Each month The Associated Press honors photographers for outstanding coverage while on assignment.

The winners of the January 2026 AP Photo Contest are Mukhtar Khan for News Photography Single Image, for his photo of Jammu and Kashmir Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel questioning local residents during a house-to-house search operation as part of heightened security measures ahead of India's Republic Day in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir.

Matias Delacroix for News Photography Story, for his coverage in Venezuela following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Alexander Zemlianichenko for Feature Photography Single Image, for his photo of a girl showing off her skills atop of a pile of snow on Red Square after heavy snowfall in Moscow.

Matias Delacroix for Feature Photography Story, for his series of images showing daily life in Venezuela following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Fernando Llano for Sports Photography Single Image, for his photo of Mexico Red’s catcher Santiago Chavez being tagged out by Puerto Rico's Andrew Velazquez during a Caribbean Series baseball game in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Aaron Favila, Dita Alangkara and Dar Yasin for Sports Photography Story, for their combined coverage of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.

Congratulations to all the photographers for their outstanding work. This month’s winning images, judged by Rafiq Maqbool and Manish Swarup, are featured below.

News Photography Single Image | Mukhtar Khan

India Republic Day

Jammu and Kashmir Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel question local residents during a house-to-house search operation as part of heightened security measures ahead of India's Republic Day in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

News Photography Story | Matias Delacroix

Venezuela US

A military officer comforts Ramona Palma, the mother of Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after Garcia's wake in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

Pedestrians run after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

Men watch smoke rising from a dock after explosions were heard at La Guaira port, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

Residents look at a damaged apartment complex that neighbors say was hit during U.S. strikes to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

A Venezuelan deported from the United States shows his hands in handcuffs and chains after landing at Simon Bolivar International Airport on a plane of deportees in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

Pro-government armed civilians patrol in La Guaira, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

Funeral workers prepare the body of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

A government supporter holds an image of President Nicolas Maduro during a women's march to demand his return in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, three days after U.S. forces captured him and his wife. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

A man sits on steps decorated with a mural representing the eyes of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

Children look out at a pro-government march to demand the release of deposed President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, from a window in La Guaira, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

Yaxzodara Lozada, center right, whose husband, Joel Bravo, she says is detained at Zone 7 of the Bolivarian National Police for political reasons, embraces a relative of another detainee outside the facility in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela US

A boy stands on a fishing boat with the Cardon refinery in the background in Punta Cardon, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Feature Photography Single Image | Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russia Daily Life

A girl shows off her skills atop of a pile of snow on Red Square after heavy snowfall in Moscow, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, backdropped by the St. Basil's Cathedral. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Feature Photography Story | Matias Delacroix

Venezuela Daily Life

Children play baseball at the 23 de Enero neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, a week after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

The downtown skyline rises behind the Cota 905 neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

A water storage tank is mounted on an apartment building in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

People gather on the shore of a beach in La Guaira, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

Members of the Sanchez family work at the Salinas de Cumaraguas salt flats on the Paraguana Peninsula, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

A barber cuts hair at a barbershop in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

A boy performs a wheelie on a bike near a building with a mural of the late President Hugo Chavez at the Fuerte Tiuna military complex of Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

A man feeds seagulls on the shore of a beach in La Guaira, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

Truck driver Francisco Rodriguez waits to load salt at the Salinas de Cumaraguas salt flats on the Paraguana Peninsula, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

Vendors and shoppers walk along a street market in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan.11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

A woman who lives near the Cardon refinery hangs clothes to dry in Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuela Daily Life

Goats cross the sand dunes at Medanos de Coro National Park in Falcon state, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Sports Photography Single Image | Fernando Llano

Mexico Puerto Rico Baseball

Mexico Red´s catcher Santiago Chavez, back, is tagged out by Puerto Rico's Andrew Velazquez at the second base during a Caribbean Series baseball game in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Sports Photography Story | Aaron Favila, Dita Alangkara and Dar Yasin

Australian Open Tennis

Victoria Mboko of Canada plays a forehand return to Clara Tauson of Denmark during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Australian Open Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his quarterfinal match against Alex de Minaur of Australia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Australian Open Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Australian Open Tennis

Raphael Collignon of Belgium plays a backhand return to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Australian Open Tennis

Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia plays a backhand return to Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Australian Open Tennis

Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a forehand return to compatriot Hailey Baptiste during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Australian Open Tennis

Arthur Gea of France takes a selfie with supporters after defeating Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Australian Open Tennis

Olga Danilovic of Serbia plays a backhand return to Venus Williams of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Australian Open Tennis

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan serves to Elise Mertens of Belgium during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Australian Open Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a forehand return to Alexander Zverev of Germany during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Australian Open Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, right, of Spain plays Yannick Hanfmann of Germany during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Australian Open Tennis

Niels Vink of the Netherlands reacts after defeating compatriot Sam Shroder in the quad wheelchair final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Lead photo: Carlos Alcaraz, right, of Spain plays Yannick Hanfmann of Germany during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)