Hasselblad opens public voting for its global photography finalists
Hasselblad has announced the 70 finalists for Hasselblad Masters 2026, taking one of photography’s most prestigious competitions into its final round. Public voting is now open, giving the global photography community a chance to have its say before the winners are revealed this summer.
The numbers alone are pretty impressive. Hasselblad says the 2026 competition received more than 108,000 images from photographers in over 160 countries and territories. From that huge pool, 70 finalists have now been selected, with 10 photographers shortlisted in each of the seven categories: Landscape, Portrait, Street, Architecture, Art, Wildlife and Project // 21.
Established in 2001, Hasselblad Masters has long carried serious weight in the professional photography world, and this year’s competition looks to be no exception. Hasselblad describes the selected work as standing out for creativity, fresh perspectives and conceptual strength, which gives us a strong sense that the final judging will be about far more than technical perfection alone.
One winner will be chosen in each category, and each will receive the title of Hasselblad Master. The prize package includes a Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera, two XCD lenses of the winner’s choice and a €5,000 cash prize. Winners will also have the opportunity to collaborate with Hasselblad on the Hasselblad Masters book, with selected work showcased through the company’s global channels.
Public voting runs until 1 June 2026, and forms part of the overall judging process. At the same time, the Hasselblad Masters 2026 Grand Jury will evaluate the finalists before the seven category winners are announced on 30 June 2026.
This year’s Grand Jury brings together a particularly strong group from across photography, publishing, museums and visual culture. It includes Kalle Sanner of the Hasselblad Foundation, Alex Pollack of National Geographic, Aya Musa of Foam, Paul Lachenauer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rebecca Swift of Getty Images, RongRong of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Sonia Jeunet of Magnum Photos and Zack Hatfield of Aperture Magazine.
What I like about this shortlist is the spread of photographic approaches. The Architecture finalists look beyond buildings as simple subjects, exploring design, light, space and the human relationship with the built environment. The Art category leans into personal expression, symbolism and constructed imagery, while Landscape brings scale, transformation and rarely seen natural environments into focus.
Portrait, meanwhile, explores identity, culture, heritage and lived experience, while Street turns everyday urban life into moments of timing, atmosphere and human connection. Project // 21 gives younger photographers a platform for bold visual language and new ways of seeing, and Wildlife balances observation with interpretation, from animal behaviour to intimate natural relationships.
Public voting for the Hasselblad Masters 2026 finalists is open now through the official Hasselblad Masters 2026 page, and voting closes on 1 June 2026.
Each category winner will receive a Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera, two XCD lenses of their choice and a €5,000 cash prize.
