Canva restructures, affecting 1,271 staff or 22% of its global workforce

What Canva announced

Canva, the Australian design platform, announced on Wednesday, 4 November, a restructure that affects 1,271 people, or 22% of its global workforce. The company offers templates and tools for users without design backgrounds, from wedding invitations to business pitch decks. Some staff will lose their jobs, while others will be asked to change roles or relocate to centralised hubs. Chief executive and co-founder Melanie Perkins told staff in an email that the changes were "without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history". She did not say how many of the 1,271 people will ultimately lose their jobs. The company says the restructure aims to collapse layers of management and bring more teams together in person.

Perkins acknowledged the human cost of the decision in the same note.

“Sadly, it will also mean saying goodbye to teammates and friends who have helped build Canva into what it is today.”

Structure and office policy

Canva plans to bring its Product, Growth and Platform teams together into one product organisation. Sydney would become the "primary home" for more of its product teams, as well as for roles where close collaboration matters. From January 2027, hybrid staff are expected to spend two to three days a week in the office. The company has staff in 37 countries, so the changes reach well beyond its Sydney base. Perkins said relocation is a big decision for staff being asked to move, and the company has promised them support.

“We know relocating is a big decision for those being asked to consider it, and we're committed to making the process as smooth as possible with comprehensive support.”

Severance and support

People who leave Canva will receive at least six months of salary. In countries where workers receive healthcare through their employer, they keep that cover for a further 12 months. Departing staff can also keep their laptops. Those who leave can apply for grants of US$10,000 (A$14,000) to start their own ventures.

Sector context and valuation

The restructure follows a wave of job cuts across technology. Atlassian has made 1,600 redundancies, and Block and WiseTech Global have also cut staff. Unlike those companies, Canva did not mention artificial intelligence in its announcement. Perkins wrote that the year had been "our hardest year yet", and that growth had slowed for the first time in a decade. Blackbird Ventures and Airtree reportedly downgraded Canva's valuation from A$60bn at the end of 2025 to about A$49bn earlier in 2026. Canva has long been tipped as a candidate for a Nasdaq listing.

End of 202560

Earlier in 2026 (reported)49

End of 2025

60 A$bn

Earlier in 2026 (reported)

49 A$bn

Data from the article text