Canvas is the short looping video Spotify shows in place of your cover while the track plays. It earns nothing by itself, but it measurably lifts saves, playlist adds and story shares. Here are the exact 2026 requirements, the upload flow and how to make one when all you have is the cover.
Spotify Canvas requirements in 2026
The most common mistake: treating Canvas like a music video or a snippet. It needs no editing, story or sound — one scene that loops beautifully is enough. A slow zoom on the artwork, smoke, rain, light leaks, particles.
Check the official Spotify Canvas guidelines before exporting: a standard 1080×1920 Stories file is 1920 px tall and exceeds the Canvas size limit.
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Format | MP4 with no audio, or JPG |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16, vertical |
| Size | 720 to 1080 px tall; for example, 540×960 at 9:16 |
| Length | 3 to 8 seconds |
| Loop | plays on repeat — the seam between end and start must be invisible |
| Where it shows | mobile app only; desktop and the web player don’t display Canvas |
How to upload a Canvas
You need access to Spotify for Artists and the right artist role. See Spotify’s upload instructions and our guide to claiming your artist profile.
- After your distributor delivers the release to Spotify, find the track in Spotify for Artists. Canvas can be added to upcoming music before release day.
- Open the Music tab in Spotify for Artists, on the web or in the mobile app, select the track and choose Add Canvas.
- Upload the MP4 or JPG, check the preview on a phone and save. Review usually takes a few hours to a day.
- You can replace it any time; on an album each track gets its own Canvas.
Canvas vs Apple Music motion artwork
Apple Music also shows moving artwork, but it is delivered by your distributor with the release rather than uploaded by you, and the rules differ: the first frame must match the static cover exactly and the loop must have no fades or hard cuts. Not every distributor delivers motion artwork — check before you plan on it.
The practical takeaway: keep one visual idea, but export separate files for Canvas, Reels and Stories, and Apple Music if your distributor supports it.
How to make a Canvas from a static cover
A ready-made motion cover
The fastest route is animating the artwork itself: slow push-in, layered parallax, light and particles. Our motion covers use 1080×1920 for Stories and Reels; ask for a separate 3–8 second Canvas export within Spotify’s size limit.
An After Effects template
If you work in After Effects, grab an animation template, drop in the cover and export a separate 3–8 second 9:16 version at 720–1080 px tall for Canvas.
DIY in CapCut or Canva
Start with a 9:16 canvas such as 540×960, add a slow zoom and a smoke or grain overlay, then export 6–8 seconds without audio. Check the loop seam and keep the video between 720 and 1080 px tall.
What Canvas actually does
Spotify’s own data shows tracks with Canvas get more saves, playlist adds and story shares — because when a listener shares from the app to Instagram, it is the Canvas that goes out, not a static image. It is a free promo layer you build once. Pair it with editorial pitching — see how to get on Spotify playlists.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Canvas need sound?
No — Spotify strips it. The loop plays over the track itself.
Can I upload a Canvas before release day?
Yes. Once your distributor has delivered the upcoming track to Spotify, eligible artist accounts can add its Canvas before release day.
Why can’t I see my Canvas?
It shows only in the mobile app and only for listeners who have the feature enabled. Desktop and the web player never show it.
Can I reuse my Reels snippet as a Canvas?
You can reuse the visual idea, but export a separate 3–8 second 9:16 file at 720–1080 px tall. A standard 1080×1920 Stories video exceeds the Canvas height limit.
Need a motion cover?
A ready-made motion cover from $15, a custom animation from $50. You get an MP4 1080×1920 (9:16) for Stories, Reels and Shorts.