2026 global insurance outlook
Evolving industry operating models to build the future of insurance
Focusing on agility, innovation, and customers to help navigate complexities and meet new demands
Heading into 2026, there is little doubt insurers are entering an era of considerable uncertainty—from economic and geopolitical volatility to the increasing frequency and severity of catastrophic events. At the same time, clearly defined boundaries are blurring, distributors are consolidating and refashioning, and the technology landscape continues to alter business models. Layered onto this are rapidly evolving customer expectations, redefining what value, convenience, and trust mean in the context of insurance.
It seems clear to most stakeholders that business as usual for insurers may not suffice going forward. A new reality is unfolding, and carriers may need to rethink how they operate, engage, and grow to be ready to take it on.
The emphasis on technology modernization has shifted to executing real AI use cases at scale, strengthening data foundations, and aligning architecture and security to support these ambitions. However, embedding digital tools and capabilities effectively requires insurers to enable their workforce to thrive in increasingly digital, data-rich environments.
The accelerated pace and breadth of complexity and uncertainty don’t appear to be a passing phase. Insurers that understand this and act decisively to reconsider their current business models, products, tools, and stakeholder interactions could be well positioned in the market.
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