The short answer
Canva said on November 3, 2026 that 1,271 people, or 22% of the company, will be affected by a restructuring, according to a note from co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins that Canva published on its newsroom. The figure is a mix, because Canva's note says some people will see their roles change, some will be asked to move to central hubs, and some will leave the company. Canva has not said how many of the 1,271 are job cuts, and IBTimes UK reported that the split has not been disclosed.
What happened
Perkins sent the note to all staff on November 3, 2026, and Canva posted the full text on its newsroom the same day. Adweek reported the announcement that day as a corporate blog post by Perkins, and TechCrunch reported it on November 4. People Matters reported that Canva has more than 5,700 employees across 37 countries.
Canva is bringing its Product, Growth and Platform groups into one product organization, folding narrow subspecialties into broader roles and cutting management layers, and making Sydney the main home for more of its product teams, per the note.
Who is affected
Canva's note does not name teams or countries. It says the changes affect how the company is organized, where some teams are based, and the roles and skills Canva needs, and that Sydney will become the primary home for more product teams and for roles in some other specialties. People Matters reported that Canva has not said which teams or markets are affected. IBTimes UK reported that Canva has not said how many people are being asked to relocate or what happens to those who decline.
When it takes effect
Per Canva's note, each affected person receives a calendar invite for a one-on-one meeting with a senior leader in their area, and timing varies by country because of local rules. Everyone leaving keeps access to Slack and Gmail until the end of the week of November 3, per the note. A company all-hands is set for November 10, with meetings for each organization from November 11, per the note. From January 2027, Canva expects most hybrid staff to be in an office 2 to 3 days a week, per the note.
What the company said
Perkins wrote that the past year was Canva's hardest and that growth slowed for the first time in a decade, per the note. She wrote that small changes would not be enough and that Canva needs to return to small teams with the freedom to make decisions. Perkins called it "without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history," per the note. TechCrunch reported that Canva cut its 2026 revenue growth forecast to 20% from 30%, citing rising AI costs. IBTimes UK and People Matters both reported that Perkins did not name AI as a reason for the restructuring.
Severance and support
All of the following comes from Canva's note. Everyone leaving gets at least six months of salary, including statutory entitlements, regardless of location. Canva is removing the one-year vesting cliff for people who joined in the past year. Healthcare continues for 12 months where Canva provides it, and Canva Care, the employee assistance program, continues for 12 months and covers family members. Career support includes one-on-one coaching, interview preparation, one year of LinkedIn Premium and an opt-in alumni directory shared with investors and partners. Everyone leaving keeps their Canva MacBook. A new Canva Collective Fund offers US$10,000 grants to departing staff who want to start a business or a community project, with no equity taken by Canva, and the deadline to register interest is December 14, 2026.
Earlier cuts at Canva
- Late March 2025: Canva cut 10 of its 12 technical writers, which ChannelNews described on April 3, 2025 as the company's first known round of redundancies. A Canva spokesperson confirmed the cuts to ChannelNews and said those leaving received career coaching and at least six months of pay.
Questions people ask
How many people did Canva lay off?
Canva said 1,271 people, or 22% of the company, are affected, per the November 3, 2026 note from CEO Melanie Perkins on Canva's newsroom. That number includes people whose roles change and people asked to relocate, not only job cuts, and Canva has not said how many will actually leave, per IBTimes UK.
Which teams or countries are affected?
Canva has not named teams or countries, per People Matters. Canva's note says Product, Growth and Platform are merging into one product organization and that Sydney will become the main home for more product teams and some other specialties.
What severance does Canva offer?
At least six months of salary, 12 months of healthcare where Canva provides it, career coaching, a year of LinkedIn Premium, no one-year vesting cliff for recent hires, and the option to keep the company MacBook, per Canva's note. Departing staff can also apply for a US$10,000 Canva Collective Fund grant by December 14, 2026.
When will affected Canva staff find out?
Affected people get a calendar invite for a one-on-one meeting with a senior leader, with timing that varies by country, per Canva's note. A company all-hands follows on November 10.