ICA 2026 Recap. Business, Community, and the Future of Domains

Every year the ICA Annual Meeting proves why it remains the most valuable event in the domain industry. Brian Harbin and I attended again this year and it delivered exactly what makes ICA special. The right people were there, real conversations took place, and meaningful relationships were built rather than simply exchanging business cards.

This year the ICA board made a great choice with the new location. Park MGM sits in an ideal spot on the strip, which made it easy to move between meetings, sessions, and social events throughout the week. The conference area being close to the hotel elevators kept everything flowing smoothly, which made a noticeable difference during a busy schedule. The ICA crowd continues to attract serious investors and long time industry veterans, while keeping a laid back and welcoming atmosphere that makes connecting easy for both newcomers and experienced operators.

Grit Brokerage Guru Table (photo below, courtesy of Ron Jackson DNJournal.com)

Brian and I hosted a guru table focused on marketing and selling premium domain names. We walked through what separates premium domain brokerage from standard domain sales and shared how we position names, reach end users, and negotiate high value transactions. The questions were thoughtful and the discussions were practical, which is exactly what makes ICA valuable for attendees who take this industry seriously.

Pickleball Kubba Cup and Activity Day

Grit Brokerage was proud to sponsor the Kubba Cup pickleball tournament on activity day. The event took place at Chicken and Pickle and became one of the highlights of the week. It provided a relaxed and fun environment to connect with peers outside the conference setting.

Beyond pickleball, ICA delivered an impressive lineup of activities throughout the week. Attendees had access to horseback riding, a Hoover Dam trip, Topgolf, a magician show, an ICA board member roast, parties and food, karaoke, a Vegas show, and a poker tournament. All of this (except poker buy-in) was included in the cost of the conference ticket. It would be nearly impossible to find another conference in any industry that offers this level of experience and value in a single package.

Why ICA Matters

Beyond networking and deal making, the ICA plays a critical role for the domain industry. They advocate for domain owner rights, monitor policy changes, and help protect investors from regulatory threats that most people never see coming. Anyone serious about domains should support ICA because their work benefits every domain owner, whether they attend the event or not.

It was a great week filled with strong conversations, new connections, and plenty of fun. We are already looking forward to next year!

-Michael Law