The insurance industry’s most talked-about festival returns to the iconic Santa Monica Pier, California, on July 16, 2026 – with a promise to tackle the biggest issues affecting specialty insurance.
After the success of InsuranceFest 2025, Insurance Business’ flagship event that united more than 700 specialty insurance leaders and over 25 partners, we are delighted to announce the launch of InsuranceFest 2026, which will level up in every direction!
InsuranceFest 2026 will combine the energy and fun of a festival with the substance of serious insurance business. It will focus on specialty insurance pain points, trends, and proven plays you can take straight back to your desk.
Whether it’s concerns over capacity, pricing and competition, catastrophe and property stress, or keeping up with cyber growth, InsuranceFest 2026 will bring together the top brokers and specialty coverage providers in the US to discuss solutions and innovation.
It’s all part of a bold new agenda designed to drive deep engagement and provide even more takeaways professionals can put into action. The 2026 edition is expected to welcome over 1,500 attendees, 50+ partners – we can’t wait to see you there.
InsuranceFest is designed for the professionals shaping the future of insurance: brokers, carriers, MGAs, wholesalers, and insurance technology decision-makers looking to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and get ahead of market shifts.
Forget about rows of chairs, dark ballrooms, and endless PowerPoint decks. InsuranceFest replaced the traditional conference model with a festival experience built around immersive zones, interactive marketplaces, discussion tables, and open networking spaces.
Attendees are free to move, explore, and choose their own path, whether that’s diving deep into a peer-led discussion, discovering new solutions on the expo floor, or making meaningful connections in relaxed, social settings.
JasperVOCAL CEO Marco Soares, who attended the inaugural event, called it “a perfect mix of formal and casual… an amazing opportunity to connect.”
“After the big July renewals, it’s a great opportunity to network, celebrate rising stars, and meet people from all over the country,” said Michael Brown, property and builders’ risk broker at Brown & Riding.
The success of InsuranceFest 2025 proved that the industry is ready for something different. The debut event broke the mold by blending high-level content with hands-on experiences, social activities, and a beachside atmosphere that fostered relaxed and authentic connections.
“The industry is typically dated in its events, but this one feels vibrant, fun, and an amazing place to connect insurance professionals,” said Ariel Lim, VP of business development at Palomar, during last year’s event.
“We need to do more events like this to draw people to the industry,” said Tony Chimera, chief administrative officer at Westfield Specialty. “We’re on a beach talking about cool stuff. It’s not like selling life insurance door to door.”
The 2026 agenda reflects the issues reshaping insurance today.
Panel sessions and workshops will tackle topics such as Specialty Lines Unplugged, exploring financial, construction, cyber, and emerging risks; Distribution Disrupted, examining what the broker of tomorrow looks like amid accelerating M&A; and the E&S Innovation Lab, where attendees will explore how coverage is being designed for tomorrow’s wildest risks.
There’s a strong focus on practical outcomes, with sessions like Claims Innovation that Clients Rave About, alongside future-facing discussions such as Customer Expectations 2026, Rethinking Nat Cat Risk in a Volatile World, and Beyond the Model — challenging how the industry approaches catastrophe exposure.
People and culture are front and center too, with conversations on leadership, inclusion, and growth, including Women Rewriting the Playbook and Talent, Opportunity and Outcomes: The ROI of Different Perspectives.
InsuranceFest 2025 proved that the industry is ready for a smarter, more human way to gather. InsuranceFest 2026 builds on that momentum.
Registration is now open! Secure your place at one of the most forward-thinking insurance events of the year.
