Telegram files ICANN application for .gram domain to enable user web addresses

Telegram has applied for its own top-level domain, .gram, in a move that could give its more than one billion users personalized web addresses and a new platform for publishing. Founder Pavel Durov announced the filing on August 18, 2026, stating that if approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), users could claim addresses like yourname.gram and build interactive websites hosted directly by Telegram.

The application was submitted during ICANN's 2026 round for new generic top-level domains, the first such window since 2012. The application period closed on August 12, 2026, after receiving more than 1,600 primary applications. Telegram's proposal would allow users to register second-level domains under the .gram extension, effectively turning their existing Telegram usernames into functional internet addresses.

Durov outlined a vision where users could create and host interactive websites using a single artificial intelligence prompt, without needing traditional web development tools. This would integrate identity, website hosting, and AI-generated content within the Telegram ecosystem. The plan represents an expansion of Telegram's existing Mini...