Insurance broker Aon has announced the publication of its Trend Barometer 2026, a report dedicated to the Swiss insurance and reinsurance market. According to the press release published by Allnews, cyber risks, artificial intelligence, climate risks and geopolitical developments are “among the main issues” currently shaping risk management and the question of companies’ insurability. Before looking at what this changes for a Swiss company seeking insurance, it is worth examining what this document measures, and what the press release actually says about it.
What the barometer measures
According to Aon, the report examines “the main developments in the Swiss insurance and reinsurance market” and highlights the resulting challenges and opportunities for companies. It is presented as “based on current market observations and international analyses”.
The press release does not go into further detail on the method: it mentions no survey of companies, no sample and no series of figures. It is therefore a broker’s reading of the market, based on what it observes, rather than a statistical measurement. This is a useful nuance when interpreting its conclusions.
Cyber and AI: themes cited, few details published
The text places artificial intelligence and cyber threats alongside geopolitical uncertainties, natural catastrophes and new regulatory requirements among the factors that are “transforming the risk environment at an unprecedented pace”. It emphasises the interconnection of these risks: technological developments, global economic interdependencies and regulatory changes produce effects that increasingly extend beyond the boundaries of companies, sectors and countries.
On cyber in particular, the press release remains general. It gives no indication of how premiums are evolving, of the capacity available in this line, of possible exclusions or of the security measures insurers might require. Likewise, it does not detail what new risks AI creates for companies, nor how insurers themselves use it. These elements may appear in the full report, but the source available to us does not report them.
A market described as stable and competitive
The main finding concerns the overall state of the market. According to Aon, the Swiss insurance and reinsurance market “remains broadly stable”. In many lines, companies continue to benefit from attractive conditions and good availability of capacity.
The report does, however, point to a change of approach: the growing complexity of risks and heightened requirements in terms of governance, compliance and resilience are leading to “a more differentiated assessment of risks”. At the same time, data-driven analysis is gaining in importance: companies are turning to advanced analytics and modelling capabilities to better understand their exposures and refine their risk transfer strategies. The emergence of new risks and changing claims patterns are also redefining expectations of insurance solutions.
What this may change for a Swiss company
Reading these findings together, one simple idea emerges: a broadly favourable market does not mean that all companies will be treated in the same way. A “more differentiated assessment” implies that the way a company documents its risks, its governance and its resilience carries more weight in discussions with insurers. This is our reading of the press release, which cites no concrete example.
For an SME as for a large group, this argues for better knowledge of one’s own exposures, particularly digital ones. The press release does not, however, make it possible to say whether cyber cover will cost more or less, nor on what terms it will be granted.
Report findings and the broker’s message
Finally, it is necessary to distinguish between what is observation and what is advice. Aon is a broker: its business consists precisely in supporting companies in managing and transferring their risks. Its recommendations are part of this activity.
Pascal Mayerhofer, Chief Broking Officer of Aon Switzerland, believes that “companies need to go beyond analysing risks individually and understand how they interact”, and that the ability to quickly identify emerging developments is becoming “a decisive competitive advantage”. The press release encourages companies to regularly review their risk management strategies. Pascal Mayerhofer says so himself: “It is precisely in this process that we wish to support our clients.” The barometer is therefore both a market analysis and a document serving Aon’s advisory offering.
