Shopify Launches Canvas, a Way to Design Online Stores by Chatting With Sidekick

Shopify launched Canvas on October 1, 2026, an AI-powered site builder that lets merchants redesign their store by chatting with Sidekick, Shopify's built-in AI agent.

See the Whole Store at Once

Canvas lays out every page of a store together, so merchants can see how the experience flows from the homepage through product pages, collections and cart, and watch changes appear in real time.

Two Ways to Edit

Merchants can click a section to edit it directly or type instructions to Sidekick. Sidekick asks clarifying questions when a request is ambiguous, proposes an approach before making changes and remembers design preferences across sessions.

Launch Limitations

Third-party theme support, app blocks and extensions, markets, translations, rollouts and theme updates are not included at launch, and Canvas is desktop-only. Shopify says it plans to add support over time.

Where Custom Work Still Matters

Canvas makes layout and content changes far faster for standard stores. Stores built on custom or third-party themes, with multiple markets or complex app integrations, will need to wait — and conversion-critical changes should still be tested before going live.