Instagram now allows 90-minute videos: how long can a Reel be in 2026 (complete guide)
In this article, you will learn how long an Instagram Reel can be in 2026 and why every site gives a different number; what Features is, the test of horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes; the maximum video length for each Instagram format, with pros and cautions; the best length for each goal; and how to post a long video on Instagram today, in Reels and in stories.
How long can an Instagram Reel be in 2026: up to 20 minutes, but only Reels of up to 3 minutes are recommended to people who don't follow you yet. Each story can be up to 60 seconds, and Instagram has started testing horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes, a format called Features, with a small group of creators in Brazil and the United States.
| Format | Maximum length | Who can use it | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reels | 20 minutes (one or more clips) | All accounts | Over 3 minutes, not recommended to new audiences |
| Stories | 60 seconds per story | All accounts | Longer video is split into several stories in sequence |
| Features (in testing) | 90 minutes, horizontal | A few creators in Brazil and the US | No date for everyone and no ad revenue sharing |
90-minute videos on Instagram: what changed in October 2026
On Monday, October 26, 2026, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the test of Features, according to TechCrunch. They are horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes, designed for podcasts, interviews, comedy and full shows. For now, only a small group of creators in Brazil and the United States can post them, and there is no date for other accounts, according to the Brazilian tech site TechTudo.
The change does not touch the Reels or stories limits, which stay as in the table above. It creates a third, longer video format that gets its audience from short Reels.
In this guide, you will learn:
- How long an Instagram Reel can be and why every site gives a different number.
- The maximum video length on Instagram for each format, with the pros and cautions of each one.
- The best length for each goal, from reaching new people to teaching a full class.
- How to post a long video on Instagram today, in Reels and in stories.
Knowing the limit saves you from two losses: the video that gets cut when you post it, and the video that runs too long and stops reaching people who don't know you yet.
Why video length matters on Instagram
Length decides more than whether the video fits: it decides who gets to see it.
Reach: the limit nobody shows you when you post
The app accepts a Reel of up to 20 minutes, but Instagram's official Reels page warns that Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. In other words: your 10-minute video goes live, stays on your profile and reaches your followers, but it doesn't show up for new people.
Viewer attention
The longer the video, the sooner it has to prove it is worth watching. A long video that starts slowly loses viewers in the first seconds, before it gets to the good part.
Why the limit changed so many times
For years, Instagram said people preferred short videos. Now it also wants to compete in long-form video: Mosseri himself told TechCrunch that "for a long time" he was against long-form video on Instagram. Each change in strategy brought a new limit.
Common mistakes with video length
- Posting a 5-minute Reel and expecting the reach of a short one. Over 3 minutes, it isn't recommended to new audiences.
- Putting the main message at the end of a long story. The video is split into 60-second parts, and many people leave before the last one.
- Trusting the number in an old blog post. The limit changed in 2025 and again in 2026: check the date of what you read.
How long can an Instagram Reel be in 2026?
A Reel can be up to 20 minutes long, adding up one or more clips, according to Instagram's official page. To reach people who don't follow you yet, the limit that matters is 3 minutes.
If you searched for the maximum Reel length, you probably found 90 seconds, 3 minutes, 15 minutes and 20 minutes. The limit changed in a short time, and Instagram itself still shows different numbers on different pages:
- 90 seconds was the limit for years. Mosseri said Instagram had "historically" only allowed Reels of up to 90 seconds, according to the Brazilian site MacMagazine.
- 3 minutes became the limit on January 20, 2025, in the same announcement. The official Reels guide still talks about Reels from 3 seconds to 3 minutes.
- 20 minutes is what the Reels feature page says today, together with the reach warning above 3 minutes.
🔑 Tip: before recording, the Reels camera lets you choose the maximum length. Whatever shows up there is your account's limit.
Maximum video length on Instagram: 2026 updated guide
How long a video on Instagram can be depends on where you post it. Below, each format with its context, pros, cautions and official limit.
