Instagram's Edits App Gets a Carousel Editor Feature

TL;DR: Instagram's Edits app is testing a built-in Carousel Editor that lets creators combine photos and videos into a single carousel post, and it could change how social media managers build content natively.

What Happened

Instagram's standalone Edits app, which launched earlier in 2026 as a dedicated creative tool for Reels and short-form video, is now testing a brand-new "Carousel Editor" feature. Social media observer Jonah Manzano spotted and shared the update this week, confirming he had the Labs feature enabled and was actively testing it. Source

According to Manzano, the Carousel Editor allows creators to build and edit posts using multiple photos AND videos combined into a single carousel. This is a notable step forward because it brings multi-format carousel creation directly into the Edits app environment, rather than requiring creators to jump between separate tools.

The feature is currently in Labs, meaning it is in a limited testing phase and not yet rolled out to all users. That said, its appearance in Edits signals a clear direction from Instagram: the platform wants to consolidate content creation workflows under one roof.

Why It Matters

For carousel creators, this is a meaningful development for a few reasons.

First, native editing tools have historically lagged behind third-party apps when it comes to carousel creation. Creators have long relied on external design tools to build polished, multi-slide posts before uploading them to Instagram. A built-in Carousel Editor inside Edits could lower that barrier significantly, especially for solopreneurs and small business owners who want a faster workflow.

Second, the ability to mix photos and videos inside a single carousel is genuinely new territory. Most carousel posts today are photo-only or video-only. A mixed-format carousel opens up storytelling possibilities that were previously awkward to execute natively on the platform. Think: a product showcase that starts with a video demo and then walks through photo slides of features and pricing.

Third, Instagram building carousel tools into Edits suggests the platform is doubling down on carousels as a content format worth investing in. That is a strong signal for creators who have been wondering whether carousels still get algorithmic love in 2026. The short answer, based on this move, appears to be yes.

If you are thinking about how your carousels should be sized and formatted for Instagram, our LinkedIn Carousel Size Guide covers dimension best practices that apply across both platforms.

What You Should Do Now

1. Check your Edits app for the Labs toggle. If you have the Edits app installed, navigate to Labs settings and look for the Carousel Editor option. Early access to new features gives you a head start on understanding how the tool works before it rolls out widely.

2. Experiment with mixed photo-video carousels. If you get access, start testing carousel formats that blend a short video clip on slide one with static photo slides to follow. This format could drive higher engagement by auto-playing video at the start of the swipe sequence.

3. Document your results now. Because this is a Labs feature, engagement data you collect in the testing phase is especially valuable. Track swipe-through rates, saves, and shares on any carousels you build with the new editor so you have a baseline when the feature goes mainstream.

The Bigger Picture

This update lands in the middle of a broader conversation happening across social media communities right now. Just this week, social media manager Jon-Stephen Stansel sparked a lighthearted but telling debate on X: should we be calling them "carousels" or "slideshows"? Source

The terminology debate is funny on the surface, but it points to something real. As carousel posts have become a dominant content format across Instagram and LinkedIn, the language around them is still catching up. Whether you call them carousels, slideshows, or multi-image posts, the format itself is clearly mainstream enough that people are arguing about what to name it.

Meanwhile, a thread on Hacker News this week highlighted a challenge many solopreneurs and indie creators face: building something for three months and struggling to get traction despite publishing articles and sending LinkedIn newsletters. Source Several commenters pointed toward content distribution as the core problem, not content quality.

This is where carousel posts consistently punch above their weight. On LinkedIn especially, carousel posts generate significantly more impressions and engagement than standard text updates or single-image posts, because the swipe mechanic signals active engagement to the algorithm. If you are a solopreneur trying to get traction for a project, a well-structured carousel that teaches something or tells a story is one of the highest-leverage content formats available to you right now.

For content inspiration and proven carousel structures, browse our Ideas section or explore ready-to-use Templates that can help you go from blank page to published post faster.

The Edits app Carousel Editor, once it rolls out fully, could make that process even more accessible for creators who prefer to work inside Instagram's native environment rather than exporting from external tools. Keep an eye on the Labs section of your Edits app and be ready to move quickly when access opens up.

Putting It Into Practice

The core takeaway this week is simple: Instagram is investing in carousel creation as a first-class feature inside its dedicated creative app. That investment validates the format and suggests more native support is coming. Whether you are building carousels for Instagram, LinkedIn, or both, now is the right time to sharpen your carousel strategy and make sure your content is ready to take advantage of new tools as they arrive.

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Related: LinkedIn Carousel Size Guide · Carousel Templates · Carousel Ideas