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GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst and Flare launch on OpenAI's API
GIF and SVG output, a complexity setting, and no Batch support yet.
OpenAI released two new image models in its API on November 4, 2026: GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst and GPT-Image-2.6 Flare. They are part of Images 2.6, which reached ChatGPT and Codex the same day.
What changed
- New model IDs:
gpt-image-2.6-sunburst, for detailed visual work, andgpt-image-2.6-flare, for fast iteration. Each has a single snapshot, with no dated version yet. - New in the API: a
complexitysetting that controls how much planning the model does, markup-guided edits, SVG output and animated GIF output. OpenAI also added markup-guided editing to supported GPT Image 2.5 models. - Both models work only on
v1/images/generationsandv1/images/edits. OpenAI's model pages list Batch, Responses and Chat Completions as not supported. - OpenAI says Images 2.6 generates images 50% faster than before, and that Flare can return an image in as little as six seconds at low quality.
OpenAI API prices
Per million tokens, from OpenAI's model pages. Sunburst and Flare cost the same:
| Token type | Input | Cached input | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | $5.00 | $1.25 | n/a |
| Image | $8.00 | $2.00 | $30.00 |
On RouterPlus
GPT-Image-2.6 is not in the RouterPlus catalog as of November 5, 2026. Earlier GPT Image models are, served direct from OpenAI. RouterPlus catalog, November 5, 2026, per million tokens:
| Model | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | $5.00 | $30.00 |
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | $5.00 | $30.00 |
| GPT Image 2 | $5.00 | $30.00 |
What to do
On OpenAI's Images API, moving up is a model ID change. Jobs that run through Batch, Responses or Chat Completions cannot use 2.6 yet.
gpt-image-2.5-sunburst -> gpt-image-2.6-sunburst
gpt-image-2.5-flare -> gpt-image-2.6-flareAll OpenAI models on RouterPlus.