Last year, IBFutureFest brought 727 attendees to Santa Monica Pier for what one co-founder called "Coachella vibes meets c-suite conversations."
It worked. Deals happened. Relationships formed. And the feedback was clear: do it again, but bigger.
So that's exactly what we're doing.
InsuranceFest 2026 returns to the Pier on July 16 with 1,200+ specialty professionals, including excess & surplus (E&S) brokers, MGAs, carriers, reinsurers, tech innovators, and risk leaders, and a format redesigned around how business actually gets done.
The festival runs across four dedicated zones, each with a distinct focus.
The Pacific Zone anchors the main stage, featuring keynotes from risk leaders like Rochelle Lewis, director and risk manager at Red Bull, on how organizations are tackling new threats and reimagining partnerships.
The Ocean Zone tackles the big forces reshaping broking: AI implementation, RegTech, nuclear verdicts, and M&A. Christina Lucas, director and market leader – insurance at Google, headlines a session on moving AI from hype to ROI.
The Palm Zone goes deeper into people, culture, and client experience, with talks ranging from E&S placement strategies to payment innovation, with Anis Taylor, co-Founder and COO at SnapRefund.
The Shore Zone is hands-on: live cyber crisis simulations, claims workshops, and straight-talk Q&As with leaders like Jacqueline Waters of Aon.
The biggest addition for 2026: sponsor-led Discussion Tables across four themes: cyber, digital transformation, construction, and E&S.
Each targets a real broker pain point.
Cyber tables tackle the blurring lines between D&O, EPL, and cyber coverage. Digital transformation tables cut through the noise on AI adoption. Construction tables, workshop contract clauses, and hidden builder's risks. E&S tables focus on securing capacity when traditional markets say no.
These aren't panels, but rather small-group, candid conversations designed to sharpen placement strategy and spark relationships that translate into business.
The E&S market has seen seven straight years of double-digit growth. Cyber risk is evolving faster than most clients can keep up. And 56% of brokers are worried about the industry's talent pipeline.
InsuranceFest 2026 doesn't just acknowledge these pressures. It builds programming around solving them.
Forty-plus sessions. Sixty-plus speakers. And a festival format that finally matches how deals actually get done.
Register now to secure your place.
