Last year, IBFutureFest attracted 727 people to the Santa Monica Pier for an event that mixed the energy of a festival with serious business talks. Attendees formed new connections, struck deals, and gave clear feedback—they wanted it bigger and better. Now, InsuranceFest 2026 is set to return to the same spot on July 16, expecting over 1,200 professionals from across the specialty insurance world.
This year, the event promises a fresh format designed around how business really happens. The attendees will include excess and surplus brokers, managing general agents, carriers, reinsurers, tech innovators, and risk leaders. The organizers have set up four zones at the festival, each focusing on a key area of the industry.
The Pacific Zone will be the main stage, hosting speeches from leaders like Rochelle Lewis from Red Bull, who will share insights on how companies deal with new risks and build partnerships. The Ocean Zone will address big industry shifts such as AI use, regulatory technology, legal verdicts, and mergers. Christina Lucas from Google will lead a session on how to turn AI hype into real business results.
The Palm Zone will concentrate on people, culture, and improving client experiences. Here, speakers like Anis Taylor, co-founder of SnapRefund, will discuss topics from placement strategies to payment innovations. Meanwhile, the Shore Zone will offer practical, hands-on sessions, including live cyber crisis drills and workshops on claims. Jacqueline Waters of Aon will lead candid conversations in this area.
A major addition for 2026 is the introduction of more than 50 Discussion Tables. These small groups will focus on four themes: cyber, digital transformation, construction, and excess & surplus. Rather than being traditional panels, these tables aim to address real challenges brokers face, such as overlapping coverage in cyber insurance, cutting through the AI noise, workshop contract clauses, and finding capacity in tight markets. The idea is to foster honest discussions that help sharpen strategies and create business opportunities.
The event is built to meet current industry demands. The excess and surplus market has been growing steadily for seven years. Cyber risks are changing faster than many clients can handle. Plus, over half of brokers are concerned about the shortage of new talent entering the field. InsuranceFest 2026 responds to these issues with over 40 sessions and more than 60 speakers, all arranged in a way that reflects how deals actually get done.
Anyone interested in joining can register now to save their spot. This event offers a chance for insurance professionals to gather, learn, and build connections in a relaxed yet focused setting at Santa Monica Pier this summer.