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Instagram's logo has been given a major refresh after more than a decade.
The Meta-owned social media platform has created a bolder, simpler handwritten-style wordmark. And it's already rolling-out to iPhone and Android apps worldwide.
If you liked the trademark cursive writing that's been used at the top of the Instagram app for the last 10 years, Meta says the new version is designed to stay "true to the heritage of Instagram", while also celebrating the "creativity of our community" of billions.
Jasmine Probst, Director of Product Design, Instagram, said: "Script reflects individuality, so referencing that felt right. The new wordmark is bolder and simpler, with touches of unexpectedness. It cues individual expression, a personal voice, both of which have always been core to Instagram."
This is the first time Instagram has refreshed its brand identity in over a decade, which makes it a pretty big deal.
The platform has changed enormously from just being a photo-sharing destination. Users can now post short-form videos and shop directly in the app. The chronological feed has also been scrapped for an algorithm-based experience, showing you content based on your preferences.
The design team went through hundreds of possible directions, exploring everything from all-caps lettering to camera-inspired concepts and even literal handwriting styles. They said they kept returning to what makes Instagram special — that crafted script feel.
May Hartono, Director of Brand Design at Meta, said: "The refreshed brand system puts our community's creativity and self-expression front and centre. It's designed to spark courageous action and give people the confidence to create and show up as themselves, freely and fully."
Beyond the wordmark, Instagram has overhauled its entire brand system.
The company says the iconic gradient isn't going anywhere, but it's being used in a more restrained way alongside refreshed motion and layout. There are also three new typefaces being released that can be used on your posts, such as Reels. This includes an updated Instagram Sans, a handwriting-style font called Instagram Pen, and a new Instagram Mono.
The refreshed wordmark is already appearing for users globally, with the full brand identity set to continue rolling out through the rest of this year. If you don't see it on your app just yet, the updates could crop up in the next few weeks.
A few noteworthy updates have been released for Instagram this year.
For instance, one of the latest additions is a very sneaky new feature that lets you view Stories — the ephemeral posts where users can share photos, videos, audio clips, and more without being shared permanently on the grid — without revealing their identity to the person who posted them.
Stories first arrived on Instagram in 2016, aiming to compete with similar features found on Snapchat.
The social media platform is also slowly rolling out the new Liquid Glass visual rolled out by Apple across every device last autumn. One of the standout features of the iOS 26 update now available on iPhone and iPad, Liquid Glass, which adds see-through visual elements that create a sense of depth and ensure your photos, webpages, documents, and videos are always the main focus on-screen.
Apple refreshed all of its apps to support Liquid Glass at launch, but third-party developers like WhatsApp and Instagram have taken a little longer to embrace the new visuals.
