Kennedys Foresight: The 2026 risk landscape

Kennedys Foresight: The 2026 risk landscape, offers informed perspectives to help you make sense of ongoing change and navigate what lies ahead.

Drawing on a series of partner and leadership interviews from across our global network, supported by economic insights, our report examines the global and regional forces shaping our clients’ worlds. From macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical instability to the accelerating impacts of AI, cyber threats, and climate change, our insights will help clients navigate the future with clarity and confidence.

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Regional priorities

Each of our five territories has its own risk profiles and market dynamics. However, the commonalities are also striking. With summaries from our Regional Managing Partners, the report draws from Kennedys' on-the-ground expertise across APAC, EMEA, the UK, the US, and LatAm spotlighting what’s most relevant to your local market.

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Key themes

Geopolitical, environmental, economic and technological dynamics continue to shape the global risk landscape, with these risk factors becoming increasingly interconnected.

As we look to 2026 and beyond, we see a concentration of risk and commonality around five core themes. None of our core trends are specific to one territory and are impacting the global landscape for insurers.

Artificial intelligence

From claims handling, to risk modelling, to the prospect of the first ‘machine-reasoned’ arbitrations, the applications for AI are seemingly limitless. However, coming to terms with the risks that AI also encompasses is just as important as its skilful and innovative deployment.

Climate change

Natural catastrophe claims are expected to remain a persistent and unfortunate challenge, given their continued and unavoidable occurrence. The resulting business interruption and impacts on the wider population, mean that insurers and reinsurers are now reassessing their exposure in many markets.

Cyber threats

The cyber threat landscape is set for rapid and unsettling developments. There is an increasing web of global legislation and regulatory frameworks around cyber and data privacy. Cyber-attacks also intersect with geopolitics, with nation states engaging in significant malicious acts over recent years.

Geopolitical uncertainty

2026 is already shaping up to be a challenging year globally. Geopolitical uncertainty continues to affect regions and industries worldwide, with ongoing tensions keeping political risk a key consideration for underwriters.

Social inflation

Driven by growing anti-corporate sentiment, mounting cost of living crises and mirroring US-style class actions, social inflation is a trend expected to take root in 2026. The world does not lack for issues to turn into mass tort cases. PFAS or forever chemicals, microplastics, weight-loss drugs and even social media - all of them have the potential to test existing legislative norms and expand liability and cost.

Actions and recommendations

Navigating an interconnected global risk landscape is increasingly complex. As regulatory activity continues to intensify, greater focus is being placed on business resilience, making effective information gathering and sharing more important than ever.

Our full report outlines region-specific advisory insights, alongside thematic takeaways from our partners, who serve as trusted advisers to clients worldwide. By understanding both existing and emerging risks, insurers can not only navigate this challenging environment but also support their clients in achieving sustainable success.

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Kennedys Foresight: The 2026 risk landscape