Make 2026 your biggest year on Instagram yet. Whether you're growing a business or building your personal brand, staying ahead of platform changes is key to standing out. We've compiled everything you need to know about Instagram's latest updates so your content can reach more people and make a real impact in the new year.
Algorithm & Reach Changes
Original Content Prioritization
Instagram's algorithm heavily favors original content over shared or recycled material. If you've been reposting memes, here's your wake-up call: Reposted content is seeing reach reductions of 80%. The platform wants to see what you create, not what you recycle.
Tune Your Algorithm
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri shared a game-changing feature: You can now manually update your algorithm. When you're watching Reels, tap the button in the top right corner to view algorithm controls and make adjustments based on the content you actually want to see. Finally, some control over your feed.
Saves > Likes
The platform has fully embraced private engagement metrics (saves, shares, DMs) more than public metrics (likes, comments). Users are treating Instagram as a reference library, and the algorithm is prioritizing save-worthy content accordingly. If your content isn't valuable enough to save, it's not going to reach as many people.
Think evergreen. Think useful. Think saveable.
Sends as Top Engagement Signal
Shares via DMs and story reposts now rank as the strongest engagement signals on social platforms. Instagram has even redesigned the navigation panel to reflect this shift. The share button is now front and center. For creators and brands, this means your content must be conversation-worthy enough that audiences actively share it with friends or post it to their stories, rather than passively scroll past. Adam Mosseri breaks down the purpose of updating the navigation buttons even further in his Reel.
Share Carousel Posts
If you have multiple photos or videos that work well together, carousel posts are your best friend. You can include up to 20 photos or videos in a single carousel, and when a follower doesn't swipe through to the end, Instagram treats those unseen slides as "new content."
The platform will show your carousel to that same person again later, picking up with the first slide they didn't swipe to. This gives your carousel multiple chances to get engagement. Essentially a built-in second (and third) chance to capture attention.
Buffer's analysis of more than 4 million Instagram posts showed that carousels received higher engagement than single-image photos or videos.
New Features
Repost Function
While this launched in 2025, Instagram allows reposting of public Reels and grid posts, complete with a dedicated "Reposted" tab on profiles. This now includes reposting stories you’re not even tagged in. Just remember original content still wins in the algorithm.
Edits App
Instagram released a video editing app this year that's essentially their answer to CapCut. It features AI-powered filters, auto-generated subtitles, background removal, building in ap story boards and trendy audio overlays. They are also releasing some new features like tagging products, new fonts, outlining a person, easily blur or revealing an object and more! Everything you need to create polished content without leaving the Instagram app.
Hashtag Limit Reduction
Hashtags are officially out. Instagram now limits hashtags to three per post, down from 30. Keywords in your captions and content are now the more effective way to improve your reach and SEO. Write for searchability, not for hashtag stuffing.
Instagram for TV
Reels can now be recorded up to 20 minutes in-stream, allowing for longer storytelling. This coincides with the brand-new launch of Instagram for TV. Now available in the US on Amazon Fire TV devices, your Reels can start appearing on the big screen. This opens new possibilities for longer tutorials, behind-the-scenes content and more in-depth narratives.
Community Chats
Community Chats are designed as group interaction spaces where all participants can contribute, enabling deeper community connections. If you've been looking for ways to build stronger relationships with your audience, this is it.
Success Strategies for 2026
If you're aiming for growth in 2026, focus on:
- Shareable insights – Create content people want to send to their friends or post to their stories. Saves and shares aren't just metrics. They're signals to Instagram that your content has long-term value and cross-audience appeal.
- Strong original storytelling and personality-led content – Show up as yourself, not as AI-generated thought leadership.
- High retention carousels – Content that gets users to swipe through and engage.
- Longer-form, TV-ready content – With Instagram for TV now live, optimize your Reels for the big screen. Think about clear visuals and content that works just as well on a TV as it does on a phone.
The world of social media is ever changing, and new updates keep rolling out. If you're overwhelmed about staying on top of it all or need help developing impactful social media for your brand, give us a shout. We'd love to help make 2026 your biggest year yet!
