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Instagram creators can now translate and lip-sync reels in Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi

Instagram has rolled out Meta AI-powered voice translation and lip-sync for Reels in Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi, making it easier for Indian creators to reach global audiences. The update also adds new Indian fonts to Edits.

January 16, 2026 / 12:26 IST
Instagram
Snapshot AI
  • Instagram adds AI voice translation for Reels in 5 new Indian languages
  • Reels now support dubbing and lip-syncing in Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi.
  • New Indian fonts for video edits include Devanagari and Bengali-Assamese scripts

Instagram is making it easier for Indian creators to reach audiences far beyond their own language and region. At the ‘House of Instagram’ event held in Mumbai, the company announced a major expansion of its AI-powered translation tools, along with new Indian language fonts for creators who want their content to feel more local and personal.

The biggest update is around voice translations for Reels. Creators can now use Meta AI to translate, dub, and lip-sync their Reels into five new Indian languages: Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi. These languages are being added to the existing list, which already includes Hindi, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. While the feature was first announced in November 2025, it is now rolling out to everyone starting today.

So how does this actually work?

Creators can choose to turn on Meta AI translations while uploading or editing a Reel. Once enabled, the tool automatically translates the spoken audio into another language. What makes this feature stand out is that it does not replace the creator’s voice with a robotic dub. Instead, it keeps the sound and tone of the original voice, so the Reel still feels like it is coming from the same person.

There is also an optional lip-sync feature. When switched on, the AI adjusts the translated audio to match the creator’s mouth movements. This makes it look as though the creator is naturally speaking the new language, rather than reading a translation. The idea is to make content feel more authentic and easier to connect with, even for viewers who speak a different language.

Alongside translations, Instagram is also adding new Indian fonts to Edits, its video editing tool. Creators will now be able to use Devanagari and Bengali-Assamese scripts while adding text and captions. This means languages like Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and Assamese will be better represented visually, not just through audio. The font update will start rolling out on Android devices in the coming days.

Using the new fonts is simple. Inside the editing timeline, creators can tap on “Text” and then select the “Aa” icon to browse fonts. If a device is already set to an Indian script, the fonts will appear by default. Otherwise, users can filter fonts by language with a small swipe.

These updates build on several creator-focused features launched recently on Instagram and Facebook, including AI-powered photo and video restyling, bulk caption edits, video reversal tools, lip-sync effects, and hundreds of new sound effects. Together, they signal Meta’s growing focus on helping Indian creators go global without losing their local voice.

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Ankita Chakravarti
Ankita Chakravarti is a seasoned journalist with nearly a decade of experience in media. She specializes in technology and lifestyle journalism. She has worked with top Indian media houses like India Today, Zee News, The Statesman, and Millennium Post. Her expertise spans tech trends, phone launches, gadget reviews, and entertainment news. Ankita holds a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication along with a degree in English Literature. She can be reached out at ankita.chakravarti@nw18.com
first published: Jan 16, 2026 12:25 pm

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