To celebrate the 13th anniversary of the Telegram messenger, the developers released one of the most significant updates in the platform's entire history. The package of new features covers several key scenarios at once: automation of administrator workflows, interactivity of individual messages, bot platform capabilities, and the flexibility of the text editor. According to sources, the update is a logical continuation of Telegram's strategy of transforming from a classic messenger into a multifunctional environment with mini-applications and built-in services.
Welcome messages for new participants
Administrators of groups and channels have received a tool for creating private congratulatory messages that are visible only to users who have just joined the chat. The developers emphasize that this mechanism helps avoid "cluttering" the general feed: the welcome message is not duplicated for all members and does not overload the feed. Formatting is flexible — a welcome message can include multiple messages, multimedia, tables, and embedded files with extended markup. Enabling the feature is straightforward: in the profile settings of the group or channel, via the "Edit" → "Welcome" option.
Buttons and mini-apps within a single message
The bot platform has been expanded: it is now possible to create full-fledged mini-applications and interactive scenarios integrated directly into a single message. Placing multiple buttons right under the text, combined with disappearing messages, opens up new scenarios — from polls and navigation to gaming mechanics and purchases. This effectively pushes Telegram beyond the boundaries of classic chats, turning a message into a self-contained interactive container.
File embedding in text and captions for gifts
The text editor with extended markup now allows you to add documents, archives, and audio files directly inside a sentence, not just as attachments. A separate item in the update is collectible gifts via Telegram Stars: when purchasing rare items, users can now add their own comments and captions in their profiles through the "Collectibles" filter, making the gift more personalized.
The significance of the update
The combination of new features points to Telegram's course on deepening automation and interactivity without sacrificing the simplicity of the basic messenger. For administrators, this is a tool for retaining and onboarding new participants; for developers, an expanded platform for scenarios; and for regular users, more flexible formatting of messages and gifts. All of the features listed have been confirmed by several independent sources covering the release of August 26, 2026.
