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Top 9 Challenges the Insurance Sector Must Prepare for Before 2026

19th November 2025

Manal Tjiou shares how important proactivity is for the insurance sector to overcome different challenges ahead of 2026

Top 9 Challenges the Insurance Sector Must Prepare for Before 2026

As the insurance industry moves through a period of rapid change, long-standing models and frameworks are being tested by new technologies, evolving customer expectations and emerging global risks. These shifts are reshaping how insurers operate, compete, and deliver value, making it essential for leaders to stay ahead of what’s coming next. With 2026 on the horizon, understanding the pressures building across the market can help insurers make smarter decisions, strengthen resilience, and position themselves for sustained success.

The Evolving Insurance Risk Landscape

The insurance sector is moving into one of its most transformative periods yet. As technology reshapes consumer expectations and global risks become increasingly complex, insurers are under pressure to adapt faster than ever before. With 2026 approaching, industry leaders must prepare for a landscape defined by economic uncertainty, regulatory shifts, climate-driven losses, and disruptive new competitors. Understanding the challenges ahead isn’t just a strategic advantage; it’s essential for safeguarding long term relevance and resilience.

Success in this next phase will depend on insurers’ ability to balance innovation with stability. Those that take bold steps; modernising legacy systems, evolving their workforce, and rethinking traditional business models will set themselves apart.

Below are 9 insurance challenges that will undoubtfully affect the insurance industry in 2026.

9 Insurance Challenges Every Firm Should Be Ready for by 2026
The 9 Major Insurance Challenges Every Firm Should Be Ready for by 2026
The 9 Major Insurance Challenges Every Firm Should Be Ready for by 2026​
1. Regulatory Compliance and Evolving Regulator’s Rules

Compliance is considered as the “ghoul” of the insurance sector, with the regulatory burden only increasing year after year, both worldwide and in the UK. The FCA has only been tightening its grip since COVID-19, with the introduction of Consumer Duty law in 2023 to ensure financial services firms are proving how they deliver good outcomes to policyholders to the new non-financial misconduct law which is planned to come into effect on the 1st of September 2026.

According to a research carried out by REG, approximately 69% of general insurance compliance professionals believe their regulatory burden has expanded in the last couple of years. Moreover, Insurance Times has recently uncovered that around 44% of UK general insurance brokers are confident that the current regulatory landscape for the UK’s insurance sector is “too restrictive” which makes it hard to juggle between compliance and business needs.

Not to mention that smaller firms within the UK market take the hardest hit compared to larger equivalent firms, with research done by Biba and London Economics finding that these businesses are battling with regulatory costs that are double than similar jurisdictions.

With all the new regulations on the horizon, compliance will continue to be a central theme in 2026 and beyond; therefore, firms must look for viable and innovative ways to stay ahead of the curve and avoid heavy fines and reputational damage.

2. Shifting Customer Expectations

Today’s policyholders are no longer satisfied with generic, one-size-fits-all solutions. They demand personalised experiences, seamless digital interactions, and instant support. The rise of digital natives and evolving consumer behaviours have forced insurers to rethink how they engage with their clients, both the end policyholder and trading partners.

Customers expect intuitive online platforms for managing policies, quick claims processing, and proactive communication tailored to their needs. This shift requires insurance providers to invest in advanced technologies such as AI-driven chatbots, data analytics for personalisation, robust mobile applications and much more.

Ignoring these changing customer expectations can lead to decreased satisfaction and loyalty; two factors that directly impact an insurer’s reputation. While attracting new customers is key, retaining existing ones is even more important as losing clients is more expensive than acquiring new ones on every level.

Companies that prioritise understanding and addressing these new demands will not only retain existing customers but also attract a new generation looking for transparency, convenience, and trustworthiness in their insurance providers. Therefore, customer centricity should always be at the heart of every insurer’s strategy, ensuring they constantly innovate to solve for any unexpected customer demands.

3. Legacy Processes and Keeping Up with Tech Advancements

Many firms that operate in the insurance market still grapple with legacy technology and processes, and the speed of which technology is evolving every year makes it even harder for these businesses to catch up, particularly smaller ones.

