What’s New in After Effects? Here Are All of the Latest Motion Design, Compositing, and Animation Updates

Adobe After Effects 2026 Update

So, the big news for Adobe After Effects users with this 2026 update is that there are several new features available for those looking for new tools to try out with animation and 3D design. After Effects is also getting some enhanced vector workflows, access to over 1,300 free Substance 3D materials, and upgraded motion typography with variable fonts.

Here are some breakdowns for what’s new:

• Enhanced vector workflows in After Effects: Users can now import SVG files, a common file type used by graphic designers in Adobe Illustrator, as native shape layers and start animating with full vector fidelity. When you convert Illustrator layers to shape layers, gradients and transparency are preserved and remain editable, so you can keyframe color transitions and animate gradient motion. The new gradient scale and rotation properties give you more creative control for fills and strokes.
• Create Native 3D Parametric Meshes: Users can build and customize cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones, toris, and planes. Combine shapes like building blocks to craft stylized graphics or photorealistic set pieces. Additionally, new Spot and Parallel shadows enhance the realism and dynamics of scenes.
• Style your scenes with over 1,300 free Substance 3D materials: Users can now access and apply Substance 3D materials to both native meshes and imported models, adding depth and realism to their models in just a few clicks. These materials are dynamic and customizable, allowing you to tweak them to fit your vision. After Effects provides access to thousands of materials via Substance Community Assets, with over 1,300 free materials available for all users. Use offset, rotation, and scale controls to dial in the look you want and animate any property of your materials to bring them to life.
• Upgraded Motion Typography with Variable Fonts: Using the Text Animator, users can now animate every axis a variable font exposes with keyframes and expressions. Adjust the weight, width, slant, wiggle, and any designer-defined font axes in the Properties Panel, and drive them through the Essential Graphics panel and Motion Graphics templates for flexible titles and templates.

Adobe further shares that there are several quality of life improvements as well, which should further make working in After Effects smoother and easier going forward. For more info on the latest updates and how to try out this newest version of AE, head over to Adobe’s website here.