Who insures it · 4 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures fairs and festivals?

Fairs and festivals is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

4 markets publicly write fairs and festivals: K&K Insurance Group, Francis L. Dean & Associates, Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions (Entertainment / GatherGuard). 2 admitted carriers, 1 MGA, 1 program administrator. 1 on admitted paper.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

Market	What they say they write	Where	Paper	Source
K&K Insurance Group MGA	Fair and fairground package property and liability (4-H fairs, agricultural expositions, county fairs, livestock shows, state fairs, fairgrounds; extreme sports/motorsports fair events not eligible); separate festival program incl. food and music festivals; event cancellation and non-appearance through Showstoppers “K&K offers package property and liability insurance designed for fairs and fairgrounds”	coverage may not be available to all applicants in all states	Admitted	kandkinsurance.com · read 2026-10-28
Francis L. Dean & Associates Program administrator	Special events general liability and accident programs; listed event types include Fairs, Festivals, Fun Fairs, Job Fairs and Concerts (homepage: 'Insurance coverage in all 50 states') “The FL Dean & Associates insurance programs for Special Events are specifically designed to help eliminate”	all 50 states	not stated	fdean.com · read 2026-10-28
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) Admitted carrier	Fairs & Fairgrounds package: special causes of loss on buildings, contents, loss of income and extra expense; liquor liability; crime, boiler and inland marine under one policy; 'wide range of acceptable exposures' “Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) specializes in the Fairs & Fairgrounds industry.”	not stated (page: 'risks all across the United States')	not stated	phly.com · read 2026-10-28
Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions (Entertainment / GatherGuard) Admitted carrier	Entertainment division: GatherGuard event insurance for weddings, birthdays and festivals; special events and concerts; event liability; underwriting companies include Atlantic Specialty, Homeland Insurance Company of New York/Delaware, OBI America, OBI National “GatherGuard® provides event insurance for a wide range of events like weddings, birthdays, and festivals.”	not stated (coverages and availability vary by state)	both	intactspecialty.com · read 2026-10-28

American Specialty (Allied Specialty/McGowan) site is script-rendered and returned no text; K&K's festival page was also fetched ('K&K offers festival insurance for events ranging from themed festivals to city celebrations').

How fairs and festivals gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

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