Shopify Rebuilt the Theme Editor From Scratch: Canvas

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast · Oct 13, 2026 · 44m

"Now everybody knows code. It's called English."

On October 1, Shopify launched Canvas, a new theme editor built around Sidekick. Ben Sehl is Director of Product for Online Store at Shopify. He built themes as a partner, cofounded the clothing brand Kotn, and led Hydrogen from zero to one. Now he's replacing a theme editor that has worked for 15 years, and he says Canvas will be the only one in time.

Ben explains what Shopify rebuilt under the hood, who should use Canvas today and who should wait, and why he thinks agencies are worth more now than before AI.

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