Canva is restructuring in a way that affects 1,271 people, or 22 per cent of its workforce, the Australian design platform announced on 4 November, in the first redundancy round of its 13-year history. The figure is an affected-roles total, not a layoff count: it covers people who will lose their jobs, change roles or be asked to relocate, and Canva has not disclosed how many will be made redundant outright.

Co-founder and chief executive Melanie Perkins told staff in a memo that the restructure was the most difficult decision in the company's history and that 2026 has been its hardest year yet, with growth slowing for the first time in a decade. Canva cut its 2026 revenue growth forecast from 30 per cent to 20 per cent in August, and a major investor cut its valuation of the company by 17 per cent to US$34.9 billion.

One product organisation, centred on Sydney

Canva will merge its Product, Growth and Platform teams into a single Product Org, fold narrower specialties into broader roles, cut management layers and make Sydney the main base for more product teams. Most hybrid staff will be expected in the office two to three days a week from January. A company-wide meeting is planned for 10 November.

Departing employees will receive at least six months' salary, 12 months of healthcare where Canva provides it, career transition support and their work laptops. A new Canva Collective Fund offers US$10,000 grants to departing staff who want to start a business or a community project. Canva said the changes are about setting the company up to build new products, not using AI to do the work of people who are leaving.

Sources: Reuters via BusinessWorld, Canva announces layoffs, job changes for about 22% of workforce, 4 November 2026; HCAMag, Canva job cuts affect 1,271 roles in first redundancy round, 4 November 2026.