Instagram has launched a highly requested tool for creators: the ability to link multiple Reels into a “Reel Series”—a curated collection that lets audiences watch related short-form videos in a sequential, bingeable format. Unveiled on August 21, 2025, the feature is designed to help creators organize thematic content (such as tutorial breakdowns, story arcs, or behind-the-scenes chronicles) and keep viewers engaged across multiple Reels, rather than forcing them to search for related clips individually. For both established and emerging creators, this update transforms Reels from standalone videos into cohesive narratives—boosting discoverability and encouraging longer watch times on the platform.

How Reel Series Works: Organization, Navigation, and Visibility

The new Series feature is intuitive to use and built to enhance both creator workflow and audience experience. Here’s a breakdown of its key functionality:

1. Creating a Series: Simple Curation for Creators

To launch a Series, creators start by uploading a new Reel or selecting existing ones from their library. They then:

• Tap the “Create Series” button (found in the Reels editing menu, alongside options like “Add Audio” or “Tag People”).
• Name the Series (e.g., “3-Step Makeup Tutorial,” “My Road Trip Across Europe,” “Beginner Guitar Lessons”) and arrange Reels in their desired order (drag-and-drop functionality makes reordering easy).
• Add a brief description to explain the Series’ theme—this appears on the Series page to help viewers understand what to expect.

Creators can add new Reels to an existing Series at any time (e.g., expanding a “7-Day Workout Challenge” by adding daily Reels as the week progresses) and edit the order or title later if needed.

2. Navigating Series: Binge-Friendly Experience for Viewers

For audiences, Series are clearly marked with a “Series” badge on the Reel thumbnail and a progress bar at the bottom of the screen (e.g., “1/5” to show it’s the first of five Reels). When watching a Series Reel:

• A “Next Reel” button automatically appears at the end of each clip, letting viewers seamlessly move to the next video in the sequence without returning to the creator’s profile.
• Tapping the Series title opens a dedicated page showing all Reels in order, along with the creator’s description—making it easy to jump to a specific Reel (e.g., skipping to “Day 3” of a workout challenge) or restart the Series from the beginning.
• Instagram’s algorithm also prioritizes Series in feeds and the Reels tab for users who’ve watched part of a Series, ensuring they don’t miss new additions.

Why This Matters for Creators (And Their Audiences)

The Reel Series feature solves two longstanding pain points in short-form video content—disorganization for creators and fragmentation for viewers—while unlocking new opportunities for engagement:

For Creators: More Control Over Narrative and Growth

• Thematic Organization: Creators often struggle to keep related Reels accessible; a tutorial split into 3 parts, for example, might get lost in a feed of unrelated content. Series let them group these Reels into a single, easy-to-find collection, reducing viewer frustration.
• Increased Watch Time: By encouraging viewers to watch multiple Reels in a row, Series boost key metrics like “total watch time” and “average view duration”—signals Instagram’s algorithm uses to promote content to larger audiences. Early beta testers reported a 35% increase in cross-Reel views after launching their first Series.
• Monetization Potential: For creators in Instagram’s Partner Program, longer watch times can lead to higher ad revenue or more interest from brand partners (who often prioritize engaged, captive audiences). Series also make it easier to pitch “sponsored Series” (e.g., a 4-part Reel Series showcasing a brand’s product line).

For Viewers: Less Searching, More Binging

• Seamless Discovery: Instead of scrolling through a creator’s profile to find the next Reel in a tutorial or story, viewers can follow the Series directly—saving time and reducing the risk of missing installments.
• Clear Context: The Series description and ordered structure help viewers understand the “why” behind each Reel. For example, a viewer who stumbles on “Day 4 of My Skincare Routine” can quickly jump to Day 1 to catch up, rather than feeling confused by out-of-context content.

How It Compares to Competitors (And Instagram’s Past Tools)

While platforms like TikTok offer “Playlists” for short videos and YouTube Shorts has “Shorts Series,” Instagram’s Reel Series stands out for its deep integration with the platform’s existing creator ecosystem:

• Unlike TikTok Playlists, which are often buried in a creator’s profile, Reel Series are highlighted directly on Reel thumbnails and in feeds—increasing visibility.
• Instagram’s Series also sync with other creator tools, such as “Saved Collections” (viewers can save entire Series to revisit later) and “Collabs” (creators can co-own a Series, with both profiles linked to the content).

Notably, this update builds on Instagram’s 2023 launch of “Guides” (long-form collections of posts or Reels) but focuses exclusively on short-form video—catering to the platform’s fastest-growing content format (Reels now drive over 50% of Instagram’s user engagement, per internal 2025 data).

Future Updates and Availability

Reel Series is available globally starting August 21, 2025, for all Instagram creators (both personal and business accounts) on iOS and Android. Instagram has also teased upcoming enhancements, including:

• Series Analytics: A dedicated dashboard showing metrics like “Series completion rate” (how many viewers watch all Reels in a Series) and “new followers from Series” to help creators refine their content.
• Custom Thumbnails for Series: The ability to upload a unique thumbnail for the Series page (instead of using the first Reel’s thumbnail) to make collections more eye-catching in feeds.
• Cross-Platform Sharing: Options to share a Series link to other platforms (like TikTok or YouTube) with a “Watch on Instagram” prompt, driving external traffic to creators’ profiles.

Getting Started With Reel Series

For creators eager to try the feature:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to the Reels tab.
2. Upload a new Reel or select an existing one from your profile.
3. Tap the “…” (more options) button, then select “Create Series.”
4. Name your Series, add a description, and select additional Reels to include (use the drag-and-drop tool to reorder them).
5. Tap “Publish” to make the Series live—viewers will see the “Series” badge and progress bar on each Reel.

Early feedback from creators has been positive. A beauty influencer with 200k followers said, “I used to get DMs every day asking where Part 2 of my tutorial was. Now, viewers can just tap ‘Next Reel’—it’s cut down on my admin time and made my content way more accessible.” A travel creator added, “My ‘European Road Trip’ Series has 2x more views than my standalone Reels. People love binging the whole journey instead of watching clips one by one.”

With Reel Series, Instagram is doubling down on its commitment to creators—giving them the tools to turn short-form videos into meaningful, engaging narratives. For viewers, it’s a win too: less time searching for content, more time enjoying the stories and tutorials they love. As Reels continue to dominate social media, this feature is poised to become a staple for creators looking to stand out in a crowded feed.