Canvas Updates – December 2025
Major Canvas Feature Options Coming Soon
(NOTE: These new feature options (Feature Previews) may need to be enabled in each course under Settings, Feature Options.) How to enable Canvas Feature Options
1. IgniteAI Rubric Creator
The AI Rubric Creator is a feature that helps educators quickly generate high-quality, editable rubrics for assignments using AI. It uses the assignment name and description to suggest rubric criteria, point values, and performance level descriptions. This is functional on our Canvas Beta Server. Estimated production release in early 2026. Product Blog and Videos: AI Rubric Creator FAQ
2. IgniteAI Question Authoring for Quizzes
This feature streamlines the quiz-building process by reducing the manual effort needed to create high quality assessment questions. By leveraging AI to generate aligned, accurate, and context-specific items, educators can produce quizzes faster and with greater consistency, freeing up more time for instruction, student support, and meaningful learning experiences. This is functional on our Canvas Beta Server. Estimated production release in early 2026. AI Item Authoring Usage Assistance: AI Item Authoring
3. IgniteAI Translations for Discussions and Announcements
This is functional on our Canvas Beta Server. Estimated production release in early 2026. Video: AI Translations in Canvas
4. IgniteAI Insights for Discussions
The IgniteAI Insights for Discussions uses an AI-powered tool to help educators quickly evaluate the relevance and quality of student replies. This feature helps educators save time and make more informed decisions by providing quick, AI-powered evaluations of student replies. Instructors can efficiently assess relevance and quality without manually reviewing every post, allowing them to focus on meaningful feedback and supporting student learning. This is functional on our Canvas Beta Server. Estimated production release in early 2026. More Information: IgniteAI Insights for Discussions
5. SpeedGrader Performance and Usability Upgrades
These updates introduce a modernized SpeedGrader designed specifically to support the needs of high-enrollment courses while preserving the familiar interface educators rely on. And after more than a year of testing, iteration, and customer feedback, we’re thrilled to roll this out broadly. This is functional on our Canvas Beta Server. This will rollout on January 17, 2026. More Information: SpeedGrader Updates
6. Block Content Editor
The Block Editor allows instructors, instructional designers, and other content creators to create well-designed, responsive content without relying on HTML, using a simple and familiar block interface. It will help educators deliver high-quality content to learners, resulting in a more consistent and engaging educational experience. Estimated production release by mid-2026. Product Blog: Block Content Editor EAP
Recorded Webinar on Latest Canvas Updates
Latest Canvas LMS Release Notes
Canvas LMS Future Roadmap 2025-2026
Feature Preview User Group Lists
InstructureCon 2025 Conference Session Videos
Recent new features that are available now on our Production Canvas LMS Server
1. TidyUP
TidyUp can now be enabled in your courses to help you quickly identify unused and duplicate content in your courses and quickly improve your Ally accessibility score. Identifying and deleting extra files, folders, pages, or assignments that are no longer used makes your course easier to manage and more accessible for everyone. More information here.
2. Discussion Checkpoints
Discussion Checkpoints allows you to have multiple due dates for your discussion assignments. After you select graded under Discussion Settings, you have the option to select Assign Graded Checkpoints and fill in points and due dates. More information here. Video: Discussion Checkpoints
3. Smart Search
Leveraging semantic algorithms and AI, the new Smart Search feature understands the context of queries, providing more accurate and relevant results without the need for traditional Boolean operators or other search tools. This approach is an improvement over traditional keyword-based searches, and will enable users to swiftly and efficiently navigate the vast array of educational resources available on Canvas. The Search feature is querying the following four items within a course: content pages, announcements, discussion prompts and assignment descriptions. It can be used by students and faculty. It can be used alongside other search tools. More information here.
4. Discussion Summaries
Discussion Summaries were built specifically to save teachers time through providing generative AI summaries of key points, questions, and ideas within a discussion thread. This feature is not available or intended for the student role at this time.
5. Redesigned Files Page
This update offers a cleaner, more intuitive interface that simplifies file organization and management. Improvements like pagination, sorting, and streamlined selection tools enhance usability, especially for users working with large file sets.
6. Showcase and Evaluation Portfolios
Canvas Portfolios Overview and Videos
Canvas offers two new types of portfolios to support both learner-driven and instructor-guided use cases: Showcase Portfolios and Evaluation Portfolios. These tools support storytelling, assessment, and the validation of competencies. How to Use Portfolios
Showcase Portfolios help students tell their own stories and highlight growth beyond the classroom.
- Enable learners to build personalized portfolios organized by theme, experience, or timeline.
- Support multiple evidence types, including Canvas submissions, media uploads, and reflections.
- Let learners use tags to emphasize competencies and themes, aligning their work with personal or professional goals.
- Offer export options as PDF or HTML, and allow bulk downloading of uploaded portfolio files.
- Facilitate external sharing through public links or direct publishing to LinkedIn.
Evaluation Portfolios allow instructors to support structured assessment and track learner progress over time.
- Portfolios can be generated using one or more Canvas courses as their foundation, with links to key assignments and competencies.
- Educators can establish evidence requirements to align expectations and support consistent demonstration of competencies.
- Align portfolio evidence with institutional competencies to help learners demonstrate specific skills and knowledge.
- Monitor progress with real-time visibility into submission status and portfolio completion.
- Streamline grading by using portfolio tasks with Canvas assignments and SpeedGrader.
- Review learner reflections and narratives to better understand learning and growth.
- Support feedback and iteration with options for revisions and resubmissions.
Video Walkthrough on Portfolios