Instagram Features: horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long
Instagram is testing Features: horizontal videos up to 90 minutes, watched inside the app, with Reels that lead to the full video. The test is limited to selected creators in the United States and Brazil.
MoBenFreelance video creator
Contents
Features is a format Instagram has been testing since late October 2026: horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long, watched directly in the app, with Reels that lead to the full video. It is not open to everyone yet: the test covers selected creators in the United States and Brazil.
Put simply, Instagram no longer wants to be just YouTube’s trailer. It wants to keep the whole video. Instead of reading “full episode on YouTube”, you might find it on Instagram itself.
What is Features on Instagram?
The test was announced on 26 October 2026 by Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, and product chief Tessa Lyons. It is not Live: these are long, recorded videos people watch whenever they want. Here is what we know:
- Length: up to 90 minutes during the test.
- Format: horizontal, like a YouTube video or a show.
- Where they appear: in the main feed, on Explore and in Instagram’s TV app.
- Who it is for: podcasters, comedians and creators who publish full-length shows.
This is not Instagram’s first try at long-form video. IGTV, launched in 2018, was shut down in 2022 when the platform went all in on Reels. The difference this time is the direct link between the short video and the long one.
How do Reels lead to the full video?
Instagram is also testing a link between a Reel and the Features video it comes from. The idea: you watch a clip, you like it, you tap and keep watching the episode without leaving the app. Instagram also plans to let creators group related Reels into series on their profile.
Today, a podcast clip on Instagram often ends with “watch the rest on YouTube”. Part of the audience never makes that trip. With Features, the trip disappears.
Who can use Features today?
For now, only creators chosen by Instagram, in the United States and Brazil. It is not a feature rolled out to everyone, and no general launch date has been given. The 90 minutes are the test’s maximum length and may still change.
What does it change for creators?
For me, the big change is not the length. It is that a Reel can become the doorway to your long-form content. A clip is no longer just there to get views: it has to make people want to watch the rest.
In practice, if you run a podcast or a show, think of your videos in two layers: the long version and the clips that lead to it. That is already the logic of a video podcast editing workflow: a clip must stand on its own, with a real hook in the first second, and end on a reason to keep going.
On set, that means shooting horizontally for the long version while leaving room to reframe the clips vertically. It is easier when you plan your shots with the edit in mind: here is how to film for the edit.
Should you post 90-minute videos on Instagram?
Not just because you can. Being able to post an hour and a half doesn’t mean you should. The right length is the one your content can hold without losing attention. A rich interview can run long; a product demo rarely should.
Cut what doesn’t serve the story, even in a long format. And for clips, keep the short-form rules: vertical framing, the right length and export settings for Reels, readable subtitles.
Instagram or YouTube for long-form video?
For now, YouTube remains the established home for long-form video, and Features is only a test. If your audience watches your episodes on YouTube, don’t change everything overnight. But if your audience mostly lives on Instagram, keep an eye on this test: the day it opens up, you will want your long versions and clips ready.
What about you: would you watch a full episode on Instagram, or does long-form belong on YouTube? Tell me in the comments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Instagram Features available in Morocco or Europe?
Not yet. The test covers selected creators in the United States and Brazil, and Instagram has not announced a date for other countries.
Is Features a Live format?
No. These are recorded, published videos that people watch whenever they like, just like a YouTube video.
What is the maximum length of a Features video?
Up to 90 minutes during the test. Since it is a test, that limit may still change before any wider launch.
If you want to turn a podcast or an interview into a long version plus clips ready for Reels, here is how I work on podcasts and interviews. Tell me about your project.
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