AP monthly photo contest

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

The winners of the February 2026 AP Photo Contest are Jehad Alshrafi for News Photography Single Image, for his photo of smoke and flames rising from an Israeli military strike on a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City. 

Efram Lukatksy for News Photography Story, for his coverage the Veterans Theatre in Kyiv, Ukraine, a theater group of actors’ first play— men and women in their 20s to 60s — which include Ukrainian military veterans who had returned from the front with amputations, severe burns and sight loss.

Dmitri Lovetsky for Feature Photography Single Image, for his photo of a man bathing in the icy water in the Neva River in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Alessandra Tarantino for Feature Photography Story, for her series of images showing blind people experiencing art in Italy. 

Darko Bandic for Sports Photography Single Image, for his photo of Czechia's Michaela Hesova looking on as Canada's Julia Gosling scores her side's fourth goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Canada and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy.

David J. Phillip, Bernat Armangue and Christophe Ena for Sports Photography Story, for their combined coverage of the Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy.

Congratulations to all the photographers for their outstanding work. This month’s winning images, judged by Rachel Leathe and Patrick Sison, are featured below.

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News Photography Single Image | Jehad Alshrafi

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Israel Palestinians Gaza

Smoke and flames rise from an Israeli military strike on a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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News Photography Story | Efrem Lukatsky

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Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

The Veterans Theatre actors, many of whom sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, perform during the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

Yehor Babenko, 27, a Veterans Theatre actor who sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, performs during rehearsal in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

A woman supports Andrii Onopriienko, 31, a blind actor of the Veterans Theatre who sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, before the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

Play director Olha Semioshkina, 51, supports Yehor Babenko, 27, a Veterans Theatre actor who sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, before the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

Artem Moroz, 46 actor of the Veterans Theatre who sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, performs during the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

The Veterans Theatre actors, many of whom sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, perform during the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

The Veterans Theatre actors, many of whom sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, perform during the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

The Veterans Theatre actors, many of whom sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, perform during the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

Artem Moroz, 46 actor of the Veterans Theatre who sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, performs during the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

Taras Kozuk, a Veterans Theatre actor who sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, plays the hurdy-gurdi, traditional musical instrument, during rehearsal of the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

Viewers react as they watch the play premiere by actors of the Veterans Theatre, many of whom sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia Ukraine War Veterans Theater

The Veterans Theatre actors, many of whom sustained severe injuries in combat during Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, perform during the play premiere in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

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Feature Photography Single Image | Dimitri Lovetsky

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Russia Ice Swimming

A man bathes in the icy water in the Neva River in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, at an air temperature of -15 Celsius (5 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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Feature Photography Story | Alessandra Tarantino

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Italy Accessible Art

Stefania Terre, who is blind, uses a small light on her fingers while touching a life-size reproduction of the head of Michelangelo's David as she poses for a long-exposure photograph at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Stefania Terre, who is blind, touches a life-size reproduction of the head of Michelangelo's David during a visit to the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Stefania Terre, left, touches a reproduction of Michelangelo's sculpture La Pieta with Carmine Laezza, standing at right, during a tour for blind people with Monica Bernacchia, center, at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

A light worn on the hands of Stefania Terre, who is blind, streaks across a life-size reproduction of Michelangelo's La Pieta as she touches the sculpture while posing for a long-exposure photograph at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Blindfolded students of an art high school enter the pavilion of contemporary art for a project on tactile experience at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Stefania Terre, left, and Carmine Laezza, far right, both blind, touch a reproduction of St. Peter's Basilica at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Michela Marcato, left, who is blind, and her partially sighted partner Massimiliano Naccarato examine a scale model of the Colosseum with Giorgio Guardi, right, a guide in inclusive tourism, in Rome, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Francesca Inglese, who is blind, touches a marble relief on the corner of a building during an inclusive art tour in downtown Rome, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Francesca Inglese, who is blind, uses a tactile panel to experience the architecture of Palazzo Farnese during an inclusive art tour in downtown Rome, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

A painting transformed into bas-relief is on display at the laboratory of tactile education at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Felice Tagliaferri, a blind sculptor, stands in his studio in Cesena, Italy, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy Accessible Art

Powder covers the hammers of Felice Tagliaferri, a blind sculptor, in his studio in Cesena, Italy, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

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Sports Photography Single Image | Darko Bandic

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Milan Cortina Olympics Ice Hockey

Czechia's Michaela Hesova looks on as Canada's Julia Gosling scores her side's fourth goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Canada and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Sports Photography Story | David J. Phillip, Bernat Armangue and Christophe Ena

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Milan Cortina Olympics

Entertainers perform under the Olympic rings during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Team United States players celebrate after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the women´s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Poland´s Anna Maka passes behind a glass wall while training on the biathlon course at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Anterselva, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Athletes compete during the men´s biathlon 15-kilometers mass start race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Anterselva, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Norway's Johannes Dale-Skjevdal shoots during the men´s biathlon 15-kilometers mass start race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Anterselva, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Canada's Ben Hebert, Brett Gallant, Marc Kennedy and Brad Jacobs celebrate after beating Britain in the men´s curling gold medal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the figure skating men's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Milan Cortina Olympics

United States's Casey Dawson, right, Emery Lehman, center, and Ethan Cepuran compete during the speed skating men's team pursuit final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Lee Haein of South Korea competes during the women's short program figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni competes against Denmark during the women's curling round robin session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Milan Cortina Olympics

Kamila Sellier of Poland is assisted by the emergency medical service team after an injury due to a fall during a short track speed skating women's 1500 meters quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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Lead photo: Poland’s Anna Maka passes behind a glass wall while training on the biathlon course at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Anterselva, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)