The Hasselblad Masters 2026 is open, and it is one of those rare calls for entries where the headline prize is not just a trophy and a handshake. The winners earn the “Hasselblad Master” title and receive a Hasselblad X2D II 100C, two XCD lenses, and a €5,000 creative fund, with selected work heading toward publication in the Hasselblad Masters book. If the idea of stepping onto a global stage sounds appealing, this is one of the free photo competitions that deserves a close look, especially for photographers building a serious portfolio.
The contest is structured around seven categories: Art, Landscape, Portrait, Architecture, Project//21, Street, and Wildlife. Entries are submitted as sets of three images per category, and photographers can enter multiple categories as long as the same set is not used across them. Submissions can come from any camera and any capture format, including film, but there are clear device restrictions in the rules. For photographers browsing Deartline for photography challenges to join online, Hasselblad Masters 2026 stands out for its mix of genre focus and the scale of the prize package.
The submission window runs from mid-December through late February, and participation happens through Hasselblad’s official entry system. The key detail is simple: this competition judges cohesive triptychs, not single images, which changes how many photographers will want to edit and sequence their entries.
Contents
The Hasselblad Masters 2026 Prizes
The Hasselblad Masters 2026 awards the same prize package to each category winner, combining professional recognition with concrete tools and financial support for future work.
Each of the seven Hasselblad Masters (one winner per category) receives:
- The official title of Hasselblad Master, awarded for life.
- A Hasselblad X2D II 100C medium format camera.
- Two Hasselblad XCD series lenses, selected as part of the prize package.
- A €5,000 creative fund to support new photographic projects.
- Inclusion in a collaborative project that may be published in the Hasselblad Masters book, with each winner receiving five complimentary copies.
- Global exposure through Hasselblad’s official channels, including digital platforms, print publications, and potential exhibitions.
Other Free Contests
The Categories of the Hasselblad Masters 2026
Hasselblad Masters 2026 features seven distinct categories that lean into both classic genres and more open-ended creative directions.
- Landscape
- Architecture
- Portrait
- Street
- Art
- Project//21
- Wildlife
Hasselblad Masters 2026 Dates and Entry Fees
The official rules define a clear submission window, listed in Central European Time (CET).
| Entry admissions open | 16 December 2025, 13:00 CET |
| Entry admissions close | 28 February 2026, 23:59 CET |
Entry fees: This is a free photography contest.
How to Enter:
Submissions are made through Hasselblad’s online entry form. After completing the form, entrants upload their images for each chosen category. Each category entry must include three images, and photographers may enter multiple categories, but the same set of images cannot be submitted in more than one category. Files must be JPEGs under 10MB each, at least 300 dpi, with the longest edge at least 1000 pixels, and with full EXIF/metadata. Images must not include watermarks or signatures.
About the Jury
Hasselblad Masters 2026 is decided through two layers of judging: a Public Jury and a Grand Jury. The Public Jury rates entries by category and contributes points toward the final result, while the Grand Jury provides the majority of votes using the same rating approach.
The Grand Jury roster includes Kalle Sanner (Grand Jury chair, Hasselblad Foundation), Alex Pollack (National Geographic), Aya Musa (Foam), Paul Lachenauer (The Metropolitan Museum of Art), Rebecca Swift (Getty Images), RongRong (Three Shadows Photography Art Centre), Sonia Jeunet (Magnum Photos), and Zack Hatfield (Aperture).
Why Enter Hasselblad Masters 2026?
Hasselblad Masters 2026 is built around a concrete outcome: seven winners earn a major equipment package and a dedicated creative fund, plus structured publication and distribution through Hasselblad’s channels, with exhibitions also referenced in the rules. It is also a contest that welcomes both digital and film workflows while still requiring cohesive three-image sets, which can reward photographers who think in sequences rather than single hero frames. For entrants looking beyond this call, Deartline also tracks other best online photography awards that span different genres, timelines, and prize structures.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Hasselblad Masters 2026 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
- Entries open 16 December 2025 at 13:00 CET and close 28 February 2026 at 23:59 CET. Late entries are ineligible.
- Each category entry requires three images, and entrants may enter multiple categories, but the same images cannot be submitted across categories.
- Accepted files are JPEGs under 10MB, at least 300 dpi, with the longest edge at least 1000 pixels, and with full EXIF/metadata. No watermarks or signatures.
- Images can be captured digitally (excluding drones, smartphones, and tablets) or created on film (35mm, medium, or large format) and scanned.
- Awarded images from other competitions and past Hasselblad Masters are not eligible. The rules also state that false information or AI synthesis leads to disqualification.
Copyright and Image Usage
- Finalists grant Hasselblad rights to use images in finalist exhibitions and online activities, including publications, social media, and website news.
- By entering, participants grant Hasselblad a broad non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to use submitted images for contest-related and brand/product purposes, including editing and promotional use.
- For winning work and required deliverables, the rules describe additional rights for Hasselblad to reproduce, compile, modify, and prepare derivative works, and to use the work across many media channels, including commercial use, without additional compensation.
- The rules also include restrictions on winners making certain project-related works public before the Hasselblad Masters Awards and/or publication and for one month thereafter.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
