NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: 2020 THE YEAR IN PICTURES.
Look back at the tragic and triumphant moments that defined the year, the good-news stories you probably missed, and wondrous destinations to help you plan your post-pandemic journey.
54 photographs from an unforgettable year
In the January issue of National Geographic magazine, we documented 2020 through the work of some of the world's most gifted photographers—the first time National Geographic has ever singled out one year for a retrospective.
MAKING HISTORY: THE MOMENTS THAT DEFINED 2020 +
The best science pictures of 2020
Asteroids, microbes, and, of course, coronavirus: These photographs capture a year in which science has been championed—and challenged—in unprecedented ways.
Our best animal photos of 2020
Honeybees slurp water and chimps stalk a Ugandan village in these striking pictures selected by our editors.
This is what family life looked like in 2020
As parents stepped up to manage crisis after crisis, one thing became clear: They were teaching their children crucial lessons that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Photos that remind us why we miss traveling
As we eagerly anticipate our return to travel, we asked a few of our favorite photographers to share where they long to visit again once the pandemic ends.
Here's what 2020 looked like in maps and graphics
See how our artists and cartographers covered everything from how COVID attacks the body to maps for extraterrestrials.
THE MOST COMPELLING PHOTOS OF THE CENTURY
21 photos that capture this century's most important stories
Our photo editors selected one image from each year of this century—from war and human tragedies to scientific breakthroughs and species saved from the brink of extinction.
GOOD NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
7 wins that gave us hope for the environment in 2020
From commitments to produce more electric vehicles to new marine protections, these trends may be a sign of good things to come.
10 awesome science discoveries you may have missed in 2020
From the discovery of stardust older than the sun to the first tyrannosaur embryos, here are some fascinating findings that may have been overshadowed this year.
10 good-news stories for wildlife in 2020
From Tiger King prosecutions to new pangolin protections, not everything in 2020 has been doom and gloom.
8 January 2021
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
