Instagram long-form 90-minute video is arriving under the name Features, a horizontal format unveiled on October 26, 2026. Instagram is testing it only with selected creators, first in Brazil and then in the United States. Features is aimed at podcasts, interviews, comedy shows, vlogs, and extended storytelling, with distribution on mobile and Instagram for TV.
What is Instagram long-form 90-minute video?
Instagram Features is a horizontal video format that allows programs up to 90 minutes long to be published. Since October 26, 2026, the test has remained limited to certain creators. As of November 1, 2026, Instagram had not announced a general rollout date, a public sign-up process, or complete technical specifications.
The choice of horizontal format is not insignificant. Instagram is no longer just trying to extend the length of mobile videos: the platform wants to establish programs that can be watched on a TV, with staging and pacing close to YouTube, filmed podcasts, or small audiovisual productions.
The test began in Brazil before being expanded to a limited group of creators in the United States. Digital Trends reported on October 26, 2026, that Instagram planned to broaden this phase to several tens of thousands of American creators. However, that announced volume does not make Features a public option.
Among the first participants reported in 2026 were Emma Grede, Monet McMichael, Preston Rakovsky, and Donald De La Haye. Engadget noted on October 26, 2026, that the initial creators had individual arrangements with Meta. In other words, there is no point in promising a Features publishing schedule to a brand right now if your account has not received any invitation.
Why is Instagram reviving long-form video after IGTV?
Instagram is reviving long-form video because Features combines three complementary spaces: discovery in Instagram Reels, full viewing on mobile, and consumption on Instagram for TV. This architecture corrects a weakness of IGTV, launched in 2018 as a separate category before its merger with feed videos in 2021.
Starting in 2018, IGTV offered videos up to 60 minutes for eligible creators, in a mainly vertical approach. Meta then merged IGTV and feed videos into Instagram Video on October 5, 2021. The IGTV brand then lost its role as a separate destination.
| Product | Year | Announced length | Orientation and distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGTV | 2018 | Up to 60 minutes for eligible accounts | Mainly vertical video in a dedicated category |
| Instagram Video | 2021 | Merger of IGTV and feed videos | Video integrated into the Instagram profile and feed |
| Features | 2026 | Up to 90 minutes during the test | Horizontal video connected to Instagram Reels, mobile, and Instagram for TV |
The strategic difference is clear. Features does not require the audience to spontaneously find a new section: short clips serve as entry points from Instagram Reels. This logic builds on existing behaviors, particularly those described in our analysis of Instagram algorithm signals in 2026.
Adam Mosseri also acknowledged in October 2026 a real tension: extended viewing can reduce interactions with Instagram Reels, photos, carousels, and content from friends and family. Honestly, that is the project’s main risk. Instagram must gain long watch time without weakening the formats that drive daily interactions.
How does Instagram connect Reels, Features, and television?
The Clips as Reels system turns short excerpts into access points to a full Features video. TheWrap reported on October 26, 2026, that a creator could use up to eight short clips to direct viewers to a long-form program. Instagram is thus linking mobile recommendation, extended viewing, and the television screen.
The principle uses a mechanism already proven on other platforms: an excerpt must satisfy an immediate intent while also opening a narrative loop. A strong line, a contradiction, or a visual demonstration can lead to the full episode. A simple promotional summary rarely works.
To make the most of Instagram long-form 90-minute video, think of filming as editorial material with multiple outputs. A one-hour interview can produce a trailer, several thematic excerpts, and standalone answers. Our method for turn a long video into short-form content helps preserve the creator’s tone instead of producing eight identical trailers.
Instagram for TV completes the journey. Meta began testing the app on Amazon Fire TV in the United States on December 16, 2025, initially centered on Instagram Reels. In 2026, U.S. availability expanded to Apple TV, following Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, and certain compatible Samsung TVs.
As early as June 22, 2026, Meta said it was testing a space dedicated to horizontal video on Instagram for TV and exploring episodic series, live programs, and longer creator content. Features now gives this living-room strategy a concrete form.
What content should you publish with Instagram Features?
Instagram Features is suitable for content whose value depends on developing a topic: filmed podcasts, interviews, documentaries, comedy shows, structured vlogs, and branded programs. The 90-minute limit is not a duration target. An episode should remain as short as its editorial promise allows.
In practice, a dense 28-minute interview is better than a conversation artificially stretched to 90 minutes. Retention depends on editing, sound, progression, and the quality of follow-up questions. TV viewing also makes framing, lighting, and graphic package flaws much more visible.
To prepare a production that can be used on Instagram Features, check these five points before filming:
- state a precise promise for the full episode and a separate promise for each Instagram Reels excerpt;
- film horizontally while protecting a central area compatible with vertical reframing;
- place strong sequences at several points in order to create standalone clips;
- record clean sound, because a long program is less forgiving of constant noise and inconsistent levels;
- separately negotiate the usage rights for the full program, excerpts, connected TV, and advertising activations.
This last point is the trap many beginners ignore. A brand may want to reuse an excerpt in advertising without having acquired the corresponding rights. The relationship between creators and advertisers must therefore specify the media, territories, rights duration, and any adaptations, as with structured Instagram collaborations in 2026.
How should you prepare your strategy before Features opens up?
Creators without access to Features can prepare in 2026 by making a horizontal pilot, a library of vertical excerpts, and a commercial package separating production, distribution, and rights. Advertisers should test a limited series rather than an expensive program. As of November 1, 2026, no standard compensation model or ad-revenue sharing comparable to YouTube had been documented.
NetInfluencer reported on October 27, 2026, that Features did not yet offer ad-revenue sharing in the style of YouTube. This absence changes the economic calculation: funding may come from a brand partnership, a commissioned production, affiliate marketing, or an individual agreement with Meta, with no guarantee that a single model will be retained in a future launch.
From the creator side, first produce a pilot episode with your existing equipment. Measure how well the topic holds up, the quantity of excerpts that are truly usable, and your community’s reactions. Short views are not enough: also monitor comments asking for more, shares, saves, and profile visits.
From the advertiser side, do not pay only for 90 minutes of duration. Buy an editorial concept, access to a consistent audience, and a clearly defined set of deliverables. The building of a creator as media or as a brand, analyzed in the evolution of influencers toward their own brands, becomes especially relevant for long-form series.
Whether you are an influencer or an advertiser, ValueYourNetwork brings its expertise in influencer marketing and social media strategy to develop formats tailored to your audiences: contact us to build your next activation.
FAQ about Instagram Features
Is Instagram Features available for all accounts?
Instagram Features is not available for all accounts as of November 1, 2026. The test remains accessible by invitation to selected creators in Brazil and the United States, with no public registration form.
What is the maximum length of a Features video?
An Instagram Features video can last up to 90 minutes during the test announced on October 26, 2026. Instagram has not yet published the full set of technical import requirements.
Is Instagram Features replacing Instagram Reels?
Instagram Features does not replace Instagram Reels. The Clips as Reels system uses short discovery videos to direct audiences to a complete Features program.
Can you monetize an Instagram Features video?
Instagram had not announced any standard ad revenue sharing for Features as of November 1, 2026. Early creators reportedly benefited from individual arrangements with Meta, according to Engadget.
Where to watch Instagram Features videos?
Instagram Features videos can be viewed in Instagram’s mobile environment and via Instagram for TV. In the United States in 2026, Instagram for TV includes Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, and certain compatible Samsung TVs.