09 Feb Production Insurance in 2026: Changes, Concerns and Mitigating Risks

In 2026, production insurance isn’t just something you “get” at the end. It’s now a real-world constraint that affects how you plan the shoot, pick locations, hire vendors, build the schedule, and even finance the project. A lot of the market never went back to “normal” after 2020. If you treat insurance like end-of-prep paperwork, you’ll usually pay for it later through higher deductibles, more exclusions, delays, and frustrating last-minute back-and-forth.

First, true “pandemic coverage” is basically still not a thing for most productions. Insurers broadly kept communicable disease exclusions or tough limitations. That means the risk didn’t disappear — it just moved into your budget and schedule. The practical fix is operational: build in realistic contingency time, use sensible health protocols when needed, and assume you may have to self-fund certain delays that you used to hope insurance would cover.

Second, climate and catastrophe risk now heavily influence where and when you can shoot. Insurance underwriters are paying closer attention to wildfire zones, hurricane seasons, smoke risk, evacuation exposure, and similar disruptions. Even if overall rates feel “steady,” the rules are tighter: higher deductibles, smaller sub-limits, and more requirements for contingency planning in higher-risk areas. In plain terms: locations aren’t just “creative choice + tax incentives” anymore — they’re “creative + incentives + can we actually insure this plan?”

Third, cyber risk has become a serious production problem, and insurers don’t want comforting words — they want proof of controls. Productions are attractive targets because they run on deadlines, rely on many vendors, share logins and files, and handle valuable assets (scripts, dailies, cuts, payroll). Underwriters increasingly expect basics like multi-factor authentication, good backups, strict vendor access rules, and a plan for what happens if post gets locked up by ransomware. Your insurance application quietly became an IT checklist.

Fourth, AI and deepfake issues are spilling into error & omissions (E&O), cyber, and reputation risk. The big concern is unauthorized likeness, voice, or content creation that triggers legal disputes or public blowback. The smartest protection here is paperwork: clear consent, clear permitted uses, and a traceable record of where content came from and who approved it. If something goes sideways, you want documentation that keeps you from getting stuck in an ugly coverage fight.

Fifth, underwriting is tighter for “new-style” productions — immersive or audience-participation formats, plus anything physically demanding like intense choreography or stunt-heavy work. Insurers are asking more questions, charging more, and pushing higher deductibles because disruption (injury, cancellation, weather, non-appearance) is expensive. Translation: “trust us” doesn’t price well anymore. Solid safety planning and clean documentation can make a real difference in terms and cost.

The practical playbook is simple: Your broker is a valuable vendor partner. Bring them in early. Make a one-page “risk map” (weather/cat, stunts/choreo, travel, minors, water/fire, animals, audience participation, cyber/vendor chain). Budget for the deductibles you’re most likely to absorb, put cyber controls in writing, and handle AI like any other high-impact tool with consent, limits, and an audit trail. Do that, and underwriting stops feeling like a surprise attack — it becomes just another planning input you can manage before the first truck rolls.

With more than 20 years of insurance experience in the film, television and entertainment industry, Natasha Bobbit consults with clients on the best methods for protecting their production investments.  Complete an application and we’ll be in touch.  https://www.barrowgroup.com/film-tv-production-coverage/film-application/