Livewire launches gaming ads inside Canva

Livewire has launched Ads by Livewire in Canva’s App Marketplace, giving Canva’s 265 million users a self-serve way to turn designs into ads for premium games. The integration opens gaming to marketers who have traditionally needed managed campaigns, with launch formats live now and more planned for early 2027.

Why it matters: - Livewire is trying to make gaming advertising as easy to buy as social ads. - The integration gives marketers a self-serve path into a channel that has mostly been sold through managed campaigns, custom deals and publisher-by-publisher negotiations. - Canva users can now use the same creative workflow they already use for social campaigns to reach gaming audiences. - Gaming reaches 3.6 billion people worldwide, making it one of the largest attention pools in media.

What happened: - Livewire launched Ads by Livewire in the Canva App Marketplace on September 8, 2026. - The app is the first gaming integration in Canva. - The product lets users turn Canva designs into ads inside premium gaming environments. - Ads by Livewire is available to Canva users globally now. - Livewire is also rolling out the integration as a sponsor of Canva World Tour. - Canva will support the launch with a dedicated Design School video and free learning content.

The details: - Users can open an existing Canva design or create a new one, then launch Ads by Livewire from Canva. - Marketers can choose ad format, audience, geography and budget before previewing the ad inside real gaming environments. - Campaigns are reviewed within 24 hours after submission. - Self-serve campaigns start at $500. - New customers can get a $100 bonus on their first order within the first two months of launch. - The first launch formats are in-game billboards and interstitial banners. - More formats are planned for early 2027. - Audience targeting uses Gamer.ID, Livewire’s privacy-safe gaming identity solution. - Gamer.ID uses real gameplay behavior rather than inferred interests. - Targeting works across mobile, console, PC and TV. - Every campaign runs in curated premium gaming environments reviewed by Livewire. - Ads do not run adjacent to user-generated content. - Canva’s open ecosystem already includes partners such as Meta, TikTok and LinkedIn. - Marketers who already run social campaigns from Canva can now add gaming campaigns alongside them using the same assets and workflow.

Between the lines: - Livewire is positioning gaming as a mainstream media channel, not a niche buy. - The launch also makes Canva a broader distribution point for performance marketers, not just design teams. - The move could lower operational friction for brands that want gaming reach without building a separate production and buying process. - Livewire’s pitch centers on access, speed and self-serve buying, while keeping premium inventory and review controls in place.

What’s next: - Livewire plans to add more gaming ad formats in early 2027. - Canva users can start using Ads by Livewire now through the Canva App Marketplace. - Livewire says the integration will be supported through Canva World Tour and Design School training. - The company directs users to livewire.group for more information.

The bottom line: - Livewire just put gaming ads inside Canva, giving marketers a faster way to buy a huge but hard-to-access channel.