Once a moment reserved largely for romantic gestures, Valentine’s Day has gradually made room for something more expansive. Alongside partners and spouses, people are using the day to celebrate friendships, chosen family, and the relationships that shape everyday life.

That shift is increasingly visible in how people create. Over the past year, millions have turned to Canva to design cards, invitations, and social posts that express love in many forms. Together, these creative choices offer a window into how people are using design to celebrate meaningful relationships of all kinds.

For all the ways the holiday has expanded, romantic Valentine’s traditions remain at the heart (pun intended). The enthusiasm showed up clearly on Canva over the past year, with global searches for “Valentine’s Day” and “Valentines” exceeding 412 million, highlighting the scale of love-centered creativity across cards, social posts, invitations, and more.

Interest in the holiday overall also continued to grow, with Valentine’s Day searches up 31% compared to back in 2024. 

This growth reflects how people are choosing to engage with the moment: using creativity to make familiar Valentine’s rituals feel more personal and intentional.

Alongside romantic traditions, Valentine’s season is increasingly becoming a moment to celebrate friendship. What started as a lighthearted alternative has grown into a meaningful way for people to recognize the friends and chosen family who have their backs.

Increasingly, Galentine’s Day is becoming a fully realized creative moment – turning friendship celebrations into thoughtfully themed gatherings shaped by shared aesthetics. This shift is evident in how users are creating on Canva: global searches for “Galentine’s Day” and “Galentines” exceeded 8.6 million in 2025, up 207% from the previous year.

At its core, the evolution of Valentine’s Day reflects a broader cultural shift in how people think about relationships. Friendship, chosen family, and, increasingly, even the people we work alongside every day are now recognized as equally meaningful parts of modern life.

In an era where attention is scarce, cultural moments that invite true participation matter more. The growth of both Valentine’s and Galentine’s creation points to a change in behavior rather than a fleeting trend, as people use established moments like February 14 to acknowledge a wider circle and recognize shared connection.