Top moments of 2024 compiled by Getty Images

By Cassie Trotter Spencer: Senior Director of Editorial, Getty Images | 6 January 2025

At Getty Images, every year we trawl through hundreds of thousands of photos by our photographers who have worked relentlessly to capture over 160,000 news, sports and entertainment events globally.

We’re not only looking at visuals and videos that have created news cycles, sparked conversations or become online memes, but moments that shape the world, culture and society. We often don’t realise the significance of these moments, until several years later.

Here are my top picks on the moments that have captured the public consciousness over the past 12 months and that could go on to become defining moments in history.

Raygun ‘breaks’ the internet

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: B-Girl Raygun of Team Australia
competes during the B-Girls Round Robin - Group B on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) — PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: B-Girl Raygun of Team Australia competes during the B-Girls Round Robin - Group B on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

One of the most iconic moments from the 2024 Paris Olympics was internet sensation Rayun. This image captures 'Raygun' during her performance at the Olympics, where she introduced this now famous, 'kangaroo' move to reflect her Australian heritage. Despite not scoring points, her routine gained global attention and sparked widespread discussion, writing her into the history books.

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Getty Images’ photographer Anna Moneymaker was on the ground when gunfire erupted at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. Anna’s tight capture of Donald Trump on stage after an assassination attempt is a testament to the quick thinking and precision required of photojournalists. In that pivotal moment, as Anna followed the chaos on stage, she caught a glimpse that proved he was alive and took a split-second decision to switch cameras to a longer lens and focus on his face. Her photos capture the immediate reality of the moment and his instincts to raise a triumph fist to spectators. These photos will undoubtedly shape the aftermath and the future of US politics.

Taylor Swift sets records Down Under

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 23: Taylor Swift performs at Accor Stadium on February 23, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Taylor Swift managed to hold the world’s interest again in 2024, even when battling breaking news events for attention. The Eras Tour had a massive cultural impact, particularly in Australia where she performed for the biggest crowd of her career in Melbourne. Taylor Swift’s has redefined fan engagement in the digital age, by creating an authentic and emotional connection with her Swifites. This moment of Taylor Swift mid-performance in Sydney, with her hair swinging, radiates energy and perfectly captures the dynamic spirit that defined her Eras Tour.

Julian Assange returns as a free man

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 26: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gestures as he arrives at Canberra Airport. He returned to his native Australia as a free man, after attending the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands in Saipan on Wednesday. Following his guilty plea to a felony charge under the Espionage Act, Assange was sentenced to time served and subsequently released, allowing him to walk free after years of incarceration and intense lobbying for his release from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying the case "had dragged on for too long." Assange's case has been a lightning rod for debates about press freedom and national security, with his supporters hailing him as a whistleblower who exposed government wrongdoing, while critics accused him of recklessly endangering lives. (Photo by Roni Bintang/Getty Images)

In June 2024, Julian Assange landed back home in Australia, after a plea deal allowed him to walk free from a London prison. Getty Images photographers have been capturing his fight for freedom for over the past decade. Our photographers were two of several on the scene waiting to capture a moment to illustrate the significance of his return and the emotional reunion with his wife and his father. The gesture of raising his fist symbolises the saga and his resilience.

The Israel-Hamas conflict continues

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Pro-Palestinian supporters climb a fence during demonstrations at The City College Of New York (CUNY) as the NYPD cracks down on protest camps. Local law enforcement attempts to bring an end to pro-Palestinian protest encampments. Classes at both schools have been moved virtually to online learning in response to the recent campus unrest. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

near the city of Arad on April 30, 2024 in Arad, Israel. The missile debris resulted from Iran's aerial barrage on April 13, when the country launched a reported 170 drones and over 150 missiles at the country and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images) — Near the city of Arad on April 30, 2024 in Arad, Israel. The missile debris resulted from Iran's aerial barrage on April 13, when the country launched a reported 170 drones and over 150 missiles at the country and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Over 12 months into the war, which was set off by the Hamas-led October 7 attack in Israel, the humanitarian crisis has not abated. Our photographers have been responsible for capturing the human face on the war, both on the ground and around the world. These two images illustrate the impact of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The first, image shows pro-Palestinian supporters clashing with police in New York. The second, captured in Israel, reveals the scale of these military weapons showing missile debris left on a beach after an aerial barrage by Iran in April.

Fatal floods and environmental fragility

VALENCIA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 30: A man walks through a debris-covered street after flash floods hit the region on October 30, 2024 in the Sedaví area of Valencia, Spain. Spanish authorities said on Wednesday that at least 62 people had died in the Valencia region overnight after flash-flooding followed heavy rain. Spain's meteorological agency had issued its highest alert for the region due to extreme rainfall. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 1: A member of the fire brigade, which are part of a search and rescue unit, carries out work as cars and debris block a tunnel. By Friday morning, Spanish authorities confirmed that at least 200 people had died. The intense rainfall event is known as a "cold drop" or DANA weather system. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Climate-change related disasters and rising global average temperatures hit the headlines again in 2024. These images by David Ramos were captured in Spain in October 2024 after the southeast faced catastrophic flash flooding after 8 hours of intense rainfall. We see streets littered with so much debris, it’s almost surreal. It’s a visual reminder of the intensifying impact of extreme weather and weather events, and our fragile relationship with nature.

‘It Ends with Us’ ignites dialogue

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Blake Lively attends the "It Ends With Us" UK Gala Screening at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)

Throughout the year, the glitz and glam of red carpets hold our attention, there was one that had us talking for days afterwards. This was the release of Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends with Us’ starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The premiere and press run was met with discourse and criticism on how the film industry and its stars tackle issues like domestic violence. I personally love this intimate image of Blake Lively, captured by Jeff Spicer at the UK Gala Screening of It Ends With Us. Her glance over her shoulder creates a moment that seems just between her and the photographer, offering a rare sense of connection at a glamorous event of this size.

A political comeback for the ages

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the spin room after debating Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris and his historic return to the White House as America's 47th president was touted as ‘a political comeback for the ages’. This artful shot from behind Trump shows just how much he was able to hold the entire world’s attention again in 2024.

Australia's best ever Olympic Games

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Saya Sakakibara of Team Australia celebrates as Gold medal winner during the Women's Final on day seven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium on August 02, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

The 2024 Paris Olympics was Australia's most successful Olympics Games ever. It was also a landmark moment in Australia sporting history for female athletes who took the country to new heights, from the pole vault to the pool to the skateboard rink. This image of Saya Sakakibara, celebrating her gold medal win in the BMX Final, encapsulates the spirit of resilience and success, as she overcame the heartbreak of her Tokyo crash and her brother’s life-changing accident. The photo shows pure jubilation and symbolises Australia’s incredible achievements at the Games.

Boy Swallows Universe soars to success

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Felix Cameron accepts the Logie Awards for Most Popular New Talent at the 64th TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star on August 18, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by James Gourley/Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie Awards)

Trent Dalton's celebrated novel 'Boy Swallows Universe’' became one of the most successful Australian-made shows in 2024, reaching 7.6 million complete series views globally in its first two weeks on Netflix and winning an array of industry awards. This single image captures the emotion of 15-year-old Australian actor, Felix Cameron delivering a tearful and heartfelt speech upon winning Best Lead Actor in a Drama at the 2024 Logie Awards. This public moment of vulnerability signifies important recognition for Australia’s film and television industry, demonstrating its ability to create captivating Australian stories that resonate with diverse, global audiences.