Telegram Bot API 10.0 adds media in polls and live photos
What changed
Bot API 10.0 (May 8, 2026) added media to polls (InputPollMedia, plus media on InputPollOption), members_only and country_codes poll options, and lowered the minimum number of poll options from 2 to 1. It added live photos: LivePhoto, sendLivePhoto, InputMediaLivePhoto and InputPaidMediaLivePhoto, and allowed live photos in sendMediaGroup and editMessageMedia. Business bots no longer need the user to have Telegram Premium.
What it means
Bots can attach photos, videos and other media to polls and poll options, post one-option polls, and send live photos to channels.
Who is affected
Tools that post polls or photo content to Telegram channels and groups.
What to do by 8 May 2026
Optional. Use the media and explanation_media parameters on sendPoll, and sendLivePhoto for photos with a short video.
What this means for you
Polls on Telegram can now include pictures or videos, both on the question and on each answer. A poll can even have just one answer. Tools can also post "live photos", which are photos that play a few seconds of video when you hold them. These are extras: nothing you post today stops working.
The details
- Poll media:
sendPolltakesmediaandexplanation_media(InputPollMedia: animation, audio, document, live photo, location, photo, venue or video), and eachInputPollOptioncan carrymedia.Poll.media,Poll.explanation_mediaandPollOption.mediaexpose them. - Poll options: minimum lowered from 2 to 1;
members_onlyandcountry_codesadded. Today's reference allows 1 to 12 options; polls can't be sent to channel direct messages chats. - Live photos:
sendLivePhototakes alive_photovideo of at most 10 seconds and 10 MB plus a staticphoto; sending by URL is not supported. Caption 0 to 1,024 characters. Also allowed insendMediaGroup,editMessageMediaand as paid media. - Other:
deleteMessageReaction,deleteAllMessageReactions, guest mode, and bot-to-bot messaging. - Later: Bot API 10.1 (June 11, 2026) added link media in polls (
InputMediaLink).
What to do next
- Business owners: Nothing.
- Marketers and agencies: Telegram polls can now show an image per answer, which suits product or design votes.
- Developers: Allow 1 to 12 poll options, accept
mediaon polls and options, and validate live photos at 10 seconds and 10 MB before upload.
Primary sources
- Telegram Bot API changelog: May 8, 2026 (Bot API 10.0)
- Telegram Bot API: sendPoll
- Telegram Bot API: sendLivePhoto
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