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2026 GAC Chair Election
The annual GAC leadership election process will follow a new annual election cycle that will conclude during the ICANN86 Meeting in June 2026. The annual election cycle begins with the opening of an extensive nomination period at the end of the ICANN85 Community Forum.
This year’s leadership election is open for the position of one Chair who serves a two-year term.
Nomination Period
The nomination period will begin at the end of ICANN85, on 12 March 2026 and close at 23:59 UTC on 24 April 2026.
This web page provides detailed information about the nomination process and will be updated as events warrant.
Pertinent information regarding the nomination process is set forth as follows:
- Self-nominations or third-party nominations for the Chair position should be made by email to the GAC membership mailing list – gac@icann.org. A nominating email should be clearly titled as “GAC Chair Nomination". Candidates can only be nominated during the nomination period.
- Individuals nominated by a third party will be asked by ICANN GAC Support staff to confirm their acceptance of the nomination and willingness to stand for election. Self-nominations will not require that confirmation.
- The ICANN GAC Support staff will keep track of the nominations on the GAC website.
- The eligibility requirement stated in GAC Operating Principle 22, that GAC Chair candidates be “accredited representatives” has, in practice, been taken to mean that GAC Member Primary Representatives, Alternate Representatives and Advisors are eligible for nomination and election to serve.
- Two reminders about the nomination period will be sent to the GAC membership list – the first about half way through the nomination period and a second reminder one week prior to the close of the nomination period.
- If the number of valid nominations are equal to the number of open Chair position (1), no balloting will be necessary and the nominated candidate will be elected by acclamation.
- If there are more nominations than seats available for the Chair's position, then balloting will be conducted to fill the position. Any balloting will take place by electronic means as provided for in GAC Operating Principles 34 and 35.
- In addition to keeping track of the nominations on the GAC website, within three days of the close of the nomination period, the ICANN GAC Support staff will inform the membership of the need for an election by ballots or acclamation.
List of GAC Chair Nominee(s)
| Person Nominated | Nominator | Date of Nomination |
| Ian Sheldon (Australia) | 'Esau Tupou (Tonga) | 7 April 2026 |
Following the close of the nomination period, Ian Sheldon (Australia) is the sole nominee for the position of GAC Chair.
In accordance with the GAC Operating Principles (OP32), the formal confirmation by acclamation is expected to take place during the ICANN86 meeting, for a two-year term commencing at the close of the ICANN87 meeting (October 2026).
Ian Sheldon currently serves as a GAC Vice-Chair [gac.icann.org]with a term running through the ICANN90 meeting (October 2027).
In light of the current status of the GAC Chair election process, the GAC Leadership has agreed to notify the committee in advance of the ICANN86 meeting and, following ICANN86, to open a nomination period for a special Vice-Chair election.
This special election will provide an opportunity for interested GAC members to serve as Vice-Chair for the remainder of Ian Sheldon’s second Vice-Chair term, beginning after the ICANN88 meeting and ending at the ICANN90 meeting.
Should there be an absence of nominations, the Leadership team will consider next steps, including the timing of the next regular election cycle, following the ICANN88 meeting (March 2027).