Photographs from around the world show Muslims marking Eid al-Fitr — from makeshift prayers amid Gaza's rubble to worship at Istanbul's great mosques. The holiday is celebrated with communal prayers, family visits, outings and new clothes across Muslim-majority countries and diaspora communities. This year many observances occur against a backdrop of conflict in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East; the images were selected by AP photo editors.
Eid al-Fitr Around the World — Photos of Prayer, Celebration and Resilience
Palestinian Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
From prayers held amid the rubble of Gaza to worshippers gathering at Istanbul's grand mosques, Muslims across the globe are observing Eid al-Fitr as they mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. This photo gallery captures a wide range of moments — joyful family reunions, quiet prayers, street celebrations and scenes of resilience in conflict-affected areas.
Tradition, Community and Hope
Eid al-Fitr is traditionally greeted with communal prayers, visits with family and friends, outings and the wearing of new clothes. These rituals appear across many settings: large congregations in mosque courtyards, small community gatherings in diaspora neighborhoods, and improvised prayer spaces where normal facilities are not available.
Contrasts and Context
While the holiday is a time of celebration for many, this year’s observances are often shadowed by conflict. Photographs in the gallery show prayers in places affected by violence — including scenes from Gaza — alongside images of everyday rejoicing in countries such as Egypt and among Muslim communities in Greece, Russia and beyond.
Photo Highlights
- Communal prayers at historic mosques and makeshift prayer sites.
- Families exchanging greetings, sharing meals and wearing new clothes.
- Moments of resilience and reflection where conflict has altered daily life.
The gallery was curated by AP photo editors to showcase the many faces of Eid al-Fitr around the world — a mix of celebration, tradition and the human capacity to observe rites of joy even in difficult circumstances.
Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Abdul-Qadir al-Gailani mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Israeli police officers pass by Palestinian Muslims as they offer Eid al-Fitr prayers in Jerusalem while the Old City remains closed to visitors under nationwide Home Front Command restrictions banning large gatherings amid the war with Iran, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Thousands of Egyptian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers outside al-Seddik mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Khaled el Fiqi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A Bosnian Muslim boy listens to a mufti delivering a sermon during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinians offer Eid al-Fitr prayers in Gaza City, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sudanese gather for the Eid al-Fitr prayer, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan, Islam's holy month of fasting, in Khartoum, Sudan, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Muslims pray outside the Moscow Cathedral Mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Fitr holiday, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, in Moscow, Russia, early Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinian militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad greet people who gather for to Eid al-Fitr prayers in Gaza City, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Muslim worshippers attend Eid al-Fitr prayers outside a mosque in Istanbul, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
An aerial view of Bosnian Muslims praying during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
People prepare to pray Eid Al-Fitr prayers, marking the feast after Ramadan, celebrating the end of fasting, in Aden, Yemen, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Muslim worshippers pray outside a mosque in Athens during celebrations of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Palestinians celebrate Eid al-Fitr amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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