As the year draws to a close, The Guardian has challenged its readers with a special festive quiz, testing their recollection of the monumental events that defined 2025. The paper's final 'Thursday Briefing' of the year, published on Christmas Day, swapped its usual deep-dive analysis for a series of probing questions covering politics, global affairs, culture, and sport.
A Year Packed with Unforgettable Headlines
The quiz serves as a rapid-fire recap of a tumultuous twelve months. It probes knowledge on significant political shifts, including the outcome of the UK general election held on October 9, 2025. Readers are asked to recall which party emerged victorious and the name of the new prime minister who entered Downing Street, marking a pivotal moment in British politics.
International events also feature heavily. The quiz references a major geopolitical summit and asks participants to identify the world leader who made a dramatic return to power. Furthermore, it touches on a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, testing awareness of a key strategic change that occurred during the year.
From the Sports Pitch to the Silver Screen
Beyond the serious news cycle, the quiz also delves into the year's cultural and sporting highlights. It asks about the winner of a prestigious international sporting trophy, a detail that would have captivated millions of fans. In the arts, a question targets the film that triumphed at the 2025 Academy Awards, claiming the coveted Best Picture Oscar.
Scientific and environmental milestones are not forgotten. The briefing includes a query about a landmark climate agreement, specifically asking which nation hosted the critical COP30 summit where new global emissions targets were fiercely negotiated. Another question focuses on a breakthrough in artificial intelligence, challenging readers to name the company behind a widely publicised and controversial new AI model launched this year.
More Than Just a Christmas Diversion
While presented as a festive puzzle, this quiz format underscores the sheer volume and pace of news that has characterised 2025. It acts as a stark reminder of the year's defining moments, from elections and wars to cultural touchstones and technological leaps. For many, it may highlight how quickly major stories fade from immediate memory, replaced by the next day's headlines.
The Guardian's decision to end the year with this interactive test reflects a desire to engage readers directly and consolidate the news cycle. It transforms passive consumption into an active challenge, prompting reflection on what was, by all accounts, a very long and eventful year. How many questions can you answer correctly?
