---
title: 'Instagram''s NEW Algorithm - Here''s What''s Changed for 2026'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=6dQWGnWHqAM'
video_id: '6dQWGnWHqAM'
date: 2026-08-18
duration_sec: 776
channel: 'heyDominik'
---

# Instagram's NEW Algorithm - Here's What's Changed for 2026

> Source: [Instagram's NEW Algorithm - Here's What's Changed for 2026](https://youtube.com/watch?v=6dQWGnWHqAM)

## Summary

This video analyzes a large dataset of Instagram posts to reveal how the platform's algorithm has shifted for 2026. The creator breaks down key changes in content performance, including the rise of carousels, optimal reel lengths, posting frequency, and caption strategies, providing data-driven insights for creators.

### Key Points

- **Data-Driven Insights** [00:00] — The creator emphasizes that the insights are based on data gathered from clients, having helped them gain over 5.3 million followers and convert hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- **Algorithm Shift** [01:12] — Instagram is no longer rewarding surface-level, boring attention content. The algorithm now favors actual content depth, marking a significant change from six months ago.
- **Carousels Outperform Reels** [02:08] — Carousels receive around two times more average likes than reels. More importantly, they generate significantly more saves, indicating deeper engagement and better for building a solidified audience.
- **Carousel Length Doesn't Matter** [03:18] — Analysis of over 30,000 posts shows no significant difference in performance between carousels with 3 slides versus 20 slides. The number of slides is not a key factor.
- **Optimal Reel Length** [04:28] — Reels under 10 seconds have dropped in performance. The optimal length is between 60 and 90 seconds, which can hold viewer attention better than shorter content.
- **Posting Frequency** [06:41] — Posting 3-4 strong reels a week outperforms posting 7 or more times daily. Consistency matters more than sheer volume, and posting too much can be counterproductive.
- **Hashtags Don't Matter** [08:13] — The data shows a flat line for hashtag performance, indicating they no longer have a significant impact on reach. They are essentially random and can be disregarded.
- **Caption Strategy** [09:19] — For reels, shorter captions are performing better, while for carousels, longer captions are more effective. Captions should be seen as a second hook to drive engagement.
- **Posting Times** [10:32] — Posting times are not a major concern. The algorithm's shelf life for reels is longer, and it can take 3-4 weeks for content to get going, so focus on hooks and quality instead.

### Conclusion

The key takeaway is that Instagram's algorithm now rewards deep, quality content over superficial posts. Creators should focus on carousels for engagement, longer reels for watch time, and consistent posting, while not worrying about hashtags or posting times.

## Transcript

Because it seems like every few weeks, another a massive shift or that everything is different gurus actually don't do.
data that I gathered myself, because that's basically clients, having helped clients gain over 5.3 actually convert hundreds of thousands of dollars through
And while, to tell you the truth, the much, it actually does reward some different drivers cliff recently, chances are you might be still
have a GPS. Who remembers still driving the car with maps? Now, essentially when I broke this data down,
slight changes that are very important for you room right here, reels or carousels, right? the most important thing right now.
If we take a look at the data, bit, right? six months ago when we suddenly had creators
single carousels with some of our strategies. to 2024, things are pointing in a totally Now it's important that you understand it's not
It's just that Instagram kind of stopped rewarding sort of surface level, boring attention content. broad and stuff like this.
a game of actual content depth, which is So reels, generally speaking, still drive by far gonna make it big in terms of building
But actually, and here's an interesting thing, carousels Average likes of carousels are around two times
And saves, and that's even more interesting, are carousels than compared to reels, which shows me deep engagement and to actually build and solidify
Now here's the really important thing though. The thing that I actually see is, looking a massive gap right now currently for carousels
So there's a big opportunity for carousels to What are the best practices for carousels? So you can actually create more without wasting
here, we can see something very interesting, something Because usually gurus, they're like, well, you need afterwards, you're not gonna get as many likes
But, I didn't expect this too. more than 30,000 posts, we don't really There is a slight uptrend with actually longer
I did not expect because people are like, But if we kind of look, because it gets skewed sometimes, but if we look, it's
So whether you have a carousel with three or with 20, it's roughly the same. grain of salt right here.
slides and stuff like this are actually pretty Point being, and this is the main point the past year or so, if you can
quality content, whether it's a carousel, even stories, reels, you're gonna win as simple as that. the time, which is how often should you
And surprisingly, there are also some changes to optimal reels length, right?
So first of all, under 10% reels, 10% reels have actually dropped compared to don't have it rendered here, but it's around
So really short videos don't really do it But, and here's the interesting thing, we can for reels lengths and this is also very
similar than how it was before, between 11 between 60 and actually 90 seconds or 60
In between, yeah, obviously if you can hold it, but here we can kind of see The one that just start out and the
shorter content or create good short content. attention for a minute or two. Let's not even talk about this right here.
We can just see the only thing you If that is a 10 second reel, still How can you actually figure that out?
Take a look at your average watch time, And then basically reverse engineer and try to Because that's another thing we see again and
This time it's even more clearly pronounced. for longer videos, right? there more than 60 seconds or actually more
So if you can do it, if you you personally do if you join the mentorship, gonna be way above everyone else just because
And yeah, it's essentially easier. How many times should you post a week? Instagram usually says you need to post around
span of a while because otherwise you're not But the data that I actually found kind For the first time, we can clearly see
What you actually need is consistency and not Three to four strong reels a week, totally outperform seven or more, basically daily posting, both
After that, basically after seven a week, it's much content, whatever. feel like is an actual algorithm change right
platform that rewards blindly posting more, right? long as possible, as we can see in Instagram confirmed that recently by saying, yeah, watch
this posting frequency data was that, for example, algorithm will essentially forget you.
once a week all throughout eternity, basically, seems And the algorithm doesn't forget you if you
angle anymore. There clearly seems to have been a change If you look at that graph, for example,
Yeah, basically it's a flat line showing that Actually, they don't matter anymore. Last year, we could clearly see some sort
a bit below 10. it's just whatever, right? they're basically just random, really good viral videos
So disregard them, but overall it's a flat But, and that's important, that doesn't mean that There's actually one small, powerful way to use
And I actually made a full guide on way more traction on Instagram, especially with SEO, below, totally for free.
So yeah, next big interesting insight revolves around which is interesting, because they are really, really So for reels, it's interesting.
this is kind of gone down, shorter captions For carousels, it's actually the opposite. Now here's the thing about captions and basically
and say, okay, I have 10 words in sentence because Dominic said 10 words are important Obviously that's not how it works, but we
or if you have actual good long captions, Instead, think of them as basically a second There's a way to actually structure captions that
We just had a session, the mentorship talking in the swipe through mode. So once they're done, they're like, oh, I
So naturally longer captions tend to help out Now let's talk about the other elephant in time, which is the perfect posting time, right?
who have like these overlays where they say, But one thing I don't understand why they, comments.
were from. Some people are saying, it's always 11 a audience is in Europe, for example?
about posting times, take a look at yourself, As you can see, the top performing reels clock.
to identify your best posting time, right? of your concerns. with some clients is that views and basically
get going, right? three to four weeks even until the algorithm The shelf life of reels especially is getting
you post does not really matter because at time for it, right? In that case, subscribe to this channel right
But don't worry about posting times too much. nailing your hooks because that's another data point and reels, also carousels and just creating, let's
skip rate and stuff like this will completely to views to actually revenue through your content. session in my mentorship walking over exactly how
get you to blow up or to break And this video right there is gonna show 10 times better.