diff --git a/app/src/components/event-details.tsx b/app/src/components/event-details.tsx
index 65e2010..b429718 100644
--- a/app/src/components/event-details.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/event-details.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import type { ExpandedEvent, Talk, Sponsor } from "@/lib/expanded-events";
 import type { Image } from "@/lib/events";
 import { SocialsList } from "@/components/profile-card";
+import { getEventHeroImage } from "@/lib/event-hero";
 
 export function HeroSectionTitle({
   event,
@@ -118,17 +119,21 @@ export function HeroSectionTitle({
 export function HeroSectionImage({
   imgSrc,
   imgAlt,
+  image,
 }: {
   imgSrc: string;
   imgAlt: string;
+  image?: Image;
 }) {
   return (
     <NextImage
       src={imgSrc}
-      width={1200}
-      height={1200}
+      width={image?.width || 1200}
+      height={image?.height || 1200}
       alt={imgAlt}
-      className="mx-auto aspect-video overflow-hidden rounded-xl object-cover sm:w-full lg:order-last lg:aspect-square"
+      placeholder={image?.placeholder ? "blur" : undefined}
+      blurDataURL={image?.placeholder || undefined}
+      className="mx-auto aspect-video overflow-hidden rounded-xl object-contain sm:w-full lg:order-last lg:aspect-square"
       priority
     />
   );
@@ -145,6 +150,7 @@ export function HeroSection({
   children?: React.ReactNode;
   className?: string;
 }) {
+  const heroImage = getEventHeroImage(event);
   return (
     <Section variant="big" className={className}>
       <div className="container">
@@ -158,16 +164,9 @@ export function HeroSection({
               </div>
               <div className="w-full max-w-md lg:max-w-[400px] xl:max-w-[600px] lg:flex-1">
                 <HeroSectionImage
-                  imgSrc={
-                    event.isHackathon
-                      ? "/hero-image-hackathon.png"
-                      : "/hero-image-meetup.png"
-                  }
-                  imgAlt={
-                    event.isHackathon
-                      ? "Four cartoon-style developers cheerfully throwing their arms up, surrounded by confetti. In the center, a desk with a laptop displaying code."
-                      : "A group of cartoon-style developers standing in a circle, chatting and laughing together."
-                  }
+                  imgSrc={heroImage.url}
+                  imgAlt={heroImage.alt}
+                  image={heroImage}
                 />
               </div>
             </>
diff --git a/app/src/lib/event-hero.ts b/app/src/lib/event-hero.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aab8213
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/lib/event-hero.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import type { Image } from "./events";
+
+export function getEventHeroImage(event: {
+  previewImage: Image | null;
+  images: Image[];
+  isHackathon: boolean;
+}): Image {
+  // The event loader supplies this generic preview when no cover is stored.
+  if (
+    event.previewImage &&
+    event.previewImage.url !== "/hero-image-rocket.png"
+  ) {
+    return event.previewImage;
+  }
+  if (event.images.length > 0) return event.images[0];
+  return {
+    url: event.isHackathon
+      ? "/hero-image-hackathon.png"
+      : "/hero-image-meetup.png",
+    alt: event.isHackathon
+      ? "Illustration of developers celebrating at a hackathon"
+      : "Illustration of developers chatting at a meetup",
+    width: 1200,
+    height: 1200,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/app/tests/event-hero.test.ts b/app/tests/event-hero.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c56a6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/tests/event-hero.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import { expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { getEventHeroImage } from "../src/lib/event-hero";
+const cover = {
+  url: "/cover.png",
+  alt: "Event poster",
+  width: 800,
+  height: 400,
+};
+const photo = { url: "/photo.png", alt: "People building together" };
+test("uses the event cover, retaining its description and dimensions", () => {
+  expect(
+    getEventHeroImage({
+      previewImage: cover,
+      images: [photo],
+      isHackathon: false,
+    }),
+  ).toEqual(cover);
+});
+test("uses an event photo when the cover is absent or the loader's generic placeholder", () => {
+  for (const previewImage of [
+    null,
+    { url: "/hero-image-rocket.png", alt: "Fallback" },
+  ]) {
+    expect(
+      getEventHeroImage({ previewImage, images: [photo], isHackathon: false }),
+    ).toEqual(photo);
+  }
+});
+test("retains distinct meetup and hackathon fallbacks without inventing event media", () => {
+  expect(
+    getEventHeroImage({ previewImage: null, images: [], isHackathon: false })
+      .url,
+  ).toBe("/hero-image-meetup.png");
+  expect(
+    getEventHeroImage({ previewImage: null, images: [], isHackathon: true })
+      .url,
+  ).toBe("/hero-image-hackathon.png");
+});