E&S in 2026: What the market is really saying

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E&S has become the pressure valve of the market – where the toughest risks land when everything else tightens up. That makes it rich with opportunity, and full of hard conversations.

InsuranceFest brings together brokers, underwriters and market insiders who live and breathe E&S, so you can hear what’s really driving decisions on tough classes, how nuclear verdicts are changing the room, and where capacity is quietly opening up or pulling back.

Why attend InsuranceFest?

Get a 360° view of the E&S and specialty market

Hear directly from brokers, MGAs, carriers and claims leaders on what’s really driving appetite, pricing and wordings.

Turn market volatility into opportunity

Understand how nuclear verdicts, social inflation and shifting capacity are reshaping risk – and where the best opportunities now sit.

Pressure‑test your strategy with real‑world insight

Benchmark your products, underwriting approach and distribution strategy against what the market is actually seeing and doing.

Build the relationships that move business

Connect with the brokers, underwriters and decision‑makers who influence complex and specialty flows across the E&S value chain.

SECURE YOUR PASS

Specialty Lines Unplugged – Financial, Construction, Cyber and Beyond

Reid Eanes, Lockton

The ways nuclear verdicts are shifting E&S appetite, pricing and terms—and what this means for brokers with high‑hazard or distressed risks.

Claims & Courtroom Chaos – Surviving Nuclear Verdicts in the E&S Era

Mariya Coleman, Howden

Bradon Schuh, Christensen Group

A close look at how nuclear verdicts are influencing underwriting appetite, pricing and terms in E&S, and what this means for brokers working with high‑hazard or distressed risks.

E&S Unfiltered – The Insider’s Guide for 2026

Ashby Moore, Risk Placement Services
Jamie Cannon, Reliance Partners

Market insiders share where they see capacity moving, which sectors are under the most pressure, and what stands out in broker submissions in the current environment.

Blueprints & Bulldozers: Construction Risk Unfiltered

Jose Suarez, Alera Group

How climate, regulatory and supply‑chain pressures are reshaping major construction risks, the surprises emerging on large projects, and the must‑ask questions for your next big build.