diff --git a/src/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/frontmatter-hero-image.ts b/src/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/frontmatter-hero-image.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e7cd45bd8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/frontmatter-hero-image.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+import fs from 'fs'
+import path from 'path'
+// @ts-ignore - markdownlint-rule-helpers doesn't have TypeScript declarations
+import { addError } from 'markdownlint-rule-helpers'
+
+import { getFrontmatter } from '../helpers/utils'
+import type { RuleParams, RuleErrorCallback, Rule } from '@/content-linter/types'
+
+interface Frontmatter {
+  heroImage?: string
+  [key: string]: any
+}
+
+// Get the list of valid hero images
+function getValidHeroImages(): string[] {
+  const ROOT = process.env.ROOT || '.'
+  const heroImageDir = path.join(ROOT, 'assets/images/banner-images')
+
+  try {
+    if (!fs.existsSync(heroImageDir)) {
+      return []
+    }
+
+    const files = fs.readdirSync(heroImageDir)
+    // Return absolute paths as they would appear in frontmatter
+    return files.map((file) => `/assets/images/banner-images/${file}`)
+  } catch {
+    return []
+  }
+}
+
+export const frontmatterHeroImage: Rule = {
+  names: ['GHD061', 'frontmatter-hero-image'],
+  description:
+    'Hero image paths must be absolute and point to valid images in /assets/images/banner-images/',
+  tags: ['frontmatter', 'images'],
+  function: (params: RuleParams, onError: RuleErrorCallback) => {
+    // Only check index.md files
+    if (!params.name.endsWith('index.md')) return
+
+    const fm = getFrontmatter(params.lines) as Frontmatter | null
+    if (!fm || !fm.heroImage) return
+
+    const heroImage = fm.heroImage
+
+    // Check if heroImage is an absolute path
+    if (!heroImage.startsWith('/')) {
+      const line = params.lines.find((line: string) => line.trim().startsWith('heroImage:'))
+      const lineNumber = line ? params.lines.indexOf(line) + 1 : 1
+      addError(
+        onError,
+        lineNumber,
+        `Hero image path must be absolute (start with /). Found: ${heroImage}`,
+        line || '',
+        null, // No fix possible
+      )
+      return
+    }
+
+    // Check if heroImage points to banner-images directory
+    if (!heroImage.startsWith('/assets/images/banner-images/')) {
+      const line = params.lines.find((line: string) => line.trim().startsWith('heroImage:'))
+      const lineNumber = line ? params.lines.indexOf(line) + 1 : 1
+      addError(
+        onError,
+        lineNumber,
+        `Hero image must point to /assets/images/banner-images/. Found: ${heroImage}`,
+        line || '',
+        null, // No fix possible
+      )
+      return
+    }
+
+    // Check if the file actually exists
+    const validHeroImages = getValidHeroImages()
+    if (validHeroImages.length > 0 && !validHeroImages.includes(heroImage)) {
+      const line = params.lines.find((line: string) => line.trim().startsWith('heroImage:'))
+      const lineNumber = line ? params.lines.indexOf(line) + 1 : 1
+      const availableImages = validHeroImages.join(', ')
+      addError(
+        onError,
+        lineNumber,
+        `Hero image file does not exist: ${heroImage}. Available images: ${availableImages}`,
+        line || '',
+        null, // No fix possible
+      )
+    }
+  },
+}
diff --git a/src/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/index.ts b/src/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/index.ts
index eaa9706da0..d3cabfa448 100644
--- a/src/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/index.ts
+++ b/src/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/index.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ import { ctasSchema } from '@/content-linter/lib/linting-rules/ctas-schema'
 import { journeyTracksLiquid } from './journey-tracks-liquid'
 import { journeyTracksGuidePathExists } from './journey-tracks-guide-path-exists'
 import { journeyTracksUniqueIds } from './journey-tracks-unique-ids'
+import { frontmatterHeroImage } from './frontmatter-hero-image'
 
 // Using any type because @github/markdownlint-github doesn't provide TypeScript declarations
 // The elements in the array have a 'names' property that contains rule identifiers
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ export const gitHubDocsMarkdownlint = {
     journeyTracksLiquid, // GHD058
     journeyTracksGuidePathExists, // GHD059
     journeyTracksUniqueIds, // GHD060
+    frontmatterHeroImage, // GHD061
 
