Hasselblad Masters 2026: Celebrating Photographic Excellence

The prestigious Hasselblad Masters 2026 photography competition has officially announced its seven category winners, recognizing outstanding talent and innovative approaches in visual artistry. From a diverse group of 70 finalists, these seven individuals have been celebrated for their conceptual strength, originality, creativity, and technical prowess, as determined by a distinguished Grand Jury and public voting.

Hasselblad’s Executive Director and Grand Jury Chair, Kalle Sanner, highlighted that this year’s submissions consistently demonstrated that compelling photography doesn't merely record, but actively constructs meaning. The winning works across all categories were praised for their layered interpretations, inviting sustained engagement and revealing deeper insights over time. Sanner noted that the collective understanding among the winners is the profound power of photography to imply, reframe, and subtly assert rather than explicitly state.

Each victorious photographer has been bestowed with the coveted title of “Hasselblad Master,” a top-tier 100-megapixel Hasselblad camera system, including two XCD lenses, and a prize of 5,000 euros. Beyond these accolades, they will collaborate with Hasselblad on a unique project and have their remarkable work immortalized in a dedicated Hasselblad Masters publication.

Indonesian photographer Yudha Kusuma Putera triumphed in the “Art” category with his impactful series, Waste Colonialism. This collection explores the hidden social issues surrounding human interaction with nature and man-made systems. Putera's photographs delve into the practice of developed nations exporting waste to developing countries, specifically focusing on the Piyungan landfill in Yogyakarta, where waste is scavenged and partially consumed by cattle, subsequently recycled into another form of waste. The images are lauded for their direct yet ambiguous nature, fostering visual uncertainty that encourages viewers to ponder the deeper implications. Sanner praised the series for its slow-building sense of strangeness, making it both intellectually stimulating and visually compelling.

In the “Architecture” category, Canadian photographer Kevin Boyle earned recognition for his series, Daysleeper | Movieland. Inspired by his return home after his father's passing, Boyle documented the abandoned buildings of small Canadian communities, many of which held personal significance. For over a decade, he has traveled North America capturing these forgotten structures. His winning series consists of photographic montages, created by illuminating different sections of each building with a flashlight during multiple exposures, then compositing them into a single image. Sonia Jeunet, Photography Consultant and Education at Magnum Photos, noted that Boyle’s compositions, devoid of people, ignite the imagination, transporting viewers to a time when these buildings were vibrant community centers. The series prompts reflection on the myriad small venues that once formed the social fabric of these communities.

Dutch photographer Svetlana Jovanovic, with a background in psychology, clinched the “Portrait” category with her series, Otherness. This collection explores the complex interplay between individual and shared identity, particularly through the lens of identical twins. Jovanovic's work subtly reveals the minute differences that emerge over time between individuals who initially appear indistinguishable. RongRong, Co-Founder and Artistic Director at The Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, commended the series for its precise use of light and composition to explore themes of mirroring and duality, capturing profound emotional layers with quiet accuracy.

Irish photographer Rohan Reilly was honored in the “Landscape” category for his series, Ephemeral Visions. Reilly's signature long-exposure technique transforms dynamic landscapes into serene, motionless compositions, emphasizing texture, tone, and shape. His work masterfully utilizes negative space, diverging from the color-centric approach common in contemporary landscape photography. The winning series showcases rows of poplar trees along Italy's Po River, highlighting their aesthetic beauty and their role in flood defense. Zack Hatfield, Managing Editor at Aperture Magazine, described these photographs as hypnotic meditations, creating an expansive effect through repetition and apparent uniformity.

Thai photographer Panitbhand Paribatra Na Ayudhya secured the “Project//21” category, a special designation for photographers aged 21 or younger, with his series, Dwellers of the Night. This vibrant, dreamlike underwater series reflects Ayudhya’s deep commitment to marine life. The photographs, captured in the waters of Anilao, Philippines, showcase the nocturnal migration of marine organisms from the deep sea to the surface to feed. Ayudhya’s use of colorful lighting and slightly slower shutter speeds creates a distinctive aesthetic, emphasizing the movement of his subjects. Alex Pollack, Director of Photography at National Geographic, was captivated by the otherworldly and delicate nature of these sea creatures, framed against dark backgrounds, highlighting the inherent strangeness and compelling beauty of the natural world.

Another Dutch photographer, Gosse Bouma, was recognized in the “Street” category for his series, Morning Ritual. Bouma's unique style brings a fresh and tranquil perspective to street markets, transforming typically bustling environments into peaceful scenes. His photographs feature dim, cool weather and lighting, contrasting with the warm glow emanating from the market stalls and their operators. Aya Musa, Senior Curator at Foam, praised Bouma's understanding of atmosphere, scale, and timing, noting that the small, illuminated kiosks within the vast urban blue create images that are both intimate and monumental. The series, she added, uses color structurally, where mist, artificial light, and architecture coalesce into a cohesive world, generating genuine photographic tension.

In the “Wildlife” category, Alfred Minnaar from South Africa received acclaim for his series, The Forest I Roam. This collection celebrates tiny marine creatures, showcasing Minnaar’s patience and artistic ingenuity. Over the past decade, Minnaar has refined his artistic voice for conservation, and this underwater series focuses on the small animals that inhabit coral reefs. Each winning photograph features a tiny goby, providing a crucial sense of scale against the vibrant, textural coral backdrop. The goby serves as a metaphor for the intricate balance of a minute part within a much grander ecosystem. Pollack from National Geographic was drawn to the vivid palette and the way the small fish are framed, creating a landscape-like sense of scale where micro-subjects hold their own within a larger, abstract environment.

This year's Hasselblad Masters competition truly showcased a remarkable range of photographic talent and diverse artistic visions, underscoring the enduring power of the medium to capture both the subtle and the grand narratives of our world.