Fitness and Health
Instagram "Features": The 90 Minute Video Test (Oct 2026) and What It Means for You
What is Instagram Features? It is a new kind of video upload Instagram started testing in the US on October 26, 2026, letting creators share videos up to 90 minutes long. TechCrunch reported it comes with "Clips as Reels," which lets creators make Reels from their long videos that link back to the full one. [1] It is a small test, so most people will not see it yet.
Short answer
- Features: long videos, up to 90 minutes.
- Clips as Reels: short Reels cut from the long video, linking to it.
- Who: a small US test, after a test in Brazil.
- Should you care? Only if you already make long content, like podcasts or tutorials.
What TechCrunch reported
- Instagram is testing Features and Clips as Reels in Brazil and expanding to a small US test. [1]
- Viewers can save the longer video to send to the Instagram app on their TV. [1]
- Instagram is also working on better discovery for Live video and a hub on profiles for episodic Reels, a series of connected Reels. [1]
- TechCrunch framed it as a challenge to YouTube, where creators make more money from long video. [1]
What Mosseri said about long video
In his October 26 interview, Mosseri said Instagram weighs watch time less than rivals, and that one 20 minute video is "maybe a hundred things that you could have sent to a friend." [2] So even with long video coming, short and shareable still wins reach on Instagram.
Who this is for (original)
| You are | Should you try it? | |---|---| | A podcaster | Yes, once you have access | | A tutorial creator (makeup, cooking) | Maybe, for full routines | | A lifestyle poster | Not yet. Stick with carousels and Reels. | | Just posting for friends | No |
How to prepare now (original)
- Record horizontally for long content, but plan for vertical clips.
- Mark three to five "clip moments" in every long video: a tip, a funny moment, a strong opinion.
- Use chapters in your notes so clips are easy to cut.
- Make the first Reel clip the best one. It is the doorway to the long video.
- Keep your Reels habit going. Long video adds to, not replaces, short posts.
For beauty and lifestyle creators
Long video can work for:
- Full "get ready with me" routines.
- Hair tutorials start to finish.
- Q&A sessions with followers.
- Day in the life vlogs.
Cut each into three short Reels: the result, the best tip, and a funny moment.
The catch
- Long videos take far more time to make.
- Instagram's own head said sends drive reach, and fewer people send long videos. [2]
- It is a test. Features can change or disappear.
How to know if you have it
Check the upload screen when you tap the plus button. If you see a new option for longer or horizontal video, you are in the test. If not, there is nothing to switch on yet.
How to film long videos without a studio (original)
- Phone on a tripod, horizontal, at eye level.
- Light from a window in front of you, or a soft lamp behind the phone.
- A cheap clip on mic. Bad sound loses people faster than bad video.
- Sit close to the camera, about an arm and a half away.
- Plan an outline, not a script. Three to five points.
- Film in one take and cut mistakes later.
A smart test plan
If you get access, try one long video a month at first. Cut three Reels from it. Compare how many people tap through from the Reels to the long video. If almost no one does, your audience wants short posts, and that is fine.
The bigger picture
TechCrunch noted creators have long made more money on YouTube than on Instagram. [1] If Instagram adds ways to earn from long videos, that could change. Until then, think of long video as a bonus, not your main plan.
Quick takeaway
Instagram is testing Features, videos up to 90 minutes, starting October 26, 2026 in the US.
Clips as Reels lets short clips link back to the long video.
Short, shareable posts still drive reach, per Mosseri.
Only jump in if you already make long content.