     // Search-replace rules
     searchReplace, // Open-source plugin
diff --git a/src/content-linter/style/github-docs.ts b/src/content-linter/style/github-docs.ts
index 8d53d4631f..eddf742b46 100644
--- a/src/content-linter/style/github-docs.ts
+++ b/src/content-linter/style/github-docs.ts
@@ -348,6 +348,12 @@ export const githubDocsFrontmatterConfig = {
     'partial-markdown-files': false,
     'yml-files': false,
   },
+  'frontmatter-hero-image': {
+    // GHD061
+    severity: 'error',
+    'partial-markdown-files': false,
+    'yml-files': false,
+  },
 }
 
 // Configures rules from the `github/markdownlint-github` repo
diff --git a/src/content-linter/tests/unit/frontmatter-hero-image.ts b/src/content-linter/tests/unit/frontmatter-hero-image.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ac3096c703
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content-linter/tests/unit/frontmatter-hero-image.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from 'vitest'
+
+import { runRule } from '../../lib/init-test'
+import { frontmatterHeroImage } from '../../lib/linting-rules/frontmatter-hero-image'
+
+const fmOptions = { markdownlintOptions: { frontMatter: null } }
+
+describe(frontmatterHeroImage.names.join(' - '), () => {
+  test('valid absolute heroImage path passes', async () => {
+    const markdown = [
+      '---',
+      'title: Test',
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/hero-1.png'",
+      '---',
+      '',
+      '# Test',
+    ].join('\n')
+    const result = await runRule(frontmatterHeroImage, {
+      strings: { 'content/test/index.md': markdown },
+      ...fmOptions,
+    })
+    const errors = result['content/test/index.md']
+    expect(errors.length).toBe(0)
+  })
+
+  test('non-index.md file is ignored', async () => {
+    const markdown = [
+      '---',
+      'title: Test',
+      "heroImage: 'invalid-path.png'",
+      '---',
+      '',
+      '# Test',
+    ].join('\n')
+    const result = await runRule(frontmatterHeroImage, {
+      strings: { 'content/test/article.md': markdown },
+      ...fmOptions,
+    })
+    const errors = result['content/test/article.md']
+    expect(errors.length).toBe(0)
+  })
+
+  test('missing heroImage is ignored', async () => {
+    const markdown = ['---', 'title: Test', '---', '', '# Test'].join('\n')
+    const result = await runRule(frontmatterHeroImage, {
+      strings: { 'content/test/index.md': markdown },
+      ...fmOptions,
+    })
+    const errors = result['content/test/index.md']
+    expect(errors.length).toBe(0)
+  })
+
+  test('relative heroImage path fails', async () => {
+    const markdown = [
+      '---',
+      'title: Test',
+      "heroImage: 'images/hero-1.png'",
+      '---',
+      '',
+      '# Test',
+    ].join('\n')
+    const result = await runRule(frontmatterHeroImage, {
+      strings: { 'content/test/index.md': markdown },
+      ...fmOptions,
+    })
+    const errors = result['content/test/index.md']
+    expect(errors.length).toBe(1)
+    expect(errors[0].errorDetail).toContain('must be absolute')
+  })
+
+  test('non-banner-images path fails', async () => {
+    const markdown = [
+      '---',
+      'title: Test',
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/other/hero-1.png'",
+      '---',
+      '',
+      '# Test',
+    ].join('\n')
+    const result = await runRule(frontmatterHeroImage, {
+      strings: { 'content/test/index.md': markdown },
+      ...fmOptions,
+    })
+    const errors = result['content/test/index.md']
+    expect(errors.length).toBe(1)
+    expect(errors[0].errorDetail).toContain('/assets/images/banner-images/')
+  })
+
+  test('non-existent heroImage file fails', async () => {
+    const markdown = [
+      '---',
+      'title: Test',
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/non-existent.png'",
+      '---',
+      '',
+      '# Test',
+    ].join('\n')
+    const result = await runRule(frontmatterHeroImage, {
+      strings: { 'content/test/index.md': markdown },
+      ...fmOptions,
+    })
+    const errors = result['content/test/index.md']
+    expect(errors.length).toBe(1)
+    expect(errors[0].errorDetail).toContain('does not exist')
+  })
+
+  test('all valid hero images pass', async () => {
+    // Test each valid hero image
+    const validImages = [
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/hero-1.png'",
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/hero-2.png'",
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/hero-3.png'",
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/hero-4.png'",
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/hero-5.png'",
+      "heroImage: '/assets/images/banner-images/hero-6.png'",
+    ]
+
+    for (const heroImageLine of validImages) {
+      const markdown = ['---', 'title: Test', heroImageLine, '---', '', '# Test'].join('\n')
+      const result = await runRule(frontmatterHeroImage, {
+        strings: { 'content/test/index.md': markdown },
+        ...fmOptions,
+      })
+      const errors = result['content/test/index.md']
+      expect(errors.length).toBe(0)
+    }
+  })
+})