On July 16, 2026, the specialty insurance industry trades fluorescent lighting for ocean air as InsuranceFest 2026 takes over the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
More than 1,200 brokers, carriers, MGAs, reinsurers, and insurtech innovators are set to gather for a day that promises substance and sunshine in equal measure.
This year's festival spans four themed zones, 50 discussion tables, and 60-plus speakers, all engineered around a simple idea: the best conversations in insurance happen when people actually want to be in the room — or in this case, on the pier.
Ask the people taking the stage what excites them most, and the setting comes up again and again.
"What I'm most excited about is the unique location of InsuranceFest at the Santa Monica Pier — outdoors in the beautiful SoCal weather rather than the typical stuffy hotel ballroom," said Rob Galbraith of Forestview Insights, who returns this year as MC of the Innovation Stage. "Both the location and the mix of informational sessions with fun activities and truly interactive networking opportunities are more than worth the price of admission."
Galbraith is especially energized by the lineup he'll be introducing. "I'm excited to showcase a wide range of diverse speakers sharing their perspectives and hands-on experience with our audience," he said. "Hearing directly from practitioners — and having the opportunity to interact with them — always leads to fresh ideas and new solutions to nagging problems."
For Katherine Grasman of Heffernan Insurance Brokers, the energy of the venue is part of the draw.
"I'm thrilled to join InsuranceFest this July to meet other leaders in the insurance space and learn about the business problems we're all trying to solve," she said. "I look forward to the sessions to learn and connect with everyone in such an energetic and sunny setting."
If one theme runs through this year's agenda, it's the move from buzzwords to bottom-line impact, particularly when it comes to artificial intelligence.
Jeffery Arnold of RightSure brings that message to his Expert Deep Dive, AI in 2026 and Beyond: From Shiny Objects to Real Results for Retail Brokers. "While your competitors are racing to plug AI into their operations, we'll build a playbook that elevates your brand and protects your culture," Arnold said.
On the panel AI Revolution – From Hype to ROI, Christina Lucas of Google returns for her second InsuranceFest to help the industry turn ambition into outcomes. "I'm thrilled to be back to help our industry navigate AI challenges and move toward a digital-first future," Lucas said. "This is the premier destination for next-gen thought leadership, where we can rewrite the industry playbook together."
What the Google exec is watching for most is "the convergence of new talent and emerging technologies — a vital platform for the industry to collaborate and design the future of insurance together."
Grasman will carry the practical thread into the panel Distribution Disrupted – Brokers of Tomorrow Amid M&A. She will discuss how Heffernan is leveraging technology to streamline its M&A efforts and “how our AI implementation enhanced our operations across all lines of business and niches," she said.
"We'll also discuss how creative AI use keeps companies competitive in a landscape that's constantly evolving."
Beyond the AI conversation, InsuranceFest is leaning hard into the technical realities of specialty risk.
Yosha DeLong of Mosaic Americas Insurance Services joins Specialty Lines Unplugged – Financial & Construction, a session built for the moment. "Specialty lines are where some of the most dynamic changes in the industry are happening today," DeLong said.
"Clients are facing a rapidly evolving landscape that requires deeper expertise and more strategic partnership than ever before. This panel is an opportunity to unpack how the market is responding, where opportunities for growth exist, and how brokers and underwriters can better position clients in an increasingly complex risk environment."
On a personal note, she adds, she's eager to hear from industry colleagues "about emerging risks and solutions in the market."
The festival also turns its attention to the people who will carry the industry forward. On the Next Gen Power Lab: What I Wish I'd Known panel, Brooke Liu of MarshBerry will trade career playbooks with peers shaping the industry's future.
"I'm incredibly excited to be part of a conversation centered on growth, learning, and real career experiences," Liu said. "Every stage of a career comes with challenges and unexpected turns, and I'm excited to share a few of my own lessons while connecting with others who are shaping the future of the industry."
Between sessions, the pier becomes the networking floor — think sunrise yoga, food trucks, cocktails, and small-group conversations designed for candor rather than small talk.
It's the formula that earned the event its "Coachella-meets-C-suite" reputation, and it's why so many attendees describe the experience as unlike anything else on the industry calendar.
Registration for InsuranceFest 2026 is open now. Whether you're chasing capacity, rethinking distribution, or trying to separate AI signal from noise, the pier is where specialty insurance gets real this July.
