diff --git a/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.test.tsx b/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.test.tsx
index efbadfa48e49..b9c217c1d867 100644
--- a/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.test.tsx
+++ b/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.test.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
-import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { useThemeStore } from "@posthog/ui/shell/themeStore";
+import {
+  act,
+  fireEvent,
+  render,
+  screen,
+  waitFor,
+} from "@testing-library/react";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { BuiltCanvas } from "./BuiltCanvas";
 
 describe("BuiltCanvas", () => {
@@ -7,6 +14,8 @@ describe("BuiltCanvas", () => {
     posthog: { insights: [], inlineQueries: false, captureEvents: [] },
     network: { origins: [] },
   };
+  const initialIsDarkMode = useThemeStore.getState().isDarkMode;
+  afterEach(() => useThemeStore.setState({ isDarkMode: initialIsDarkMode }));
 
   it("loads an immutable artifact without granting origin or popup access", () => {
     render(
@@ -20,7 +29,7 @@ describe("BuiltCanvas", () => {
     const hostDocument = screen.getByTitle("Canvas").getAttribute("srcdoc");
     expect(hostDocument).toContain("frame-src https://usercontent.example");
     expect(hostDocument).toContain(
-      'artifactFrame.src = "https://usercontent.example/build/index.html"',
+      'artifactFrame.src = "https://usercontent.example/build/index.html#theme=light"',
     );
     expect(hostDocument).not.toContain("frame-src *");
     expect(screen.getByTitle("Canvas")).toHaveAttribute(
@@ -100,9 +109,10 @@ describe("BuiltCanvas", () => {
     ][];
     const canvasPort = calls.at(-1)?.[2]?.[0] as MessagePort;
     const responses: unknown[] = [];
-    canvasPort.addEventListener("message", (event) =>
-      responses.push((event as MessageEvent).data),
-    );
+    canvasPort.addEventListener("message", (event) => {
+      const data = (event as MessageEvent).data as { type?: string };
+      if (data?.type === "data-response") responses.push(data);
+    });
     canvasPort.start();
 
     canvasPort.postMessage({
@@ -122,4 +132,50 @@ describe("BuiltCanvas", () => {
     });
     expect(onDataRequest).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it("mirrors the host theme over the artifact bridge", async () => {
+    act(() => useThemeStore.setState({ isDarkMode: true }));
+    render(
+      <BuiltCanvas
+        artifactUrl="https://usercontent.example/build/index.html"
+        capabilities={capabilities}
+        onDataRequest={vi.fn()}
+      />,
+    );
+    const iframe = screen.getByTitle("Canvas") as HTMLIFrameElement;
+    if (!iframe.contentWindow) throw new Error("Canvas iframe has no window");
+    expect(iframe.getAttribute("srcdoc")).toContain("#theme=dark");
+    expect(iframe.style.colorScheme).toBe("dark");
+    const postMessage = vi
+      .spyOn(iframe.contentWindow, "postMessage")
+      .mockImplementation(() => undefined);
+
+    fireEvent.load(iframe);
+    const calls = postMessage.mock.calls as unknown as [
+      unknown,
+      string,
+      Transferable[],
+    ][];
+    const canvasPort = calls.at(-1)?.[2]?.[0] as MessagePort;
+    const frames: unknown[] = [];
+    canvasPort.addEventListener("message", (event) =>
+      frames.push((event as MessageEvent).data),
+    );
+    canvasPort.start();
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(frames).toHaveLength(1));
+    expect(frames[0]).toEqual({
+      channel: "posthog-canvas",
+      type: "set-theme",
+      theme: "dark",
+    });
+
+    act(() => useThemeStore.setState({ isDarkMode: false }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(frames).toHaveLength(2));
+    expect(frames[1]).toEqual({
+      channel: "posthog-canvas",
+      type: "set-theme",
+      theme: "light",
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.tsx b/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.tsx
index 865393d7c5b9..15d89d2939d6 100644
--- a/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.tsx
+++ b/products/desktop/packages/ui/src/features/canvas/freeform/BuiltCanvas.tsx
@@ -1,19 +1,30 @@
 import { assertCanvasCapability } from "@posthog/core/canvas/canvasCapabilities";
 import {
   type CanvasNavIntent,
+  type CanvasTheme,
   canvasToHostMessageSchema,
 } from "@posthog/core/canvas/freeformSchemas";
 import type { CanvasCapabilities } from "@posthog/shared";
 import { logger } from "@posthog/ui/shell/logger";
 import { openExternalUrl } from "@posthog/ui/shell/openExternal";
-import { useLayoutEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import { useThemeStore } from "@posthog/ui/shell/themeStore";
+import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import { createCanvasHostMessageRouter } from "./canvasHostMessageRouter";
 
 const log = logger.scope("built-canvas");
 
