Instagram is testing a format called Features that lets a small group of creators post horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long. For podcasters, coaches and clinics, it means a full episode or class may soon live on Instagram next to your Reels, but it is a test for now, so most accounts cannot use it yet.
Here is what changed, what we know and do not know, and how to get your videos ready without betting your whole plan on it.
What did Instagram announce?
On Monday, October 26, 2026, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and product lead Tessa Lyons announced the test. According to The Next Web, Features are long, horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes, and Instagram is pitching them to podcasters, comedians and other creators who want to share full shows.
The test started with a small group of creators in the US, with some in Brazil taking part too. The Next Web reports that Features will show up in the main feed and on the Explore page.
Instagram is testing a few related tools at the same time. TechCrunch reports a test called Clips as Reels, which turns a moment from a long video into a Reel that links viewers to the full video. Instagram is also working on a place on your profile that groups episodic Reels into a series.
Has Instagram tried long videos before?
Yes. IGTV was a separate app for longer videos that launched in 2018 and was shut down in 2022. This time the long videos sit inside the main app, and short clips are meant to lead people to them.
Mosseri said in the announcement that he had been against long video on Instagram for a long time, because Reels drive more shares and messages. Instagram's position now is that short clips and full programs should support each other. Lyons said Reels is still going to be a core part of Instagram.
Where will people watch these videos?
On phones, and on TVs. Instagram has a TV app that, per The Next Web, launched on Amazon Fire TV in the US in December 2025 and has since come to Google TV and Samsung TVs. Features will be given priority there. TechCrunch adds that viewers can save a long video on their phone and send it to the TV app to watch later.
That matters for the edit. A video watched on a living room TV is judged like a YouTube video or a show: picture quality, clean sound and steady pacing for the full length, not just the first three seconds.
Can creators earn money from Features?
Not in a set way yet. The Next Web reports that Instagram does not plan to share ad revenue from Features with creators for now, though it has not ruled that out. A Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch: "It's too early to share a long-term monetization model."
For comparison, TechCrunch notes that creators in the YouTube Partner Program get 55% of the ad revenue from their videos.
For most of the people we work with, that is less important than it sounds. A coach, a clinic or a founder with a podcast is rarely paid by views. They are paid when a viewer books a call, buys a program or walks into the practice. The question for them is reach and trust, not ad share.
What does this mean for podcasters?
If you already film your podcast, you may soon be able to post the full episode where your Instagram followers already are. The Clips as Reels test is the part to watch most closely. A short clip that links straight to the full episode is the same path that already works on YouTube with Shorts and long videos.
It also raises the bar on the full episode. If a clip sends someone to a 60 minute video, that video needs clean audio, matched cameras and a tight cut, or they leave after a minute. We covered what goes into that kind of edit in how much video podcast editing costs.
And the clips still do the heavy lifting. Picking the right 30 to 60 seconds is what gets a stranger to tap through. Our guide to podcast clips that get shared walks through how we choose them.
What does it mean for coaches and clinics?
Many coaches already record long content: webinars, workshops, Q&A calls, or a weekly YouTube video. Doctors and clinics record longer explainers on procedures and recovery. Right now that lives on YouTube or a course platform, and Instagram gets the short cut-downs.
If Features opens up, the same long video could also sit on Instagram, with your Reels pointing to it. People who already follow you for short tips could watch a full class or a full procedure walkthrough without leaving the app.
Two cautions. First, it is a test, so nobody outside Instagram knows when or if it reaches every account. Second, a 90 minute limit does not mean a video should be 90 minutes. Long videos earn their length by staying focused on one topic.
Should you change your video plan now?
Not much. Nothing in this test asks you to stop doing what already works. Here is what we would do:
- Keep posting Reels and Shorts. They are how new people find you, and Instagram says Reels stay at the core.
- Film long content horizontally, in good quality. If you record a podcast, class or webinar, keep the full horizontal master, not just the vertical clips. Then it is ready for YouTube today and for Instagram if Features reaches you.
- Edit long videos to hold attention the whole way. Cut dead air, open with the point, use chapters or clear sections, and fix the sound. That works on any platform.
- Plan clips that point to the full video. Each clip should tease one idea and give a reason to watch the rest.
- Watch your app for the option. If Features or Clips as Reels shows up on your account, test one episode and compare it with how the same episode does on YouTube.
How can an editor help with this?
The work is the same work, sent to one more place. A full horizontal edit for the long video, and vertical clips cut from it. With us a long-form video is $450, a single short is $60, and a podcast episode with up to 6 camera angles is $1,100. Shorts come back within 48 hours and long videos within 72. See our full pricing for monthly plans that bundle both.
Everything we make is edited by people.
FAQ
Can everyone post 90-minute videos on Instagram now?
No. As of late October 2026, Features is a test with a small group of creators in the US and some in Brazil. Instagram has not said when or whether it will reach every account.
Should Instagram long videos be vertical or horizontal?
Features are horizontal, the same shape as a YouTube video or a TV show. Reels stay vertical. If you record one master horizontally and frame it with room to crop, you can cut vertical clips from it.
Will I get paid for views on Instagram Features?
Not through an ad share for now. Meta says it is too early to share a long-term model. For most businesses the value is reach and trust with people who already follow you.
Want your long videos and clips ready for every platform? Tell us about your content and we will suggest a setup.