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ARTICLE · 15 OCTOBER 2026

Securities Class Actions In 2026: What The First Half Reveals

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Federal securities class action filings surged 15% in the first half of 2026, driven by a wave of artificial intelligence-related litigation and market-manipulation cases. While average settlements reached a decade-high $54 million, the growing complexity of AI cases presents new challenges as most remain unresolved despite mounting filings since 2022.

United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Ivelina Velikova
Ivelina Velikova
Svetlana Starykh
Svetlana Starykh
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Director Ivelina Velikova and Associate Director, Securities Class Actions Database Svetlana Starykh contributed “Securities Class Actions in 2026: What the First Half Reveals” to the September edition of Engage Quarterly, Woodsford’s quarterly stewardship newsletter. Their update shows federal securities class action filings increased in the first half of 2026, with 118 new cases filed. At this pace, the number of filings will likely reach 236 by the end of the year, a 15% increase from 2025. The increase was driven in part by artificial intelligence (AI)-related and market-manipulation cases. There were 18 AI-related filings during the period, already exceeding the 17 cases filed during all of 2025 and representing close to one-sixth of all filings.

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