Many MGAs, carriers and brokers still use slow manual processes and email trails for both general business operations and compliance adherence. The claims processes is undeniably in the top three important parts of an insurance firm, and the way claims are handled with customers can either make or break a business. Research suggests that around 11% of claims procedures are subject to human error and inefficiencies.

Moreover, a recent 2024 Industry Trends Report carried out by Earnix uncovered that approximately 49% of the 431 global insurance executive respondents admit that they’re lagging behind in terms of their digital transformation efforts and are still relying on legacy systems.

From a compliance perspective, REG’s research found that around 51% of financial services and 41% of general insurance firms still rely on spreadsheets to manage regulatory, legal and compliance risks, with only 19% of the latter leveraging RegTech.

Investing in new technology and overall digital transformation is not just a nice to have anymore, it’s unquestionable. Not only will technology give a competitive edge for insurance businesses, but it will also respond to customers’ changing expectations, ensuring they’re treated fairly and promptly.

4. Talent Crisis

Talent shortage is a serious issue within the insurance market, with many firms struggling to attract and retain new and younger talent. According to RSA Insurance’s research, around 50% of the London Market workforce is aged 40 or over, with 26% of employees that work in the UK insurance industry aged 50 or more.

These figures are tightly linked to the perception the younger generation has of insurance – A boring industry that lacks flexibility and career paths. In reality, insurance boasts with opportunities and can be extremely rewarding if perceived positively.

The insurance talent shortage isn’t only limited to the UK, but the whole world is in the same boat. In fact, financial and business services, which also include insurance, is projected to face a 10.7 million talent shortage by 2030, according to a Global Talent Crunch Report.

This puts pressure on insurance firms and leaders as a whole to innovate and change younger people’s perceptions of insurance by hosting talks in schools, insurance career webinars, open days at firms’ offices, and more.

5. Cybersecurity and Navigating Cyber Risk

The insurance industry is facing unprecedented challenges as cybersecurity threats continue to evolve. With vast amounts of sensitive customer data stored digitally, insurers have become prime targets for cybercriminals and attacks. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and phishing schemes can not only result in significant financial losses but also damage an insurer’s reputation and erode customer trust.

While recent findings show that concern for cyber threats has decreased since 2020, 56% of respondents still worry about potential cyberattacks. In the UK, the government found that 97% of finance insurance businesses regard cybersecurity as high priority, which is the highest percentage compared to other industries.

Cybersecurity in the insurance industry is more than just protecting internal systems; it also means ensuring that clients’ data and personal information remain secure at every touchpoint. The growing reliance on digital platforms has expanded the attack surface, making robust cybersecurity protocols a necessity rather than a luxury.

Insurers are now tasked with developing new products to cover cyber risks for their clients while simultaneously safeguarding their own operations. This dual responsibility adds complexity to underwriting processes and risk assessment models. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, firms must continuously adapt their security measures and invest in advanced technologies to mitigate risks effectively.

6. Financial Fraud and Money Laundering

Money laundering is a serious and daunting challenge impacting insurance firms of all sizes. If not mitigated and addressed early on, whether it’s voluntary or nonvoluntary, it can lead to huge financial losses, regulatory penalties and reputational damage.

With the insurance industry being heavily reliant on third parties and trading partners, it becomes hard to conduct due diligence and conduct AML checks on all counterparties. As reported by NICE Actimize, approximately $80 billion to $100 billion is laundered through the insurance industry every year, with the majority of this amount being facilitated through life insurance.

Moreover, the FCA has announced that it has fined around 20 companies, with a total amount of £79 million in 2025 alone. This clearly proves the severity of money laundering and why it should always be addressed proactively.

Regulatory technology (RegTech) is particularly useful in streamlining and automating AML screening processes in the early stages, with some platforms having access to exclusive sanctions databases and information, enabling more accurate PEPs and adverse media screening checks.

But technology also ensures firms are compliant at all times, which can significantly help expedite business relationships and shorten the time required to start trading.

