The best press photos of 2025 continue to reveal the full spectrum of human experience — from ancient fire rituals and colorful carnivals to geopolitical flashpoints and devastating natural disasters. This seventh curated set brings together nineteen remarkable frames captured by leading photojournalists between January 10 and 18, 2025.
Fire, Faith, and Ancient Ritual
One of the most visually arresting images of the set comes from San Bartolomé de Pinares, a small village west of Madrid, where a horseman charges through a blazing bonfire as part of the ancient Las Luminarias festival. Held every year on January 16 in honour of San Antonio Abad — the patron saint of animals — the spectacle was documented by AFP photographer Philippe Marcou.
In Guatemala’s San Marcos department, another fire-centered tradition unfolded on January 14, when a man strapped on a torito — a bull-shaped fireworks frame — during celebrations marking the eve of the feast of the Black Christ of Esquipulas in the community of Esquipulas Palo Gordo. AP Photo’s Moises Castillo was on hand to capture the moment.
From Bulgaria, late on January 13, kukeri dancers in the village of Svetlya lit torches and performed the ancient Surva ritual, donning elaborate costumes, bells, and masks intended to drive away evil spirits and invite prosperity for the coming year. The scene was photographed by Valentina Petrova for AP Photo.
Julian Calendar Celebrations Across Europe and Beyond
On January 13 — New Year’s Day according to the Julian calendar — two distinct traditions came alive simultaneously. In Schwellbrunn, Switzerland, costumed participants known as the Silvesterchlaeuse (New Year’s Clause) made their rounds visiting local farmers to offer heartfelt New Year’s greetings. EPA’s Gian Ehrenzeller documented the gathering.
Across the Balkans, masked revelers in the North Macedonian village of Vevcani assembled on the same evening, ahead of the Orthodox St. Basil’s Day parade — a Julian calendar New Year tradition that blends folk costumes with community festivity. Boris Grdanoski photographed the scene for AP Photo.
Conflict, Protest, and Political Tension
Several images in this collection reflect the ongoing turbulence in the world’s political landscape. At Tel Aviv’s so-called Hostages Square on January 14, a visitor walked through a makeshift tunnel constructed to represent the Hamas tunnel network — a sobering tribute to the hostages still held in captivity following the deadly October 7, 2023 attack. Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach captured the moment.
On the same day, smoke columns rose above the ruins of northern Gaza as seen from the Israeli side of the border, with explosions continuing to mark the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. The image, taken by Jack Guez for AFP, underscores the relentless toll of the conflict.
At Capitol Hill in Washington on January 14, a protester was removed by security personnel as Pete Hegseth — President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense — testified before the Senate Committee on Armed Services during his confirmation hearing. Reuters photographer Elizabeth Frantz documented the disruption.
In Bucharest on January 12, demonstrators organized by the right-wing Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) took to the streets, brandishing mock voting stamps bearing the words “Free elections.” The protest followed Romania’s Constitutional Court decision to annul the first round of the country’s presidential election the previous December. AP Photo’s Vadim Ghirda covered the rally.
For more context on the geopolitical and human stories unfolding this month, see our Best World Press Photos: Early January 2025 collection.
Celebrations, Festivals, and Lunar New Year
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on January 18, performers brought a traditional Chinese dragon dance to life outside a local Chinese Association building — a vivid preview of the Lunar New Year falling on January 29, which marks the start of the Year of the Snake. The celebration, known as the Spring Festival in China and Tet in Vietnam, was captured by Kith Serey for EPA/EFE.
In Parkes, Australia, the 32nd annual Parkes Elvis Festival kicked off on January 11, with fans and performers paying tribute to Elvis Presley. This year’s edition was themed around his 1967 film Easy Come, Easy Go and commemorated what would have been Presley’s 90th birthday. Alfred Vaz, photographed by Stephanie Gardiner for EPA/EFE, was among the costumed participants posing ahead of the parade.
In Seville on January 13, the 13th edition of the We Love Flamenco (WLF) fashion show brought bold Andalusian design to the runway. A model presented a creation by Spanish designers Juan Foronda and Rafa Diaz, with AFP’s Cristina Quicler on hand to photograph the collection.
Sport, Culture, and Urban Life
The 14th annual No Trousers Tube Ride took place on London’s Underground on January 12, 2025. Originally conceived as a small stunt by Improv Everywhere in New York City — beginning with just seven participants — the event has grown into a global phenomenon with dozens of cities participating annually. Both Dinendra Haria and Alberto Pezzali captured riders keeping a straight face while travelling trouser-free through the capital.
At Melbourne Park on January 14, spectators at the Australian Open tennis championships sought relief from the heat at water misting stations, with temperatures testing both fans and players alike. AP Photo’s Manish Swarup documented the scene.
In Chiba, near Tokyo, the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon — one of the world’s premier showcases for modified and tuned vehicles — ran from January 10 to 12. A model poses for the crowd in an image taken by Franck Robichon for EPA/EFE.
On the streets of Paris, January 12 saw the 25th Traversée de Paris roll through the city along its signature 30-kilometre route, with a parade of vintage vehicles drawing admirers along the way. The event was covered by Anadolu for Getty Images.
Nature and Disaster
On January 14, the first full Moon of 2025 — known as the Wolf Moon — rose over Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, captured in a striking frame by Mukhtar Khan for AP Photo.
In stark contrast, emergency crews battled the aftermath of deadly landslides in the Bethania neighbourhood of Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on January 12. Torrential rains had triggered the slides, killing at least seven people and leaving four others missing, according to state rescue services. Nilmar Lage documented the scene for AFP.
If you enjoyed this set, explore the equally compelling images featured in our Best Press Photos of 2025: Powerful Images – Set 6.
A Window on the World in January 2025
From the smoke of bonfires and fireworks to the smoke of war; from ancient Julian calendar customs to modern political confrontations — these nineteen photographs remind us of photography’s unique power to compress the complexity of the world into a single, enduring frame. Each image stands as a testament to the courage and craft of the photographers who made them.
