Canva outlines 2026 design trends that will shape how creators work next year

New Delhi: Canva has unveiled its third annual Design Trends Report, projecting the visual trends expected to shape creativity in 2026. Bringing insights from millions of users and billions of designs, the platform identified emerging patterns reflecting a blend of AI-assisted workflows and human-centred imperfection.

The report, based on design activity, expert input from the Canva Designer Advisory Board, and a survey of 1,000 creators in the U.S. and Brazil, found a marked shift toward personal and experimental aesthetics. 

Searches for DIY-inspired elements increased by 90%, Zine and Substack-style layouts rose by 85%, and lo-fi aesthetics spiked 527%. Meanwhile, interest in clean layouts and simple branding grew 54%, signalling a renewed preference for pared-back design. Searches for “liminal” and “uncanny” content also surged 220% as creators explored the boundaries between real and surreal.

Survey findings indicated that 80% of creators see 2026 as a year to regain creative control, using AI as a partner rather than a replacement, with 77% describing AI as “an essential partner” in their creative process.

“As more and more creators turn to AI to help them express themselves visually, we believe 2026 marks the year of Imperfect by Design, a time when blending AI seamlessly with human imagination and creativity has never mattered more. Canva was built for this shift, to empower anyone to use AI on their terms and bring their ideas to life in a way that feels personal, authentic, and unmistakably human,” said Cat van der Werff, Canva’s Executive Creative Director.

Canva’s 2026 Design Trends report highlights ten emerging directions that are shaping global visual creativity, reflecting how AI, culture, and community are influencing design. 
Reality Warp shows creators intentionally blurring the line between real and surreal, with searches for “liminal” and “uncanny” jumping 220%, suggesting that a quarter of creators see this aesthetic as defining for 2026. 

Prompt Playground combines experimentation with early-internet nostalgia, including retro-tech references and “vibe coding,” as designers prioritise emotional impact; searches for “lo-fi aesthetic” surged 527%. 

Explorecore addresses digital fatigue by emphasising clarity and calm, with Zine- and Substack-inspired layouts up 85%, encouraging designs that slow the pace and invite deeper engagement.

Texture Check reflects the growing popularity of hyper-realistic and tactile surfaces, from glassy to waxy finishes, with related searches rising 30%. 

Notes App Chic represents the embrace of imperfection through scrapbook-style visuals, messy compositions, and behind-the-scenes authenticity, with DIY and collage-inspired elements up 90%, signalling a cultural shift toward progress over polish. 

Opt-Out Era counters digital overload by focusing on simplicity; searches for “clean layout,” “serif,” and “simple branding” climbed 54%, reflecting a move away from maximalist aesthetics.

Drama Club highlights a resurgence of cinematic storytelling, with content across social media, art, and video using motifs such as mockumentaries and dramatic spotlighting, leading to a 27% rise in related searches. 

GrannyWave demonstrates India’s interest in nostalgia-driven design, including handloom patterns, festival-inspired colour palettes, and Bollywood motifs, with searches for “Desi” and “Hindi typography” up 26% and 17% respectively. 

Zinegeist captures Mexico’s renewed DIY zine movement, emphasising collaged layouts, bold typography, and anti-gloss textures, while searches for “brutalist design” and “type poster” grew 77%. 

Block Party reflects Spain’s creative community blending vintage tones, folklore, and everyday cultural references, with “Estética Tradicional” and “Folklore Urbano” achieving 1.5 million impressions.

In addition to these trends, Canva introduced the Design DNA feature, which provides users with a personalised report analysing their creative output over the past year. The AI-powered tool categorises users into profiles such as Font Stylist, Prompt Picasso, Chatter Box, or Newbie, offering insight into individual design habits.