World Press Photo Exhibition 2025

Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome is hosting the World Press Photo 2025 exhibition, showcasing the winning images of the prestigious photojournalism contest that has, since 1955, honored the world’s best professional photographers, contributing to the legacy of global visual journalism.

For 70 years, the World Press Photo Contest has recognized the most outstanding photo reports and documentary images from around the globe. This year’s winners were selected from 59,320 photographs submitted by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries. These images portray struggle and resistance, but also human warmth and courage—a visually stunning body of work that invites viewers to look deeper into the stories behind the headlines.

This year’s exhibition features 42 projects—nine more than last year—with three winners in each regional category, as well as one winner for a long-term project in each region.

The World Press Photo of the Year 2025 was awarded to Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for an image captured for The New York Times. It shows Mahmoud Ajjour, a young boy severely injured in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.
“This is a quiet photo that speaks volumes. It tells the story of one child, but also of a broader war whose consequences will be felt for generations,” said Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of World Press Photo.

Lucy Conticello, Chair of the Global Jury and Director of Photography at M, the weekend magazine of Le Monde, commented:
“When the global jury began selecting candidates for Photo of the Year, we started with a wide range of entries from each of the six regions. Three recurring themes emerged that define this edition: conflict, migration, and climate change. Another way to view them is as stories of resilience, family, and community.
The winning image portrays a young boy in a tank top, facing a window with warm light casting a soft shadow on one side of his face. His youth and striking features contrast with his melancholic expression—then comes the heartbreaking realization that he has no arms.
This boy’s life deserves to be understood, and this image achieves what great photojournalism does best: it offers a layered entry point into a complex story and encourages the viewer to stay with that story. In my opinion, Samar Abu Elouf’s image was a clear winner from the very beginning.”

Also featured at Palazzo delle Esposizioni is the work of Cinzia Canneri, the only Italian photographer to receive an award this year. She won in the Long-Term Projects category for the Africa region, documenting the lives of women fleeing Eritrea’s repressive regime and the conflict in Ethiopia over an extended period.

Where:
World Press Photo Exhibition 2025
06.05__08.06.2025
https://www.palazzoesposizioniroma.it/mostra/world-press-photo-exhibition-2025-eng

Article sponsored by BASILIO 55 ROME