MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
Microsoft AI
- Released
- July 31, 2026
- Data date
- September 24, 2026
- Access
- Price
- Per image
MAI-Image-2.6 Flash prioritizes speed and cost within the family. Microsoft presents Flash with MAI-Image-2.6 as the speed variant; text-to-image generation and precise image-to-image editing with targeted object, layout, and text changes remain available.
Like MAI-Image-2.6, Flash remains in preview. Microsoft documents a 32,000-token context, PNG output with at least 768 pixels on each side, and a 2,359,296-pixel total ceiling. Authentication uses Microsoft Entra ID or an API key. Proprietary weights, Foundry access, and preview status remain, with no local installation path documented.
Specifications and access
| Specification | Value and source |
|---|---|
| Weights | ProprietarySource |
| Access | APISource |
| Context window | 32,000 tokensSource not specified |
| Maximum output | 2,359,296 pixelsSource |
| Lifecycle | Preview in Microsoft FoundrySource |
| Image capabilities | Text-to-image generation and precise image-to-image editingSource |
| Editing controls | Target objects, layouts, and text, and clean up motion blurSource |
| Output format and size | PNG, at least 768 pixels on each side and at most 2,359,296 pixels in totalSource |
| Aspect ratio | Can choose the aspect ratio from the prompt and image inputsSource |
| Web grounding | Can use current Bing Search results as additional image contextSource |
| API authentication | Microsoft Entra ID or an API keySource |
Published benchmarks
Text to Image Arena
Elo ratings summarize pairwise comparisons within this leaderboard. They are not percentages. The scale does not express absolute quality or linear gaps between models.
higher is betterAs of September 22, 2026Scale: 0 Elo - 1,197 Elo
Methodology and context
- Metric
- elo-rating
- Scale
- No upper bound is documented. The chart spans the recorded values and zero.
- Participants
- 30
- Sample
- 5,636
Image Editing Arena
Elo ratings summarize pairwise comparisons within this leaderboard. They are not percentages. The scale does not express absolute quality or linear gaps between models.
higher is betterAs of September 22, 2026Scale: 0 Elo - 1,180 Elo
Methodology and context
- Metric
- elo-rating
- Scale
- No upper bound is documented. The chart spans the recorded values and zero.
- Participants
- 23
- Sample
- 10,342
Recorded measurement details
Text to Image Arena (Show measurement, test conditions, and source)
- Source value
- 1100
- Score
- 1100
- Metric
- elo-rating
- Unit
- Elo
- Direction
- Higher is better
- Source rank
- 11
- Sample
- 5636
- Confidence interval
- 10
- Retrieved at
- 2026-09-22
- USD price per 1,000 tokens
- 19.5
Image Editing Arena (Show measurement, test conditions, and source)
- Source value
- 1124
- Score
- 1124
- Metric
- elo-rating
- Unit
- Elo
- Direction
- Higher is better
- Source rank
- 4
- Sample
- 10342
- Confidence interval
- 8
- Retrieved at
- 2026-09-22
- USD price per 1,000 tokens
- 19.5
Popularity
0 / 100
Published prices
- Representative price
- $0.0195 per imageSource
Compare this model
Show all comparisons (35)
Sources and data date
| Type | Evidence and data date |
|---|---|
| Additional source | Microsoft AI (retrieved September 24, 2026) · Microsoft Foundry MAI-Image-2.6 Flash catalog · Editorial description reviewed October 2, 2026 |
| Additional source | Image pricing (retrieved September 22, 2026) |
| Additional source | Lifecycle data · Microsoft Foundry July and August 2026 updates · Editorial description reviewed October 2, 2026 |
| Additional source | Microsoft AI (retrieved September 24, 2026) · Microsoft Foundry MAI image deployment guide · Editorial description reviewed October 2, 2026 |
| Additional source | Artificial Analysis (retrieved September 22, 2026) |
| Additional source | OpenRouter: Popularity index (derived), CC BY 4.0 |
| Additional source | Vercel AI Gateway: Popularity index (derived), CC BY 4.0 |
| Additional source | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 |