Microsoft Excel Canvas Turns Spreadsheet Data Into Interactive Dashboards

Excel Canvas is a new Microsoft Excel feature designed to turn workbook data into an interactive visual surface with charts, metrics, and insights.

According to Microsoft 365 Roadmap entry 569424, Microsoft plans to release the feature for Excel on Windows and the web in September 2026.

Excel Canvas turns workbook data into visual dashboards

Excel Canvas will use data already stored inside a workbook to create a separate visual view containing charts, important metrics, and other insights.

The idea is to make large spreadsheets easier to understand without requiring users to manually build multiple charts or dashboard elements.

Instead of examining individual cells and tables, users will be able to view important information on a single interactive surface.

Copilot will automatically create visualizations

Microsoft is also integrating Copilot directly into Excel Canvas.

Copilot will automatically generate polished visualizations from workbook data, while users will be able to prompt it to change the canvas based on what they want to see.

For example, users could ask Copilot to emphasize certain metrics, change the way information appears, or adjust the visual presentation.

This approach could reduce the need to create charts manually or repeatedly ask Copilot to generate individual visualizations.

Excel Canvas stays synchronized with workbook data

Microsoft says the canvas will remain connected to the underlying spreadsheet.

When users change workbook data, the charts, metrics, and insights shown in Excel Canvas will update as well.

That could make the feature particularly useful for dashboards, reports, and other spreadsheets where data changes frequently.

Excel Canvas arrives in September 2026

Microsoft currently lists Excel Canvas for general availability in September 2026.

The company plans to make the feature available in Excel for Windows and Excel on the web.

Microsoft continues to add new capabilities across Microsoft 365, although some upcoming changes could also affect existing workflows. Speaking of workflows, the upcoming removal of the Excel connector could break some workbooks that depend on it.

Elsewhere, the Intune August update brings new Autopilot and security features, while SharePoint is getting a Hero Link sharing feature.

Via Neowin