AI-Generated ‘Photo’ Disqualified From Hasselblad Masters 2026 - PetaPixel
A photographer was disqualified from the Hasselblad Masters 2026 competition after being accused of using generative AI to create a photo, sparking debate about AI's role in photography.
- Incident date
- May 2026
- Target
- Hasselblad Masters 2026 photography competition
The Hasselblad Masters 2026 photography competition faced controversy when a finalist was accused of using AI. The image, submitted to the Street category, was quickly identified by online commenters as potentially AI-generated.
What happened
Hasselblad took the accusations seriously and conducted a review. The photographer was disqualified after a violation was confirmed. The offending image was removed, and the photographer was replaced with a new finalist. While Hasselblad has not released an official statement, it affirmed its commitment to the authenticity of photography. The 70 finalists were initially selected via internal voting at Hasselblad. The ultimate decision will be made by the Grand Jury, who will evaluate the entries. Public voting is also open until June 1, with winners announced on June 30. Each category winner will receive a cash prize and a Hasselblad photo kit.