Canva IPO: What to Know About Your Employee Equity
For the past year, Canva has been sending increasingly clear signals that an IPO is coming. While the timeline is still up in the air, current and former employees are rightfully asking questions about what it will mean for their equity. Here are the answers worth knowing.
When is Canva going public?
Canva leadership has not locked in a date or filed for an IPO with the SEC yet. Co-founder and COO Cliff Obrecht told Capital Brief the company is "fully IPO ready" and is targeting 2027 for a public listing. Earlier reports had pointed to a 2026 listing, but the company is reportedly waiting to finish shifting its business model toward AI before an IPO. That timeline could shift again, just as it has already.
What is Canva’s current valuation?
The most recent confirmed transaction values Canva at roughly $42 billion, based on an employee share sale from August 2025. That figure has held up in independent tracking through at least June 2026. Canva leadership has recently defended a higher $60 billion figure, but that number does not yet reflect a new priced transaction.
Can I sell my Canva shares before the IPO happens?
Canva has periodically run tender offers that let eligible employees sell a portion of their vested shares while the company is still private. The most recent, in August 2025, let eligible employees sell up to $3 million of vested equity. However, there is no guarantee there will be another tender offer before an IPO.
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What happens to my shares when Canva goes public?
Once Canva lists on a public exchange, your vested shares will convert from private company stock to publicly traded shares. In practice, that means you can finally sell them on the open market just like any other stock in your portfolio. The price will be set by the market instead of the company or its investors, and fluctuations are common after a new IPO.
Can I sell my shares as soon as the company goes public?
Most IPOs come with a lockup period, usually somewhere between 90 and 180 days after the IPO. During that time, employees and other insiders are barred from trading company stock. Canva has not said what its own lockup will be. Once the company files with the SEC, we will know more.
Should I sell my Canva shares after the IPO?
Diversifying after an IPO is generally a good idea. Having too much of your net worth tied up in one company is always risky, even if you believe strongly in Canva. A single bad quarter or a shift in investor sentiment could hit your whole financial picture at once, and a newly public stock can be especially volatile.
However, selling too much all at once will likely result in a high tax bill, which eats away at your proceeds before you can reinvest the cash. Fortunately, there are ways to diversify your portfolio quickly while avoiding a massive tax hit.
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How can I diversify my shares without a massive tax bill?
There are a few ways to reduce your position in Canva without selling everything all at once.
An exchange fund lets you pool your shares with other investors, giving you a portion of a diversified basket without an immediate tax hit.
A donor-advised fund can sell your shares tax-free, then donate the proceeds to a charity or charities of your choice. You will receive a tax deduction based on the amount you donate.
Charitable remainder trusts work similarly, except that they pay you an income stream for a set term, after which any remaining cash is donated to charity.
Direct indexing lets you sell underperforming stocks from within an index fund to offset gains elsewhere. This is known as tax-loss harvesting, and it can be one of the most efficient ways to balance your capital gains.
Securities-backed lending lets you borrow against your shares to access cash without having to sell right away.
The right strategy will depend on your financial picture and timeline. A fiduciary financial advisor can help build a plan tailored to your needs and goals.
What should I do before Canva goes public?
While Canva’s IPO date has not been settled yet, it’s never too early to start planning your strategy. Now is the perfect time to start thinking through which options will preserve your wealth while expanding your investments outside of Canva. A financial advisor familiar with Canva’s equity rules can help you sort through the details so you’ll be ready to go once the company goes public.
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If you’re ready to take the next step toward a reliable equity plan, we’re here to help. At TrueWealth Financial Partners, we can give you a custom-built plan tailored to your finances, timeline, and long-term goals.
Schedule a free 15-minute call with our team, and we’ll be happy to talk through your options.
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