Summary
- Instagram is testing horizontal Features videos up to 90 minutes long.
- Short Reels will be able to link to full episodes and productions.
- Access is limited to selected creators in the US and Brazil, with no rollout in Greece announced.
- The announcement video has faced restrictions outside the US, while creator monetization remains unresolved.
Instagram is testing Features, a new format for horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long, designed to connect short Reels with full-length productions.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri and VP of Product Tessa Lyons presented the shift on October 26, 2026. Mosseri acknowledged that he had resisted long-form video for years, concerned that extended viewing could reduce the sharing and interactions around photos and Reels.
From a short Reel to the full production
Features is designed primarily for podcasts, interviews, vlogs, comedy shows and other work that goes beyond typical short-form video. It uses a horizontal format and is testing lengths of up to 90 minutes; that ceiling has not been confirmed as a final specification for all accounts.
With Clips as Reels, creators can connect short excerpts to the complete production. Instagram is testing links from as many as eight Reels to a single long-form video, letting viewers continue watching without leaving the platform. Features are intended to appear in the main feed and Explore.
This builds on social discovery, already emphasized through Reposts and the Friends feed for Reels. When a short excerpt leads viewers to a complete episode, Instagram can retain viewing time that would often have gone to YouTube.
Limited testing — and an announcement video not visible everywhere
The test began with selected creators in Brazil and expanded to a limited group in the United States on October 26. Instagram has not announced a general release date or confirmed that accounts in Greece can already upload Features.
The announcement itself comes with an unusual restriction: the roughly six-minute video featuring Mosseri and Lyons has reportedly been inaccessible outside the United States. Consequently, an embedded version may appear unavailable to readers in Greece even when a news website includes it normally. That does not establish that Instagram deleted the post or cancelled the format. We have therefore not embedded a video that may fail to play for readers.
Series, Live and television
The initiative goes beyond video length. Instagram is also testing Series, which groups episodic Reels on a creator’s profile, alongside improvements to live-video discovery. These are separate experiments with different rollout schedules.
Features also fits into Instagram for TV: horizontal productions work naturally on a large screen, and viewers may discover a clip on mobile before continuing on television. In June 2026, Meta had already outlined its tests of horizontal video and longer creator formats for Instagram for TV.
The unresolved question of creator payments
A 90-minute upload limit does not settle the economics. Instagram has not announced a general advertising revenue-sharing program for Features comparable to YouTube’s. Meta is working with selected creators and exploring income through brand partnerships, fans and potential future incentives. Existing commercial deals may carry over for some creators, but that is not a standardized payment model for everyone.
What we think
For filmmakers and creators producing interviews or documentaries, the appeal is practical: they could publish a complete widescreen project without squeezing it into a Reel, then use short extracts to reach new viewers. That path from teaser to finished work makes sense.
But YouTube did not become useful for long-form work merely by accepting large video files. Discovery, search, viewing tools and an established revenue system all matter. If Instagram wants creators to invest days in filming and editing for Features, it needs equally clear answers about sustainable income and how finished videos stay discoverable over time.
The geographic restriction affecting the announcement video is an awkward first impression for a product based on easy access to content. For creators working from Greece, the practical approach is to follow the test without treating Features as an available distribution channel yet.
Frequently asked questions
Can I already upload a 90-minute video from Greece?
Not as a generally available feature. As of October 27, 2026, Features is in limited testing with selected creators in Brazil and the United States, with no announced availability in Greece.
Was the announcement video deleted?
There is no confirmed deletion. Its playback has reportedly been unavailable outside the United States, which is different from the post being removed.
Will Features replace Reels?
No. The approach links short Reels to longer productions and keeps Reels central to discovery.