-function buildArtifactHostDocument(artifactUrl: string): string {
+function buildArtifactHostDocument(
+  artifactUrl: string,
+  theme: CanvasTheme,
+): string {
   const artifactOrigin = new URL(artifactUrl).origin;
-  const serializedArtifactUrl = JSON.stringify(artifactUrl).replaceAll(
+  // The theme rides the fragment so the artifact runtime (a synchronous head
+  // script) applies `.dark` before first paint — the bridge port only connects
+  // at the load event, far too late to prevent a light flash. Fragments don't
+  // reach the server, so signed artifact URLs stay valid.
+  const themedUrl = new URL(artifactUrl);
+  themedUrl.hash = `theme=${theme}`;
+  const serializedArtifactUrl = JSON.stringify(themedUrl.href).replaceAll(
     "<",
     "\\u003c",
   );
@@ -93,7 +104,16 @@ export function BuiltCanvas({
   onNavigate,
 }: BuiltCanvasProps) {
   const iframeRef = useRef<HTMLIFrameElement>(null);
-  const hostDocument = buildArtifactHostDocument(artifactUrl);
+  // Mirrors the host's light/dark theme, like FreeformCanvas — sent over the
+  // artifact bridge port right after connect and again on every change.
+  const theme = useThemeStore(
+    (s): CanvasTheme => (s.isDarkMode ? "dark" : "light"),
+  );
+  const artifactPortRef = useRef<MessagePort | null>(null);
+  // The srcDoc bakes in the mount-time theme only — folding the live theme in
+  // would reload the artifact on every toggle. Live changes go over the port.
+  const initialTheme = useRef(theme).current;
+  const hostDocument = buildArtifactHostDocument(artifactUrl, initialTheme);
   const latest = useRef({
     capabilities,
     onDataRequest,
@@ -101,6 +121,7 @@ export function BuiltCanvas({
     onReady,
     onRendered,
     onNavigate,
+    theme,
   });
   latest.current = {
     capabilities,
@@ -109,15 +130,15 @@ export function BuiltCanvas({
     onReady,
     onRendered,
     onNavigate,
+    theme,
   };
 
   // biome-ignore lint/correctness/useExhaustiveDependencies: a new host document needs a fresh bridge even though the effect reads it only through the iframe.
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
     const iframe = iframeRef.current;
-    let artifactPort: MessagePort | null = null;
 
     const route = createCanvasHostMessageRouter({
-      post: (message) => artifactPort?.postMessage(message),
+      post: (message) => artifactPortRef.current?.postMessage(message),
       callbacks: () => ({
         onDataRequest: (method, payload) => {
           // Gating lives here so every consumer of BuiltCanvas gets it by
@@ -149,16 +170,23 @@ export function BuiltCanvas({
     };
 
     const onLoad = () => {
-      if (artifactPort) return;
+      if (artifactPortRef.current) return;
       const bridge = new MessageChannel();
-      artifactPort = bridge.port1;
-      artifactPort.addEventListener("message", onMessage);
-      artifactPort.start();
+      artifactPortRef.current = bridge.port1;
+      artifactPortRef.current.addEventListener("message", onMessage);
+      artifactPortRef.current.start();
       iframe?.contentWindow?.postMessage(
         { channel: "posthog-canvas-host", type: "connect" },
         "*",
         [bridge.port2],
       );
+      // Queued on the port until the artifact runtime starts it, so the first
+      // themed paint happens before any data renders.
+      artifactPortRef.current.postMessage({
+        channel: "posthog-canvas",
+        type: "set-theme",
+        theme: latest.current.theme,
+      });
     };
 
     const onHostMessage = (event: MessageEvent) => {
@@ -169,8 +197,8 @@ export function BuiltCanvas({
       ) {
         return;
       }
-      artifactPort?.close();
-      artifactPort = null;
+      artifactPortRef.current?.close();
+      artifactPortRef.current = null;
     };
 
     iframe?.addEventListener("load", onLoad);
@@ -178,10 +206,21 @@ export function BuiltCanvas({
     return () => {
       iframe?.removeEventListener("load", onLoad);
       window.removeEventListener("message", onHostMessage);
-      artifactPort?.close();
+      artifactPortRef.current?.close();
+      artifactPortRef.current = null;
     };
   }, [hostDocument]);
 
+  // Live theme change: re-theme the running artifact without reloading it. On
+  // mount the port is still null — the initial theme goes out in onLoad above.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    artifactPortRef.current?.postMessage({
+      channel: "posthog-canvas",
+      type: "set-theme",
+      theme,
+    });
+  }, [theme]);
+
   return (
     <iframe
       ref={iframeRef}
@@ -189,6 +228,10 @@ export function BuiltCanvas({
       sandbox="allow-scripts"
       srcDoc={hostDocument}
       referrerPolicy="no-referrer"
+      // Like FreeformCanvas: without a matching color-scheme the UA paints the
+      // embedded documents' base canvas opaque white, flashing over a dark app
+      // before the artifact's stylesheets and theme land.
+      style={{ colorScheme: theme }}
       className="h-full w-full border-0 bg-background"
     />
   );