Risk Radar 2026: AI, regulatory pressure and climate exposure top insurer risk agenda

Global Insurance Law Connect (GILC) has released the eighth edition of its Risk Radar report.

Drawing on contributions from member firms across five continents and 28 jurisdictions, the report sets out the issues shaping the insurance sector in 2026, with AI, digital transformation, regulatory change and climate risk emerging as defining themes across markets.

The report highlights the growing impact of AI across the insurance sector, as insurers, brokers and their advisers consider both the opportunities and risks created by rapid technological change. AI, automation, cyber risk and evolving distribution models are reshaping underwriting, claims handling, governance and customer interaction, creating new legal, operational and regulatory considerations for insurers worldwide.

At the same time, regulatory demands are becoming more immediate and practical across many jurisdictions, with closer scrutiny of operational resilience, governance, conduct and customer protection. Continuing climate-related losses are also placing pressure on pricing, reinsurance and product design, while raising longer-term questions around insurability and affordability.

Alongside these global themes, the report explores local developments affecting insurance markets in individual jurisdictions, including tax reform, foreign investment liberalisation, legislative change, infrastructure growth and geopolitical pressures. By bringing these perspectives together, the Risk Radar offers insurers, brokers and their advisers a practical global view of how legal and market risks are evolving in 2026.

Gillian Davidson, Chair of Global Insurance Law Connect, commented, ‘This year’s Risk Radar shows how quickly the key pressure points for insurers are converging across different markets. The complex and demanding intervention that AI is creating across the sector clearly presents both opportunity and risk, and it is now one of the central issues being discussed by insurers, regulators and advisers globally.

‘Regulatory demands are also becoming more immediate and more practical, while continuing climate-related losses are challenging long-term insurability and affordability.

‘Not surprisingly, it remains clear that insurers across the jurisdictions we represent are all grappling with a common set of challenges. These issues increasingly require informed, cross-border thinking, which the GILC network is well placed to support.’

Top three risk issues identified for Australia

The Australian insurance market in 2026 is navigating sustained cost pressures, shifting regulatory expectations and a rapidly evolving risk landscape. Insurers continue to manage inflation-driven claims costs, capacity constraints and escalating weather-related losses, all of which are reshaping pricing and portfolio strategy. This market dynamic gives rise to the top three risk issues for Australia: the regulatory landscape, the impact of cyber risk and AI, and climate change.

The balance between the cost and benefit of regulatory reform remains a central theme in the Australian insurance market in 2026. Said Matt Ellis, Sparke Helmore Partner, ‘Continued reform across operational resilience, individual accountability and AI governance appear likely to hamper initiatives to ease the regulatory burden on the insurance market, at least in the short term.’ 

Cyber incidents and AI-amplified threats represent the top risks for Australian businesses in 2026, driving a shift toward ‘active insurance’ models and stricter security demands. Unsurprisingly, ransomware persists as the leading threat vector with 70% of attacks in 2026 involving double extortion. Jehan Mata, Sparke Helmore Partner, commented, ‘In response, insurers are developing specialised, “affirmative” policies to specifically address AI-driven risks such as model drift.’

Climate risk is now a core financial and governance issue. Sparke Helmore Partner Kiley Hodges noted, ‘Climate pressures are reshaping Australia’s risk landscape, driving heavier losses and placing unprecedented scrutiny on insurers’ disclosures, governance and sustainability commitments.’  Updated Insurance Council of Australia data support this, showing extreme weather losses surging, alongside higher average claim costs and significant pressure on supply chains.

Click here to access the full report.