Instagram tests 90-minute horizontal videos called Features to rival YouTube
By Rhea MalhotraDigital Life Writer, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: Feraguz / Pixabay
Instagram began testing Features, horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long, with a small group of US creators, Adam Mosseri announced on 26 October 2026.
What Happened
Instagram has started testing Features, a new format that lets creators post horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long, aimed at podcasters, comedians and other long-form creators. Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Instagram's Tessa Lyons announced the test on Monday, 26 October 2026, in a video posted on the platform. The test begins with a small group of creators in the United States, after an earlier trial in Brazil. Instagram has not said when the format will reach India.
Key Facts
- Name: Features, a horizontal (landscape) video format inside Instagram.
- Length: videos of up to 90 minutes, far longer than Reels, the app's short vertical clips.
- Who gets it first: a small group of creators in the United States; the format was tried earlier in Brazil.
- Where the videos appear: in the main feed and on the Explore page, and on Instagram's TV app.
- Link with Reels: a short Reel can point viewers to the full-length Feature.
- Earnings: a Meta spokesperson said it is too early to share a long-term money-making model; Instagram says it is exploring brand, fan and performance-based options.
- Not exclusive: creators can post the same videos on other platforms, according to reports.
- India: no launch date announced for Indian users.
Why It Matters
For years Instagram was built around short, vertical content: photos, Stories and then Reels. Long videos, especially in landscape format, have been YouTube's territory. Mosseri himself had long argued against long-form video on Instagram. The Features test is a clear change of course. He now describes long and short video as working together: a short Reel draws people in, and the full episode keeps them watching.
The target is obvious from the creators Instagram named: podcasters and comedians, whose full episodes and specials currently live mostly on YouTube. Long videos keep viewers in an app for much longer, which is why platforms compete for them.
For young creators in India, the change matters even before it arrives. India is one of Instagram's biggest markets, and many Indian creators built their audiences on Reels but had to send followers to YouTube for anything longer than a few minutes. If Features reaches India, a creator could keep both the short clips and the full-length show in one place. The open question is money: YouTube shares advertising revenue with creators, while Instagram has not yet said how Features creators will earn.
| Format | Shape | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Reels | Vertical | Short clips |
| Features (test) | Horizontal | Up to 90 minutes |
Impact
Short-term: Only a small group of US creators can post Features for now. Indian users will not see the option until Instagram expands the test, and no date has been given.
Long-term: If the format spreads, competition between Instagram and YouTube for long-form creators could sharpen, which may give creators more choice and more bargaining power over how they are paid. It could also change how audiences find podcasts and long videos, with short Reels acting as trailers.
Who is affected: Podcasters, comedians, educators and other long-form creators; brands that sponsor creator content; viewers who watch long videos on their phones and TVs; and YouTube, which faces a stronger rival for long-form content.
Key Takeaway
Instagram's Features test, announced on 26 October 2026, brings 90-minute horizontal videos to the app for a few US creators, marking a direct move into YouTube's long-form territory, with no India date yet.
Questions and Answers
What is Instagram Features?
Features is a new Instagram format, in testing since 26 October 2026, that lets creators post horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long. The videos appear in the main feed, on Explore and on Instagram's TV app.
Is Instagram Features available in India?
Not yet. The test began with a small group of creators in the United States, after an earlier trial in Brazil. Instagram has not announced when it will reach India.
Can creators earn money from Instagram Features?
Not through a fixed model yet. A Meta spokesperson said it is too early to share a long-term plan, and Instagram says it is exploring brand, fan and performance-based options. Reports say creators can keep existing brand deals.
How is Features different from Reels?
Reels are short vertical clips. Features are long horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes. Instagram plans to let a Reel link to the full Feature, so short clips can lead viewers to the complete video.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rhea Malhotra, Digital Life WriterCovers Digital Life and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Rhea Malhotra
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Rhea Malhotra is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