Reels
How long an Instagram Reel can be depends on what you want from it. It is Instagram's main video format: it shows up in the Reels tab, in Explore, in your followers' feed and on your profile.
Reels up to 3 minutes
Pros: it is the only Instagram video recommended to people who don't follow you yet. Good for quick tips, before and after, behind the scenes and announcements.
Cautions: 3 minutes is the ceiling for reach, not the goal. If the message fits in 30 seconds, don't stretch it.
Reels from 3 to 20 minutes
Pros: there is room for a class, a full tutorial or a detailed review, without leaving Instagram.
Cautions: it isn't recommended to new audiences. It works best when a short Reel leads to it.
Official Reels limits:
- Length: up to 20 minutes, in one or more clips
- Reach to new audiences: up to 3 minutes
- Aspect ratio: from 1.91:1 (horizontal) to 9:16 (vertical)
- Minimum quality: 30 frames per second and 720 pixels
- Cover: 420 x 654 px (1:1.55 ratio)
Aspect ratio, quality and cover are in the Instagram Help Center. For the pixel sizes of each format, see our guide to Instagram post size.
Stories: how long can an Instagram story be
Videos that disappear after 24 hours, unless you save them to your highlights. They show up at the top of the app for your followers.
Pros: you don't need to cut the video beforehand. If it is longer than the limit, Instagram splits it into several stories, one after the other.
Cautions: each part is a separate story, and you can lose viewers at every cut. The main message goes in the first 60 seconds.
Official stories limits:
- Length: up to 60 seconds per story
- Longer video: automatically split into back-to-back stories
- Time live: 24 hours
Source: Instagram's official Stories guide. To repost other accounts' stories, see how to repost stories on Instagram.
Features (90-minute videos, in testing)
The new long-form video format, announced on October 26, 2026. According to The Next Web, Features appear in the main feed and in Explore, and Instagram's TV app will prioritize them.
Pros: there is room for a podcast episode, an interview or a whole class. With "Clips as Reels", the creator posts excerpts of the long video as Reels, and those Reels take viewers to the full video.
Cautions: only creators in the test can post. For now, Instagram doesn't plan to share ad revenue from Features with them, and Meta told TechCrunch it is too early to talk about a monetization model. Instagram is also evaluating other length limits, so the 90 minutes may change.
What we know about Features:
- Length: up to 90 minutes
- Orientation: horizontal
- Who can use it: a few creators in Brazil and the United States
- Where it shows up: feed, Explore and TV app
As of October 27, 2026, no official source has shared the technical requirements (resolution, file size, exact aspect ratio) or how many Reels can point to the same video.
IGTV (discontinued)
Launched on June 20, 2018, IGTV was a separate app for vertical videos of up to 1 hour, at a time when regular Instagram videos were limited to 1 minute. It was shut down in 2022. The difference with Features is the path: IGTV was a separate place people had to look for; Features live in the feed and get their audience from Reels.
What is the best video length for each goal?
The limit tells you what fits; the goal tells you what is worth it. A good routine mixes several short Reels a week, to attract new people, with one long video for those who want to go deeper.
| Goal | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Reach new people | Reels | Up to 3 minutes (ideally much less) |
| Announce news or a promotion | Stories | Up to 60 seconds |
| Teach a full step-by-step | Long Reels | 3 to 20 minutes |
| Promote a long video | Reels as a trailer | 15 to 60 seconds |
| Podcast, interview or full class | Features, once released | Up to 90 minutes |
To plan this mix across the week, our Instagram posting schedule has a ready-made template.
How to post a long video on Instagram
Until Features reach everyone, the way to post a long video on Instagram is Reels, which accepts up to 20 minutes. For stories, Instagram does the splitting for you.
In Reels (up to 20 minutes)
- Edit the video first. Cut the slow start and put the main subject in the first seconds.
- Choose the aspect ratio. Vertical (9:16) fills the phone screen. Horizontal (up to 1.91:1) is also accepted, but looks smaller on screen.
- Open Instagram and tap +, then Reel. Pick the video from your gallery.
