Release notes outline upcoming customer-impacting changes that are expected to display in beta and/or production environments. Please note that features considered for future development are not included in the notes.
- Visit the Canvas Collaborative Roadmap to explore upcoming work and share feedback. Your input helps guide future product development.
- For Canvas Platform Service changes (API, GraphQL, Canvas Data), please see the appropriate page in the Change Log.
- Institutions are responsible for conducting thorough evaluations of their custom CSS/JS with each release and deploy to assess potential impacts.
- Canvas Next users can visit the IgniteAI Agent Release notes to stay up to date on the latest agent updates and improvements.
- For a breakdown of what’s included in each tier, see the Canvas Tier Feature Comparison.
Unless otherwise stated, all features in this release are available in the Beta environment on 2026-05-18 and the Production environment on 2026-06-20.
Upcoming Canvas Changes
2026-06-17
- Deprecation: Removal of Unauthenticated File Access
2026-06-30
- Deprecation: Removal of Legacy Login User Interface.
- End of Life: Canvas ePortfolios No Longer Available
2026-07-01
- Enforcement: New Quizzes Native Canvas Integration is Enforced
2026-07-18
- Enforcement: Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader Feature Option is removed.
- Breaking Change: Assignment lock_at value reflects student overrides
For more information, please see Instructure Enforcements, Deprecations, and Breaking Changes.
New Features
Announcements/Discussions
User Feedback on Translation Accuracy- All Users
Feature Option to Enable | IgniteAI Translations for Discussions & Announcements IgniteAI Translation Feedback |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | IgniteAI Translations for Discussions & Announcements - Account (Disabled/locked)
- Course (Disabled)
IgniteAI Translation Feedback - Account (Disabled/Locked)
|
Subaccount Configuration | No |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Announcements, Discussions |
Summary
When the IgniteAI Translations for Discussions & Announcements is enabled, users can give feedback on the accuracy of the translations.
Change Benefit
- Improved feedback on AI translations: Enables users to quickly rate translation quality and provide optional feedback to Instructure, helping improve the accuracy and usefulness of AI-generated translations over time.
Feature Workflow
Click the thumbs up or thumbs down icon to share feedback with Instructure.
Feature Video: Not Available
Assignments
Peer Review Enhancements- Instructor, Student
Feature Option to Enable | - Peer Review Allocation and Grading
- Assignment Enhancements-Student
- Enhanced Rubrics
- Performance and Usability Upgrades
See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options. |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | Peer Review Allocation and Grading - Account (Disabled)
- Course (Disabled)
Assignment Enhancements-Student
Enhanced Rubrics - Account (Disabled/Unlocked)
- Course (Disabled)
Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader - Account (Enabled/Unlocked)
|
Subaccount Configuration | Yes |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Assignments, Modules, To Do List, Grades, Gradebook, Speedgrader |
Related Resources | Peer Review FAQ |
Summary
When the Peer Review Allocation and Grading and other required feature options in the table are enabled, Peer Review includes an updated Allocation Engine and support for independent due dates and point values.
Allocation Engine
- The updated Allocation Engine automatically pairs students based on available submissions instead of by student.
- Peer reviews continue to be allocated until the Available Until date, if one is set.
- Instructors can manually manage reviewer pairings using Allocation Rules.
- Strict rules:
- Require or prevent specific reviewer-to-submission pairings.
- If this option is selected and no submission is available, the student will not have a peer submission to review.
- Flexible rules:
- Prioritize preferred pairings while allowing alternate assignments when needed.
- If this option is selected and no submission is available, the student will be assigned another student’s submission to review.
- Allocation rules are saved and continue to be used every time the Allocation Engine runs. Rules apply on a per-assignment basis and are not shared across assignments.
Due Dates and Points
- Peer review submissions have their own independent due date, separate from the parent assignment.
- Peer review submissions have their own independent point value, separate from the parent assignment.
- Peer reviews display separately across key areas, including:
- Modules
- Assignments
- To Do List (when a due date is set)
- Traditional Gradebook View
- SpeedGrader with Performance and Usability Upgrades
Notes:
- Supported by all assignment types that currently support peer reviews.
- Allocation rules, due dates, and points are additive; instructors who do not configure them will see behavior consistent with the current experience.
- Integrations that use public Canvas APIs for peer review data continue to work as expected. While the internal data model uses Single Table Inheritance, the API responses are simplified so consumers don’t need to account for that underlying structure.
- Not supported in the mobile app (same limitation as legacy Peer Reviews).
- There is no separate list view of student pairings, as it is no longer needed. Pairings are shown where they are needed, during student review and instructor grading.
- Automatic cross-group review (for example, all students in Group A reviewing Group B) is not available, but instructors can set this up manually using Allocation Rules.
- Peer review assignments cannot be copied or sent using Copy To or Send To.
- CSV import and export are not supported for peer review assignments.
- Allocation Rules drop-down menus may not always display as expected.
- Peer Reviews are not supported in Blueprint courses.
- Peer Reviews are not included in Course Copy.
