A method and an apparatus for Multiple Control Unit (MCU) to optimize configuration of multiple pictures are disclosed. The solutions provided by embodiments of the present invention include: calculating, according to resolutions, bandwidths, frame rates, importance, and volume of received video images sent by N conferencing terminals, the area occupied by each of the video images in a picture presented on an MCU display screen; and dividing, according to the area occupied by each of the video images in the picture presented on the MCU display screen, the picture into N regions, and filling the video images sent by the N conferencing terminals into corresponding regions of the picture.