Wildfires reshape European travel – and the risks for insurers

Europe’s intensifying wildfire season is changing how travellers plan holidays, creating new challenges for travel insurers as climate-related disruption becomes an increasingly routine part of summer travel.

Nearly 500,000 hectares have burned across Europe already this year, with more than 1,500 wildfires recorded, according to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal have all faced significant fires amid extreme heat and drought.

For insurers, the impact extends beyond direct fire damage. Road closures, cancelled attractions, transport disruption, poor air quality, and evacuations can all trigger assistance needs and claims, including when travellers are hundreds of kilometres from an active blaze. Smoke can travel significant distances, potentially disrupt outdoor activities, and affect vulnerable travellers.

The changing risk profile is also influencing customer behaviour. Travellers are increasingly considering cooler destinations, Northern Europe, and off-peak trips instead of peak Mediterranean holidays – potentially shifting where and when travel insurance demand is concentrated.

Riskline’s Wildfires 2026 Travel report advises travellers to monitor official alerts and wildfire maps and ensure their insurance provides adequate cover for climate-related disruption.

For insurers and travel sellers, this underlines the growing value of real-time destination intelligence and proactive customer communication. Clients increasingly expect providers to understand emerging risks and help them adapt when conditions change.

As climate volatility becomes embedded in European tourism, insurers may need to reassess destination risk, policy wording, assistance capabilities, and pricing while helping customers navigate a travel landscape where disruption is becoming harder to predict.