Canva Reveals 2026 Design Predictions, Here’s What They Think

Canva has just given us its vision for 2026 and called the year “Imperfect by Design”. The company announced this after gathering results from a survey of 1,000 creators and reviewing behaviour across more than a billion monthly designs from over 260 million people using the platform. The company said the findings show a strong pull toward visual authenticity at the same time that creators rely more on AI in their daily work.

The survey results shared by Canva show how creators feel pulled in two directions. The company said 73% feel optimistic about AI-generated content and design while 52% believe it threatens human creativity. Canva also said 67% feel AI can trick viewers into thinking the content is real. Despite those worries, the findings showed that AI is now routine in creative work, with 49% using the tools weekly and 30% using them daily.

The company said this tension has shaped its prediction that people will continue using AI for speed and invention but want their work to look human. That mix sits at the centre of every trend Canva points to for the year ahead.
 

How Do Creators Feel About AI And The Idea Of Regaining Control?

Canva said the U.S. responses in its survey show a strong desire for more creative authority. According to the company, 80% of those respondents agreed that 2026 will be the year creators regain creative control. Canva reported that 77% described AI as an essential partner for making visual content and 52% said AI helps them feel more creative.

Feelings toward AI go in many directions. Canva said 58% linked the technology to excitement, 41% to empowerment and 42% to hope. The company also said 38% felt playful about it, while 19% felt cautious and 12% felt uncertain. A large share still wants honesty from big brands. Canva reported that 87% want brands to be transparent when using AI-generated content and 83% want a human touch in that material.

Canva also shared how creators use AI in practice. It said the most common tasks are social media content at 69%, video at 51%, presentations at 49%, art or illustrations at 40% and data visualisation at 37%. Canva added that creators described AI-generated work as creative at 62% and high quality at 50%.
 

Which Trends Does Canva Expect To Guide 2026?

 
Canva refers to 10 leading trends drawn from platform data and the survey. The one with the strongest pull is Reality Warp. The company said 24% of creators think this will shape the year as visuals move between real and synthetic. Canva noted that creators link the trend to self-expression at 35%, play at 32% and performance at 26%. The company added that the most common uses will be social media content at 48% and art or illustrations at 43%.
 

Canva listed Drama Club as another major direction. The company said 17% expect it to grow, bringing a cinematic look to everyday themes. Canva shared that creators said it suits self-expression at 35% and connection at 29%. The company said it is strong across social media, presentations and video.

Two trends share the next position. Canva said Prompt Playground and Opt-Out Era both attracted 14%. Prompt Playground takes lo fi and retro tech visuals into creative formats, while Opt Out Era reflects calm layouts and classic type. Canva said Prompt Playground aligns with self-expression and experimentation, and that searches for related looks rose 48.9% across the platform. The company also said clean layouts and serif type went up 54% year over year.

Other trends also started to come up… Canva said Explorecore searches rose 85%, Texture Check came up 30%, and Notes App Chic went up 90% year over year. The company also pointed to regional aesthetics rising from Mexico, Spain and India, from Mexico’s Zinegeist to India’s Grannywave.
 

What Did Canva Learn From A Billion Designs?

Canva said its platform data confirms what people search for and produce at scale. The company reported that Reality Warp searches rose 220% and produced more than 2 million views. It said Explorecore impressions came up to more than 78 million and that Opt Out Era reached more than 45 million impressions.

Canva added that lo fi design searches reached 60,600 and that soft neutral backgrounds produced nearly 16 million impressions. The company also said DIY and scrapbook design searches reached 1 million impressions after jumping 90%.

All of these trends point to one idea. Canva said that creators want AI to help them work faster but also want room for expression that feels personal. The company believes this blend will define visual work across 2026.