesia-02-06-2026-en
ICANN87 engagement calendar page:
https://www.icann.org/en/engagement...nn87-muscat-annual-general-meeting-2026-10-17
ICANN meeting selection criteria:
https://meetings.icann.org/en/host
