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Figma Config 2026: canvas gets code, motion, shaders

Published 21 July 2026 · Source dated 24 June 2026

Figma's biggest Config yet turns the canvas into a proper creative engine — code layers, a motion timeline, custom shaders and a beefed-up in-canvas agent. Most of it's in open beta, so try it, don't bet your workflow on it yet.

At Config 2026, Figma shipped Figma Motion (a real animation timeline), code layers that turn frames into runnable code, custom shaders, and an expanded design agent that can now use custom tools and 'skills.' CEO Dylan Field's framing: the canvas should hold whatever material a team needs — pixels, code or motion — not just static frames. Most features are in open beta on paid plans, so expect bugs and shifting UI over the next few months. Why this is labelled hype: it's brand new, open beta, and not yet proven across real production teams — impressive keynote, unproven daily habit. If you're on Penpot day-to-day, this is worth watching rather than panicking about — Penpot has no equivalents yet, and open-source alternatives typically catch up on stable patterns, not beta ones.

Coach

Open Figma Motion or code layers in a scratch file this week and build one tiny animated component — just so you know what people mean when they ask if you've used it.

Source: help.figma.com ·