In brief
Canva will cut or relocate about 22% of its 5,700‑strong global staff, merging product, growth and platform teams into one unit and centring operations in Sydney. The move follows a downgrading of 2026 revenue growth and a valuation cut, and aims to position the company for future AI‑related products.
Canva, the Australian digital‑design platform, announced on Wednesday a major restructuring that will impact 1,271 employees, roughly 22% of its global workforce, amid slowing growth. CEO and co‑founder Melanie Perkins told staff the changes would involve whether staff would keep their current roles or be asked to relocate to centralized hubs, adding that some would have to say goodbye to teammates and friends who have helped build the company.
In a report for Xinhua, the announcement was framed primarily as a response to the company’s revised outlook. Canva had lowered its 2026 revenue growth forecast from 30% to 20% in August and cut its internal valuation to 43.9 billion Australian dollars (about 30.6 billion U.S. dollars). Xinhua highlighted the merger of product, growth and platform teams into a single product organization, with Sydney becoming the primary base for more product teams.
"For some people, this will mean changes to their roles or being asked to relocate to centralized hubs," the note read. "It will also mean saying goodbye to teammates and friends who have helped build Canva into what it is today."
ABC’s coverage echoed the Xinhua framing but added a detail suggested by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the restructuring would prepare Canva to build AI‑related products. ABC reported that the note to staff made no reference to AI, yet the ABC had previously linked the changes to future AI‑enablement.
According to BBC News, Canva’s shake‑up would affect 22% of its workers, including job cuts. The BBC did not elaborate on the restructuring plan beyond the figure, merely relaying the figure from Canva’s announcement and noting that the company would cut or relocate staff.
The Guardian’s article on the same event could not be retrieved, as the cited URL led to a "Page Not Found" error. The Guardian had previously reported that Canva would cut or relocate more than 1,200 jobs, representing 22% of its global workforce, but the open article is no longer available.
Canva’s internal valuation and revenue downgrade were also mentioned by both Xinhua and ABC. The 2026 revenue forecast cut to 20% of growth reflects a broader slowdown in the tech industry, and the valuation drop underscores the financial pressures prompting the workforce reduction. The company’s decision to merge product, growth and platform into a single product organization is a structural shift aimed at streamlining operations under the Sydney hub.
The restructure comes at a time when Canva has been navigating both competitive pressures and the need to adapt to emerging technologies. While the company did not explicitly reference AI in its staff communication, external observers noted that the merger and relocation could enable Canva to scout opportunities in AI‑driven design tools, potentially positioning it for future product developments.
Canva’s CEO said the changes would be executed over a four‑month period, with affected staff receiving support and relocation assistance. The company also announced it would continue to invest in new features and tools to maintain its market position in the design‑software sector.