7. ESG Considerations and Climate Change

ESG and climate change are crucial considerations for the insurance industry, and pose unavoidable challenges. Natural disasters and other climate and environmental damages are responsible for a very high portion of insurance claims, particularly with the recent hurricanes, fires and other disasters that have been proliferating.

According to Swiss Re, wildfires and thunderstorms in the United States are responsible for $80 Bilion of global insured losses, with California wildfires accounting for $40 billion of these losses which is the highest insured loss from a wildfire event so far. All of these events have sparked the involvement of regulators with tighter climate risk management expectations.

ESG considerations and due diligence also constitute a substantial challenge for the insurance sector, with many trading partners requiring clear ESG strategies and plans in place before starting business relationships.

While ESG due diligence laws aren’t currently officially in place by the FCA, the mounting pressures and CSR requirements could result in a new law being introduced as early as 2026, which is why insurers must prepare and anticipate ahead of time, and invest in the right tools and tech to maintain transparent and complete oversight over potential partners’ ESG efforts but to also ensure they’re compliant as well.

8. Skyrocketing Operational Costs

Skyrocketing operational costs have become one of the most pressing challenges facing the insurance industry today. Administrative processes that once relied on manual labour are now under pressure to evolve, but transitioning to digital systems requires significant investment.

Furthermore, customers are demanding faster claims processing and more personalised services which are expectations that require advanced tools and skilled personnel.

These rising costs not only impact profitability but also hinder insurers’ ability to innovate, stay on top of their regulatory duties and compete in a crowded marketplace.

Therefore, firms must find smarter ways to streamline operations without sacrificing service quality. Embracing automation, leveraging data analytics, and adopting AI-driven solutions can help reduce inefficiencies while enhancing customer satisfaction.

9. Geopolitical and Economic Challenges

Current economic and geopolitical climates exacerbate the situation for insurance, from through-the-roof inflation and interest rates to ongoing wars and rising tensions between countries and regions.

Since COVID-19, the market has taken a huge hit, with 2022 recording one of the highest inflation rates in the UK (11.1%), which has heavily shaken the insurance sector.

These macroeconomic factors, including the intensification of climate disasters, are the backbone of insurance firms’ strategic initiatives and heavily impact written premiums, policy prices, and investment opportunities, making it a volatile and unstable market with constant fluctuations.

This instability forces insurers to continuously re-evaluate their financial assumptions, recalibrate their pricing strategies, and reassess capital allocation in response to rapid market swings. In addition, geopolitical upheavals, from ongoing wars and political instability to elections and the introduction of new international laws, can disrupt global supply chains, escalate claims costs, and elevate exposure to emerging risks.

For example, the recent US election is expected to reshape the insurance sector, with the incoming administration likely to introduce regulatory shifts that will influence market conditions and how insurers operate, according to former New York governor E. Pataki.

As pressures mount, insurers must strengthen scenario planning, enhance risk diversification, and build greater resilience into their operating models to remain competitive and financially secure.

REG Technologies' Building a Faster, Smarter, Safer Market: Research Report 2024
Wrapping Up

Looking ahead to 2026, the insurance industry is approaching a significant turning point. Insurers are facing a range of challenges, including shifting customer expectations, changes in regulations, and ongoing technological disruption.

Addressing these issues requires proactive strategies and a willingness to innovate. By adopting digital transformation initiatives and new technologies, investing in RegTech and talent development, and maintaining agility amid uncertainty, insurance companies can not only navigate current obstacles but also discover new avenues for growth.

Preparing for 2026 and the years to come involves building organisational resilience, encouraging cross-sector collaboration, and putting customers at the heart of every decision. With careful planning and adaptation today, the insurance market can position itself to succeed in an evolving landscape.

Discover how the REG Network can help you stay on top of your insurance and compliance challenges.

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Article author:

Picture of Manal Tjiou, Marketing Executive at REG Technologies
Manal Tjiou

Manal Tjiou is the Marketing Executive at REG Technologies. With a passion for digital marketing and creative strategy, she’s commited to increasing our brand awareness and thought leadership in the industry, ensuring our content resonates well with our audience.

020 3946 2880

info@reg.uk.com

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