Instagram is expanding its video formats. Since October 26, 2026, the platform has been testing Features, a feature that allows select creators to post horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes. With Reels and its TV app, Instagram is looking to make more room for long-form content.
Instagram is expanding its video formats. Since October 26, 2026, the platform has been testing Features, a feature that allows select creators to post horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes. With Reels and its TV app, Instagram is looking to make more room for long-form content.
Instagram bets on long-form videos
With Features, creators can post podcasts, interviews, or vlogs directly on Instagram. The feature is currently being tested with a group of creators in the United States, following an initial phase in Brazil. It is therefore not yet available to everyone.
The platform is also developing Linked Reels, which allow a Reel to be connected to a long-form video. The goal: to grab attention with a short clip, then encourage viewers to watch the full content without leaving Instagram.
. In parallel, the Instagram TV app is evolving to better showcase these horizontal videos. The platform aims to offer an experience that adapts just as well to mobile viewing as it does to the big screen.
. New competition for YouTube
With these new features, Instagram is looking to keep users on its platform for longer. Until now, creators who wanted to share long-form content often directed their community to YouTube. Now, Instagram wants to allow them to bring clips and full videos together in one place.
For creators, this format could open up new possibilities, particularly for podcasts, interviews, and more in-depth content. Brands could also find a space here for collaborations that go beyond a simple Reel.
Several questions remain, however, particularly regarding creator compensation. Unlike YouTube, Instagram does not currently offer ad revenue sharing for these long-form videos. The success of Features will therefore also depend on the format's appeal to creators and its ability to reach their audience.
With this test, Instagram continues its transformation into a video entertainment platform. It remains to be seen whether users will embrace these long-form formats and if the feature will be gradually rolled out on a larger scale.