‘Surging capacity’ and new entrants to keep London market competitive in 2026 – Amwins

New entrants and “surging capacity” in the London market will continue to drive competition among insurers, pushing primary line limits for property cover into the $50m to $100m (£38m to £76m) bracket, while subjecting casualty and professional lines to “uneven conditions”.

This is according to specialty insurance broker Amwins’ 2026 State of the Market report, released earlier this month (11 December 2025), which sought to investigate what the upcoming year might hold for the London market and beyond.

The report highlighted that, in 2025, the London property market saw rate reductions ranging from high single digits to over 25% and, with seven new syndicates expected to enter the marketplace in 2026 alongside a projected 4% aggregate stamp capacity increase, such rate reductions were likely to continue into the immediate future.

Amwins also reported that the casualty market had performed well in 2025, posting flat or single digit rate growth despite a slowdown in the latter half of the period, attributed to general economic uncertainty and four new London market entrants.

The casualty sector is expected to target more moderate rate growth in 2026, with middle-market business – premiums of £25,000 to £100,000 – highlighted as an area of particular focus for competition for market share.

Market rebalance

The professional lines market, however, is expected to stay broadly competitive, though macro-trends and market cycle fluctuations may mean uneven conditions and responses will be seen across different classes.

Scott Purviance, chief executive officer at Amwins, said: “As we move into 2026, the market continues to rebalance. Some sectors are experiencing meaningful softening, while others still face pressure from loss trends, inflation and evolving exposures.

“Our goal with this report is to equip retailers with the real-time intelligence needed to win in a dynamic marketplace.”