Instagram head Adam Mosseri has informed most U.S.based employees that they will be required to return to the office five days a week beginning February 2, 2026. The directive, outlined in an internal memo titled Building a Winning Culture in 2026, applies to workers with assigned desks and is part of a broader effort to strengthen the platforms creativity and agility amid increasing competition.
According to Mosseri, in-person collaboration fosters stronger creativity and teamwork a belief he says he held even before the pandemic. He noted that each visit to the companys New York office reinforces the value of a strong in-office culture.
While the expectation is for employees to be on-site full-time, the memo states that staff will still have flexibility to work from home when necessary. In New York, the policy will not be fully enforced until office space constraints are resolved. Workers in Menlo Park will relocate from MPK21 to MPK22 on January 26 to ensure everyone has a designated desk, and eligible employees may choose to transfer to the San Francisco office if it offers a similar or better commute. Remote employees will not see any changes to their arrangements.
Meeting Reductions and Workflow Changes
The memo also introduces several operational adjustments. All recurring meetings will be cleared every six months and may only be reinstated if essential. Mosseri encouraged employees to protect their focus time and convert recurring one-on-one meetings to a biweekly schedule by default.
He emphasized prioritizing product prototypes over slide decks, arguing that prototypes provide better insight into concepts and user behavior. Strategy documents, when needed, should not exceed three pages, while presentation decks should remain as concise as possible.
Faster Decisions and a Push for Innovation
To speed up decision-making, Instagram will introduce a more structured process for removing blockers, supported by designated responsible individuals. Mosseri will participate in a weekly meeting dedicated to resolving pending decisions, ensuring they do not linger for more than a few days.
He acknowledged that 2025 had been challenging and that 2026 would likely be as demanding, yet expressed optimism about Instagrams direction. Mosseri said these changes are intended to strengthen the platforms momentum and help the company advance with creativity, boldness, and craft.