Today, we're introducing carousel ads for Instagram Stories, allowing advertisers to have up to three pieces of media per Stories ad, whereas before, it was just one.

Since launching Instagram Stories, we've seen the community flex its creativity in ways that have delighted us. From face filters to superzoom to gif stickers, Stories has completely changed the way people share and express themselves on Instagram. And businesses are embracing that creativity too. For example, a luxury shoe retailer recently encouraged shoppers to "hold and pause" on their favourite pair as the brand flashed through its new line.

Carousel ads for Instagram Stories behave the same way as other Stories content, meaning you can tap through, swipe back and forth or pause the content whenever you like.

Now with two additional pieces of media, advertisers can add depth to their storytelling in the same way the community does today. Already, Gap (@gap) is tapping into carousel ads for Instagram Stories to incorporate native elements – such as pinning and drawing tools – and using the additional space to highlight more of their campaign.

To learn how the community and brands engage with this new ad format, we're starting with a limited set of global advertisers such as Coca-Cola (@cocacolamx), Renault (@renault_france) and Paramount (@paramountpics). We'll share more when carousel ads for Instagram Stories is more widely available.