The annual winter solstice nude swim during Hobart's Dark Mofo festival at Long Beach on 22 June drew swimmers into the cold waters, captured by photographer Rob Blakers for AAP. This event is part of a collection of striking images from across Australia in June 2026, showcasing a diverse range of moments from politics and sports to everyday life and wildlife.
Personal Stories and Community
Mohammed Ibrahim, a refugee from Afghanistan who worked as a translator for Australia, was photographed with his family by Douglas Gimesy for The Guardian. In another poignant image, Junee, 84, prepares breakfast for her son Dane, who has a severe intellectual disability, photographed by Rachel Mounsey. Gold Coast mother Kerry and her son Joe, who has Down syndrome, were captured by David Kelly.
Gordon Thoms, who lost his 23-year-old daughter Alexandra to sudden cardiac arrest in 2023, was photographed by Christopher Hopkins. Samuel Mackenzie posed for a portrait near Coogee beach after surviving a shark attack, photographed by James Gourley.
Sports and Recreation
In AFL, Jayden Short of the Tigers and Nick Larkey of the Kangaroos competed for the ball during round 15, captured by Morgan Hancock for Getty Images. Steph Catley was fouled during the Women's International friendly match between Australia and Mexico in Newcastle, photographed by Stephane Thomas for ZUMA Press Wire. Former AFL footballer Mitch Brown, who came out publicly as bisexual in 2025, was photographed in his Melbourne home by Eugene Hyland.
World Cup fans lined up to watch the Group D match Australia v Turkey at Federation Square in Melbourne, photographed by Con Chronis for AAP. Elizabeth Dekkers competed in the women's 200m butterfly final during the Australian swimming trials at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, captured by David Gray for AFP/Getty Images. Japan's Nozomi Okuhara played against Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong in the women's singles semi-final at the Australia Open badminton tournament in Sydney, also photographed by David Gray.
Politics and Culture
Anthony Albanese received a royal salute during a welcome ceremony for the prime minister of Solomon Islands outside Parliament House in Canberra, photographed by Lukas Coch for AAP. Charlie Pickering was photographed outside the Ian Potter Centre in Melbourne by Charlie Kinross. A visitor looked at tapestries during a media preview of the winter exhibition ‘Arthur Boyd: Tapestries’ at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, captured by Lukas Coch.
Eden Porter, Danta Whitham, Chantelle Lee Lockhart, Eli Clarke, and Kallum Goolagong were at Bangarra Dance Theatre’s ‘Sheltering’ media call at the Sydney Opera House, photographed by Don Arnold for WireImage. The 2026 Vinnies Fashion Show at Bluestone Hall in Footscray, Melbourne, featured garments sourced from St Vincent de Paul op shops, photographed by Eugene Hyland.
Nature and Wildlife
Marine biologist and shark expert Prof Rob Harcourt was photographed in the water at North Bondi by Jessica Hromas for The Guardian. Pink cockatoos fed among Aleppo pines outside the Wyperfeld national park entrance in Victoria, captured by Ellen Smith. A protected spiny crayfish in the Bellthorpe region of south-east Queensland was photographed by Krystle Wright. A camel racer participated in the Marree Australasian Camel Cup in the South Australian outback town of Marree, photographed by AFP/Getty Images. Canola farmer Scott Bowman was pictured in a newly sown paddock in Carnamah, Western Australia, by Tamati Smith.
