Feb. 20 – 26, 2026
This photo gallery, curated by photo editor Jon Orbach, highlights some of the most compelling images worldwide published by The Associated Press in the past week.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, center, along with other members of the imperial family, wave to well-wishers from a balcony during a public appearance marking the emperor’s 66th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, center, along with other members of the imperial family, wave to well-wishers from a balcony during a public appearance marking the emperor’s 66th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
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American Jack Hughes, who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after Team USA defeated Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
American Jack Hughes, who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after Team USA defeated Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
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Members of the Israel Nature and Parks take samples from the carcass of a sperm whale that washed ashore at Zikim Beach near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)
Members of the Israel Nature and Parks take samples from the carcass of a sperm whale that washed ashore at Zikim Beach near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)
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President Donald Trump holds up a tie designed with his face, worn by Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, as he exits the House chamber after delivering the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
President Donald Trump holds up a tie designed with his face, worn by Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, as he exits the House chamber after delivering the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
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Cross-country skier Nate Andrew is pulled by his dog, Frankie, while traversing Moose Pond during a snowstorm in Bridgton, Maine, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Cross-country skier Nate Andrew is pulled by his dog, Frankie, while traversing Moose Pond during a snowstorm in Bridgton, Maine, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
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Lively Hagauer, of Atlanta, with permanent marker on her face, yells out for autographs before a spring training baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins in North Port, Fla., Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Lively Hagauer, of Atlanta, with permanent marker on her face, yells out for autographs before a spring training baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins in North Port, Fla., Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
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People walk along the Malecón in Havana, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
People walk along the Malecón in Havana, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
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Relatives of people killed during the Russian occupation visit the Wall of Remembrance during a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Bucha, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
Relatives of people killed during the Russian occupation visit the Wall of Remembrance during a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Bucha, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
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A man takes photos of a destroyed road after heavy rain triggered flooding in Arequipa, Peru, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Sotomayor, File)
A man takes photos of a destroyed road after heavy rain triggered flooding in Arequipa, Peru, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Sotomayor, File)
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A youth jumps over other therians, people who say they identify as non-human animals, during a gathering in a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)
A youth jumps over other therians, people who say they identify as non-human animals, during a gathering in a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)
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Syrian government prisoners wave from a bus after their release in a prisoner exchange between Syrian government forces and Druze militiamen in Sweida province, Syria, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed, File)
Syrian government prisoners wave from a bus after their release in a prisoner exchange between Syrian government forces and Druze militiamen in Sweida province, Syria, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed, File)
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A construction worker peeks out from scaffolding as the Fendi Fall-Winter 2026-2027 women’s fashion collection is presented in Milan, Italy, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
A construction worker peeks out from scaffolding as the Fendi Fall-Winter 2026-2027 women’s fashion collection is presented in Milan, Italy, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
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People observe a moment of silence during a vigil for the nine people who died in an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada, in Truckee, Calif., Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
People observe a moment of silence during a vigil for the nine people who died in an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada, in Truckee, Calif., Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
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Juvenile giant tortoises are loaded onto a boat on Santa Cruz Island for transport to Floreana Island as part of a project to reintroduce the Floreana giant tortoise to its native island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)
Juvenile giant tortoises are loaded onto a boat on Santa Cruz Island for transport to Floreana Island as part of a project to reintroduce the Floreana giant tortoise to its native island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)
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Muslim students wait to break their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a free meal distributing point in Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahmed Yosri, File)
Muslim students wait to break their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a free meal distributing point in Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahmed Yosri, File)
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Nyayual Chuol, right, watches her 18-month-old grandson Kool Gatyen Pajock, who was shot during conflict, receive treatment at the Akobo County Hospital in South Sudan, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux, File)
Nyayual Chuol, right, watches her 18-month-old grandson Kool Gatyen Pajock, who was shot during conflict, receive treatment at the Akobo County Hospital in South Sudan, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux, File)
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Friends of 11-year-old Bernardo Lopes, who died during heavy rains and flooding, attend his burial in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File)
Friends of 11-year-old Bernardo Lopes, who died during heavy rains and flooding, attend his burial in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File)
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Tetiana Khimion 47, now a sniper in the Ukrainian army, poses with a photograph of herself as a dance teacher taken before Russia’s full-scale invasion, in a park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
Tetiana Khimion 47, now a sniper in the Ukrainian army, poses with a photograph of herself as a dance teacher taken before Russia’s full-scale invasion, in a park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
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Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
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Partizan fans cheer in front of burning seats during a Serbian league soccer derby match between Red Star and Partizan in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
Partizan fans cheer in front of burning seats during a Serbian league soccer derby match between Red Star and Partizan in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
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See last week’s top photo of the week
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