YouTube introduces region-specific thumbnails for global audiences

New Delhi: YouTube has introduced a new feature that allows creators to upload multiple thumbnails for a single video, with viewers shown versions tailored to their language or region. The update is designed to make video previews feel more localised and culturally relevant.

The feature enables creators to customise both text and visuals on thumbnails to reflect specific linguistic or cultural contexts. For instance, an English-language video may use a United States-focused thumbnail, while Spanish-speaking viewers could see a version using translated text and regionally recognisable imagery.

Languages that require different script directions, such as Arabic, can have layouts adjusted accordingly, while Japanese audiences can receive designs that match familiar stylistic conventions.

Thumbnails are switched automatically based on a viewer’s language settings or their location. A viewer in Mexico, for example, may see a thumbnail featuring Chichén Itzá, while audiences elsewhere receive alternatives suited to their own contexts. The feature forms part of YouTube’s ongoing localisation efforts, which already include captions, dubbing and translated titles.

YouTube has indicated that creators can retain consistent brand elements, such as logos and colour palettes, while adjusting regional elements to improve relevance. Performance can also be monitored at a regional level, allowing creators to assess which thumbnail variations resonate most strongly with different audiences.