World Press Photo Exhibition returns to Brisbane Powerhouse with a powerful new perspective

Jul 15, 2025, updated Jul 15, 2025
A young man brings food to his mother who lives in the village of Manacapuru. The village was once accessible by boat, but because of the drought, he must walk 2 kilometers along the dry riverbed of the Solimões River to reach her. Amazonas, Brazil, 5 October 2024.    © Musuk Nolte, Panos Pictures, Bertha Foundation
Bodybuilder Tamale Safalu trains in front of his home. Kampala, Uganda, 25 January 2024. © Marijn Fidder
A protestor raises a fist in defiance as Kenyan police officers use a water cannon to disperse the gathering. Pink dye in the water is often used by police at protests to mark individuals for identification. Nairobi, Kenya, 20 June 2024. © Luis Tato, Agence France-Presse
A long-tailed macaque looks into a motorbike’s side mirror, near Phra Prang Sam Yot temple. Lopburi, Thailand, 3 February 2024. © Chalinee Thirasupa, Reuters
Mihiata Teepa (16) and her Tūhoe Māori Rugby League U16 teammates perform a haka during practice before a game. Rotorua, New Zealand, 12 January 2025. © Tatsiana Chypsanava, Pulitzer Center for New Zealand Geographic
Footage from a drone attack on a Ukrainian target is displayed alongside trophies from the front, in an exhibition at a Tomsk local history museum. Tomsk, Russia, 2 April 2024.© Aliona Kardash, DOCKS Collective for Stern Magazine
A young man brings food to his mother who lives in the village of Manacapuru. The village was once accessible by boat, but because of the drought, he must walk 2 kilometers along the dry riverbed of the Solimões River to reach her. Amazonas, Brazil, 5 October 2024. © Musuk Nolte, Panos Pictures, Bertha Foundation

From July 19 to August 17, Brisbane Powerhouse will once again become a window to the moments, headlines and human stories that defined the past year, as the World Press Photo Exhibition 2025 returns with a stirring new collection of award-winning photojournalism.

Now in its 70th year, the globally renowned exhibition features the winning images from the World Press Photo Contest – carefully selected from more than 59,000 entries submitted by photographers across 141 countries. From scenes of war and environmental crisis to quiet moments of resilience, hope and humanity, these photographs reveal the defining moments shaping our shared global narrative.

In a time increasingly influenced by AI and emerging technologies, the exhibition stands as a compelling reminder of the power of human-made journalism. Each photograph bears witness to lived experience – not captured by algorithms, but by individuals with the courage and perspective to document the world as it unfolds.

Brazil’s Gabriel Medina bursts out triumphantly from a large wave in the fifth heat of round three of men’s surfing, during the 2024 Olympic Games. Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, 29 July 2024. © Jerome Brouillet, Agence France-Presse

Brisbane Powerhouse acting CEO/artistic director Phoebe Meredith said the exhibition remains a touchstone for contemporary visual storytelling. “We are honoured to once again showcase this extraordinary collection. These images transcend headlines, offering unflinching, deeply human perspectives on the world around us.”

Presented in partnership with Brisbane Airport, the free exhibition will be displayed throughout Brisbane Powerhouse, spanning the Turbine Platform and the Fairfax Studio on the lower level. It invites visitors to reflect on the evolving role of visual storytelling in an era where truth and image are increasingly blurred.

To extend the reach of these powerful photographic works, a curated selection of images will also be exhibited throughout Brisbane Airport’s terminals, offering travellers a rare chance to engage with world-class photojournalism beyond the gallery walls.

The World Press Photo Exhibition 2025 is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with extended evening hours from Friday to Sunday.

For more information, head to the Brisbane Powerhouse website.

This article was written in partnership with our friends at Brisbane Powerhouse.