- Released
- 1w ago
Cost/1M tokens
OpenAI's GPT Image 2.6 Flare is an image generation and editing model introduced as part of the Images 2.6 launch, offered to developers alongside the higher-quality Sunburst variant. OpenAI says image generation in Images 2.6 is 50% faster than before, with Flare positioned for speed while Sunburst emphasizes higher quality and consistency across edits. It is built for interactive image creation and editing, where fast iteration matters, and supports markup-guided edits, SVG output, and animated GIFs.
- Text to Image
- Image to Image
- Structured output
How it compares
Score vs. costArena Text to Image
Each model at its best score · Dashed: the best score at each cost
- OpenAI
- Qwen
- ByteDance
- Google DeepMind
- Recraft
- Black Forest Labs
- Krea
Level
Mid-tierThe lab's everyday default: strong on most tasks at a mid-range price.
Mid-tier models from other labs
Vs. your stack
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Sign inText provenance
EU · product-scopedOpenAI textGrain watermarking
In the EU, ChatGPT-generated text uses textGrain. OpenAI says API customers can opt in globally for select models, so watermarking depends on the product surface and configuration.
Official explanationFrequently asked questions
Quality and benchmarks
No. It is level with GPT Image 2.5 Flare on Arena Text to Image, behind on Arena Image Edit, and ahead on none.
GPT Image 2.6 Flare benchmarksGPT Image 2.5 FlareGPT Image 2.6 Flare vs GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) and Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) by Google DeepMind, matched on model kind and release date with no comparable price.
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image)GPT Image 2.6 Flare vs Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image)Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)GPT Image 2.6 Flare vs Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)
Qwen-Image-2.1, the highest-ranked open-weight model on Arena Text to Image at rank 21. GPT Image 2.6 Flare itself is closed.
Licensing and access
No, GPT Image 2.6 Flare is closed.
Basics
OpenAI. GPT Image 2.6 Flare was released on November 4, 2026.
No. It costs $8 per 1M tokens for image input and $5 per 1M tokens for text input.
Media
$30 per 1M tokens for image output, plus $8 per 1M tokens for image input, $5 per 1M tokens for text input, $2.00 per 1M tokens for cached input, and $10.00 per 1M tokens for cache write.
Aspect ratios: 1:1, 3:2, 2:3, 4:3, 3:4, 16:9, 9:16, 21:9 and auto. Output formats: png, jpeg, webp and gif. Quality: auto, low, medium, high, xhigh and max, with 1–10 images per request and 0–16 reference images.
Yes, image editing through image input is supported.
Rank 4 (Arena's own rank) with score 1383 on Arena Text to Image and rank 6 (Arena's own rank) with score 1460 on Arena Image Edit.
Generated from Vertical Tabs data, updated November 10, 2026.
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