The Guardian’s picture editors have selected a series of compelling photographs from around the world, capturing moments of sport, culture, protest, and nature.
Sporting Highlights
A competitor warms up for the high jump event during the Hobby Horsing Championship in Frankfurt, Germany. This unusual sport, which involves participants riding hobby horses over obstacles, has gained a dedicated following. In Prague, Czech Republic, runners cross Charles Bridge during the Prague Marathon. Berehanu Wendemu Tsegu of Ethiopia won the men’s race, while Millicent Jelimo of Kenya triumphed in the women’s event.
In Xi’an, China, the Chinese team competes in the team free final on day two of the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup. Meanwhile, in Charmey, Switzerland, Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar, wearing the yellow leader jersey, competes with his teammates during stage 4 of the 79th Tour de Romandie.
Royal and Political Moments
In St David’s, Bermuda, King Charles greets members of the public at the Great Bay coastguard station during his two-day visit to the British overseas territory. In Hebron, West Bank, Israeli soldiers escort people on the weekly settlers’ tour of the Palestinian city. In Jerusalem, Israeli police intervene after dozens of activists gathered to block a main road in protest against Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinians in the Silwan district of East Jerusalem.
Cultural Celebrations
In Toubab Dialaw, Senegal, a person attends a dance workshop at the Biennale of Dance in Africa. The five-day event is a leading pan-African platform showcasing contemporary choreography. In Waterlooville, UK, Mark and Rebecca Ford, the co-creators of the giant wicker man for this year’s Beltain Celtic Fire festival, look up at their creation before the start of the event at Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire. Beltain is an ancient Celtic celebration marking the beginning of summer.
In Portobelo, Panama, people take part in the Congos celebration, described as one of the most representative cultural expressions of Afro-Caribbean heritage, including music, dance, theatrical performances, and symbolic characters linked to slavery, resistance, and emancipation.
Conflict and Protest
In Kyiv, Ukraine, an explosion lights up part of the sky as interceptors hit a drone during a Russian strike on the Ukrainian capital. In Chornomorsk, Ukraine, a resident surveys the site of a Russian drone strike on the strategic port. Reports say Russian strikes in Ukraine have killed 10 people, including two in the Odesa region, over the past day.
In Sydney, Australia, activists pose near the city’s opera house after participants paddled from Milsons Point to the Man O’War Steps in a show of solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israel intercepted and detained crews of at least 22 boats from the Gaza aid flotilla near Crete this week.
Nature and Wildlife
On Skomer Island, Wales, Atlantic puffins bash beaks. Skomer has the biggest puffin colony in southern Britain, with more than 52,000 birds recorded in 2026. The puffins visit the island between April and July to breed. In the Columbia River Gorge, US, people visit Multnomah Falls in Oregon.
Entertainment and Displays
In Toronto, Canada, a person in cosplay dress holds a butterfly-shaped mirror next to one of the many blooming sakura cherry trees in High Park, part of a number of trees given by the citizens of Tokyo in 1959. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Colombian singer Shakira performs during a free concert at Copacabana beach. In Busan, South Korea, a swarm of 1,500 drones forms the shape of Spider-Man in the night sky above Gwangan Bridge during a drone light show to promote the movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
