Since April 2026, institutions have had the option to enable the Customizable Dashboard for Learners feature option, giving students a more useful starting point each time they log in to Canvas. Starting August 15, 2026, this feature will be enabled by default at the account level. Once enabled, individual students can opt in to the new experience.
Action required for institutions that wish to opt out
Institutions can disable the feature option at any time before August 15 by submitting this Google Form: https://forms.gle/Bi1BYqmzJTasLkFo6 .
Once the flag is turned on, students will still need to choose to opt in to the experience and can switch back and forth between the old and new experiences.
Why make the transition?
The dashboard is a student’s first stop after logging in to Canvas. The legacy dashboard hasn't kept up with how they actually use Canvas day to day, and doesn’t make it easy to scan for what's due, what's been graded, and where to focus next. The Customizable Dashboard for Learners closes those gaps.
Today, students who opt in to the new dashboard get:
- A customizable layout, so they can arrange widgets around what matters most to them
- Course Work widget that displays Missing, Due, and submitted work in one view
- Recent grades and feedback at a glance, without navigating into individual courses
- A clearer path from login to the information they need to act on
For institutions, the change requires no setup.
Need help preparing?
We encourage institutions that haven't yet enabled the feature to opt in before August 15th and explore the new functionality for students.
If you have questions about the Customizable Dashboard for Learners or would like guidance preparing your institution for the transition, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager.
Additional information
Feature Option: "Customizable Dashboard for Learners”
Availability: Globally available for all Canvas customers
Configuration Levels: Root account, individual student
Default-on Date: August 15, 2026 (students will still need to choose to opt in)
For more information, review the product blog [https://community.instructure.com/en/discussion/665850/empowering-learners-introducing-the-new-customizable-dashboard] and release documentation.
