The best photos of 2025, as selected by World Press Photo, have been unveiled
The organizers of the World Press Photo international competition have announced the 2025 winners, whose works capture key global challenges—migration, war, and the struggle for justice.
The top prize went to American photojournalist Carol Guzí. Her photograph captured the moment when an Ecuadorian migrant was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents immediately after a court hearing. In the frame are his wife and children, who in an instant were left without a husband and father, as well as without a means of support.
As the organizers note, this image has become a symbol of the stricter immigration policies in the U.S., where even those who voluntarily appear in court can be detained immediately after the hearing. At the same time, the very presence of a camera at such a proceeding was described as a rare exception that allowed such stories to be documented.
Among the finalists is a work by photographer Saber Nuraldin, who documented the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. His photo shows crowds of people trying to get food from a truck carrying humanitarian aid. According to the UN, thousands of people were put in danger during such distributions, and hundreds died.
Another finalist is a photograph by Victor J. Blue, taken in Guatemala. It depicts women of the Maya Achi people who spent decades seeking justice for those responsible for war crimes committed during the civil war. Only many years later did the court find former members of paramilitary groups guilty and hand down sentences.
The competition emphasizes that winners are selected not only for the artistic merit of their work, but above all for their ability to capture the most significant global events. That is why the winners’ stories focus on loss, survival, war, and the struggle for human rights.
The World Press Photo contest has been held for over 70 years and is considered one of the most prestigious in the field of photojournalism. Every year, it captures the key events and trends shaping the modern world.
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