- Anonymous grading is not available for peer review sub-assignments.
- Peer Reviews are not supported in Grade by Student within SpeedGrader with Performance and Usability Upgrades.
Change Benefit
- Reduced manual instructor effort: Streamlines setup and management of peer reviews, while providing clearer expectations and a more consistent, engaging peer review experience for students.
Feature Workflow
When creating an assignment:
- Select the Require Peer Reviews checkbox [1].
- Enter the number of required reviews [2].
- Enter the number of points per peer review (optional) [3].
- Review and make any desired selections in the Advanced Peer Review Configurations [4].
Add the due date for the original assignment [1] and peer review due date [2] and assign to as desired.
On the Assignment details page, click the View Configuration button [1] to view the Peer Review settings [2].
To manually allocate peer reviews, click the Allocate Peer Reviews button [1]. Then click the Add Rule button [2].
Note: By default, no action is required from instructors for automatic allocation.
Select the desired rule criteria.
Note: Instructors can add as many rules as desired.
For students, the assignment [1] and the peer reviews are separated [2].
If an instructor has set a submission as required, students can only see assigned peer reviews once they have submitted their assignment.
If there are multiple peer reviews:
- A drop-down menu displays [1].
- The name of the peer needing review also displays [2].
- The Assignment Details tab allows students to review the assignment instructions [3].
- To begin the peer review, students can click the Submission to Review tab [4].
Note: If the instructor has enabled anonymous reviews, the names of the peers being reviewed will not display.
In the Submissions to Review tab, students can:
- Change the page view [1]
- Change the rubric view mode if a rubric is available [2]
- Complete the rubric [3]
- Leave comments [4]
- Hide the rubric [5]
- Show only comments [6]
- Move to the next available peer review [7]
Note: If a rubric is required, it displays by default.
Once the rubric is complete, click the Submit Assessment button.
When all peer reviews are complete, click the Finish Peer Reviews button.
A modal displays when peer reviews are successfully submitted.
In the Grades page, students can view the assignment and peer review grades separately.
When available in the Grades page, students can view rubric feedback and comments from both instructors and peer reviewers.
In SpeedGrader, instructors can view a student’s peer-reviewed rubric. Instructors can also:
- Change the rubric view mode [1]
- View the peer review score [2]
- View the ratings [3]
- View peer review comments [4]
- Add a peer review score [5]
- Move to the next peer review [6]
Notes:
- The grading process for the original assignment remains unchanged.
- Instructors are encouraged to leave comments in the grading comments panel.
Feature Video: Coming Soon
Canvas Apps
Edit LTI Configuration in JSON- Admin
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Account-level settings - manage |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Canvas Apps |
Summary
In Canvas Apps, admins can edit an LTI configuration directly using a JSON format.
Note: Inherited LTIs cannot be edited.
Change Benefit
- Flexible configuration management: Allows admins to directly edit LTI configurations in JSON format, making it easier to review, update, and manage advanced configuration settings.
Feature Workflow
In the Canvas Apps Configuration tab, click the Edit as JSON button.
Feature Video: Not Available
Navigation Menu
Navigation Links in Account, Course, and User Menus- All Users
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Custom Links-manage |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Account, Course and User Navigation, Account and Course Settings |
Summary
Admins can add links to the account, course and user navigation menus, and instructors can add links to the course navigation menu.
Notes:
- When a course containing a link to an external resource is copied, the link remains functional in the new course.
- When a course containing a link to an internal resource is copied, references are automatically updated to point to the new course.
- When a course is exported, links are included in the exported course content.
Change Benefit
- Expanded navigation customization: Enables admins and instructors to add custom links to account, user, and course navigation menus, making it easier to surface key resources and improve access to important destinations.
Feature Workflow
In Account Settings, within Custom Links, click Add a Link to create a new navigation link.
Admins can choose to place the link in Account, Course or User Navigations.
Note: Changes must be saved before leaving the Settings page.
In the Course Settings Navigation tab, click the Add a Link button to add a new navigation link.
Add text [1] and a link [2].
Once added, the link is automatically enabled in the Navigation menu [1]. To access additional actions, click the Options menu [2].
Notes:
- Changes must be saved before leaving the Navigation tab.
- Instructors can disable or move Course Navigation links created at the account level, but cannot delete them.
Feature Video: Not Available
Other Updates
Platform/Integration
User-Agent Header Enforcement- Admin
Summary
All HTTP requests must include a User-Agent header. The header may contain any value. Requests that do not include this header will be rejected.
Change Benefit
- Enhanced security: Requiring a User-Agent header helps block requests from misconfigured scripts or automated traffic that may indicate scraping or other unwanted activity, reducing overall platform risk.
- Improved observability and governance: A valid User-Agent enables accurate attribution of request sources, supporting stronger audit trails, usage insights, and accountability across the API.
- Operational efficiency: Clear, identifiable request metadata improves debugging, traffic analysis, and resource planning, helping teams maintain reliability and respond to issues more quickly.
