Instagram Tests 90-Minute Video Formats to Compete with YouTube
Instagram is testing a new video format allowing uploads of up to 90 minutes in length, moving the platform beyond short-form clips into long-form content like full interviews, podcasts, and comedy shows. Instagram-Chef Adam Mosseri und Produktchefin Tessa Lyons stellten das neue Format “Features” am 26. Oktober 2026 in einem Video vor. The test initially rolled out in Brazil before expanding to tens of thousands of video creators in the United States, as noted by the technology portal 9to5Google. Instagram has not announced a launch date or availability for Germany.
Reels Integration and Discovery Expansion
Short-form Reels will serve as entry points to the longer uploads. Users who find an excerpt from a podcast can jump directly to the full episode via an in-app link without leaving Instagram.
Mosseri previously resisted long-form video due to concerns that it would reduce how often users share short clips with friends. To maintain the platform’s core loop, Instagram will also surface the extended videos inside its Explore recommendation tab alongside existing short-form content.
Instagram Tests 90-Minute Horizontal Videos To Challenge YouTube https://t.co/YIu5yQfg4Z pic.twitter.com/MOAtrSYJtw
Smart TV Expansion for Wide-Format Media
The new long-form videos will use a wide landscape aspect ratio designed for television screens. This format supports Instagram’s hardware expansion, following the December 2025 launch of its TV application for Reels on Amazon Fire TV devices in the United States. That application is now also available on Samsung televisions, giving the platform a direct pathway to living room viewers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Instagram Features
Which countries are currently testing the 90-minute video format?
Instagram initially tested the format in Brazil before expanding the trial to selected video creators in the United States.
Who introduced the new long-form video format?
Instagram head Adam Mosseri and product chief Tessa Lyons presented the “Features” format in an online video released on October 26, 2026.
Where can users watch Instagram’s TV applications?
The Instagram TV application for Reels is available on Amazon Fire TV and Samsung television devices in the United States.
Worth a look