Preparing for the 2026 proxy season

For United States public companies, the drafting of the proxy statement and its filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are integral parts of preparing for the annual meeting of shareholders. The proxy statement is not only required for compliance with SEC disclosure requirements, but it is also the primary document for communicating important information to shareholders, such as corporate governance matters and responsible business practices.

For the 2026 proxy season, public companies will prepare their proxy statements against the backdrop of the SEC’s policy change regarding the shareholder proposal process, scrutiny of the practices of proxy advisory firms, and evolving disclosure expectations.

In this article, we discuss these and other key developments and challenges for public companies when drafting their proxy statements and preparing for their annual shareholder meetings.