Instagram is testing ways to connect short clips with longer videos, while adding tools for editing and livestream promotion. For creators, these developments could open up more ways to introduce a subject through a Reel and give interested viewers a fuller explanation.
However, these updates are at different stages. Some have been reported as released, while others remain limited tests.
Status as of 29 October 2026: Availability differs by feature, country and account. An announcement does not mean every creator can access a feature immediately. Where a country-specific rollout has not been confirmed, creators should check availability within their own account.
Longer videos are being tested with selected creators
Instagram is testing “Features,” a format supporting longer videos, including uploads of up to 90 minutes. According to reporting on the announcement, testing previously involved selected creators in Brazil, with a small US test announced on 26 October. This should not be understood as a worldwide launch or confirmed general availability in India.
The potential opportunity is more space to develop a subject. A short interview clip might introduce an interesting opinion, while the complete conversation explains the experience behind it. A brief recipe video might showcase the finished dish, while a longer version could explain techniques, substitutions and common mistakes.
These are possible uses of the format, rather than evidence that longer uploads will automatically perform better. Creators should consider whether their subject needs more explanation and whether viewers have shown an interest in that depth. A longer upload limit is useful only when the content gives people a reason to keep watching.
Short clips could help viewers discover the full video
Alongside Features, Instagram is testing “Clips as Reels,” allowing up to eight clips to point viewers towards a longer video. Reporting describes testing in Brazil and an expansion to selected US creators. It is not a generally available feature for every account.
For creators who receive access, this could make it easier to plan a full video and its shorter clips together. An interview could produce separate Reels around a surprising answer, a practical lesson and a frequently asked question. Each clip could deliver a useful takeaway while offering interested viewers a route to the complete conversation.
The editing still needs to suit someone encountering the subject for the first time. A section lifted from the middle of a conversation may lack context. A stronger standalone clip introduces the topic quickly and makes its value clear before asking viewers to explore further.
A new Series experience is separate from older Reel linking
Instagram is also testing a dedicated Series experience for episodic Reels. It should be described as a feature under testing and expansion, rather than something every creator can already use.
There is an important distinction here: Instagram reportedly began removing its older feature for linking Reels together on 28 October. That existing linking tool and the newer Series experience are separate developments. Creators should not assume that access to the older tool means they will immediately receive the new one.
For recurring content, the broader opportunity is to make the relationship between episodes easier to understand. A creator publishing connected lessons or themed recipes can prepare by giving each instalment a clear subject and consistent identity. That planning remains useful regardless of which organisation tools are available in the account.
Edits has added tools for audio, reusable styles and topic insights
Reporting dated 15 October describes additions to Instagram’s Edits app, including clickable audio links, “Kits” for saving visual style combinations and insights into topics generating engagement among a creator’s audience. At the time of reporting, the topic insights were limited to creators with more than 10,000 followers. A complete country-by-country availability list was not established in the sources reviewed.
Reusable styles could help creators reduce repetitive editing work and maintain a familiar appearance across recurring videos. Topic insights could provide starting points for content planning.
The useful next step is to assess those suggestions against the audience’s interests. Before following a topic, consider what your expertise, experience or examples can add. A popular subject becomes more valuable when the creator has a clear reason to cover it and something worthwhile to contribute.
An in-app option can simplify Live promotion
Instagram’s in-app Live Boost option was reported on 30 September. It allows creators with access to promote a broadcast directly from the Live composer, with the live video itself serving as the advertisement. The promotion runs while the broadcast is live. The reporting does not establish a complete country list or confirm access for every account, so availability should be checked before planning a campaign around it.
For an interview, demonstration or audience Q&A, easier promotion could help bring additional viewers into the session. The broadcast still needs a clear reason to attend: who is appearing, what viewers will learn and why joining live is worthwhile.
Creators should also decide what success means before spending. A Q&A may aim to generate relevant questions, while a demonstration may focus on enquiries. Reviewing the outcome against that purpose gives a more useful assessment than considering viewer numbers alone.
Longer uploads do not come with a confirmed earnings promise
Creators should keep publishing opportunities and payment arrangements as separate considerations. According to reporting, Instagram is exploring ways to help long-form creators earn money, but a broadly available ad-revenue-sharing programme specifically for Features has not been established in the sources reviewed. This does not mean Instagram has no monetisation options; it means creators should not assume the new format comes with a particular payout model.
An extended video takes time to plan, edit and package. Before investing, creators should identify what the video is intended to achieve and how they will assess its value. Audience questions, requests for detailed explanations and interest in recurring subjects can provide useful starting points.
Turning audience interest into a longer video strategy
Instagram’s move towards longer videos gives creators a reason to think beyond individual Reels. If viewers regularly ask for detailed explanations, complete tutorials or full conversations, those questions could help shape a longer video series—and a potential YouTube content plan.
For Instagram creators considering that next step, the challenge is deciding what deserves a full video, how to adapt it for YouTube and how to build a consistent channel around it. That is where Ping MCN’s YouTube expertise comes in, with support across content strategy, editing, thumbnails, optimisation and channel management.
Already creating on Instagram and wondering how to bring your content to YouTube? Connect with Ping MCN to explore a channel strategy built around your expertise and the topics your audience wants more of.