- Check the length. If the app cuts the video, your account still has a lower limit: split it into parts.
- Write the caption and choose the cover (420 x 654 px).
- Post or schedule it. If you post often, a post scheduler helps you keep the pace.
How to post a long video on an Instagram story
Open the stories camera, pick the video from your gallery and post it. Instagram splits it into parts of up to 60 seconds, which play back to back, in the video's order.
🔑 Tip: if the video is very long, post it as a Reel and promote it in stories with a short excerpt. Ten stories in a row are more tiring than an invitation to watch the full video.
Longer than 20 minutes
Today there is no format open to every account for that. The options are to split it into numbered parts ("part 1 of 3") or to post a short excerpt on Instagram and keep the full video where long-form is already the norm. If you are in the Features test, your limit becomes 90 minutes.
Use the short Reel as a trailer for the long video
That is the design of the test itself: the long video isn't discovered on its own, the short Reels bring people to it. Mosseri told TechCrunch the idea is to make short and long video work together. This already works today:
- Start with the best moment, not the introduction.
- One excerpt, one idea. Several short Reels from the same long video reach different audiences.
- Say where the rest is: "the full class is on my profile".
If you don't have a recorded excerpt to promote, you can create the teaser from scratch. In the BestContent Social video generator, for example, you describe the subject, upload reference photos and get a short video, from a few seconds up to 30 seconds depending on the plan, vertical or horizontal. The step-by-step is in our guide on how to create videos with AI.
Instagram vs. YouTube: how long can a video be on each?
90-minute videos bring Instagram closer to YouTube, where long-form video has always been the norm. The limits side by side:
| Format | YouTube | |
|---|---|---|
| Short video | Reels: up to 20 minutes (reach up to 3) | Shorts: up to 3 minutes |
| Long video | Features: up to 90 minutes, in testing | Up to 15 minutes by default; longer with a verified account |
| Technical cap | Not disclosed for Features | 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever comes first |
YouTube's limits are in the YouTube Help Center: Shorts of up to 3 minutes, for videos uploaded from October 15, 2024, and videos longer than 15 minutes only for verified accounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum length of an Instagram Reel?
Up to 20 minutes, adding up one or more clips, according to Instagram's official page. But only Reels of up to 3 minutes are recommended to people who don't follow your account yet.
Does Instagram accept 90-minute videos?
Only in testing. The Features format accepts horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes and has been available to a few creators in Brazil and the United States since October 26, 2026, with no date for all accounts.
What is the Reels length limit for reach?
3 minutes. Instagram says Reels over 3 minutes won't be recommended to new audiences. They remain visible on your profile and to your followers.
How long can an Instagram story be?
Up to 60 seconds per story. If the video is longer, Instagram automatically splits it into several stories in sequence.
How do I post a long video on Instagram?
Post it as a Reel, which accepts up to 20 minutes: tap +, then Reel, and pick the video from your gallery. For more than 20 minutes, split it into parts or post a short excerpt that leads to the full video.
Can I make money with 90-minute videos?
Not directly yet. For now, Instagram doesn't plan to share Features ad revenue with creators, and Meta says it is too early to talk about a monetization model.
What happened to IGTV?
IGTV launched in 2018 as an app for videos of up to 1 hour and was shut down in 2022. Features are Instagram's new bet on long-form video, now inside the feed and tied to Reels.
Conclusion
In short, Instagram's video limits in 2026:
- Reels: up to 20 minutes; up to 3 minutes to reach new people.
- Stories: up to 60 seconds per story, with automatic splitting.
- Features: up to 90 minutes, horizontal, only for those in the test.
Until Features reach everyone, the practical rule doesn't change: short Reels to be discovered, long video for those who already follow you. When they arrive, the same logic applies with more room. Before each video, check three things: the goal, the length and where the main message is. We will update this guide when Instagram announces the release.
This guide is by BestContent. To create the short Reels that lead to your long video, try the BestContent Social AI video generator.
