An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer cylinder that is rotatably supported, that has a first groove formed in an outer portion thereof in a rotational radial direction thereof, and that causes an image to be transferred to a recording medium when the recording medium passes along an outer surface of the transfer cylinder in the rotational radial direction; a fixing cylinder that is rotatably supported, that has a second groove formed in an outer portion thereof in a rotational radial direction thereof, and that causes the image transferred to the recording medium to be fixed to the recording medium when the recording medium passes along an outer surface of the fixing cylinder in the rotational radial direction; a circulating member that is loop-shaped and wrapped at least around the transfer cylinder and the fixing cylinder; plural holding members configured to hold the recording medium and supported by the circulating member such that the holding members are arranged in a length direction of the circulating member with predetermined intervals therebetween, each holding member being disposed in the first groove when the holding member passes along the outer portion of the transfer cylinder and disposed in the second groove when the holding member passes along the outer portion of the fixing cylinder; a pressure unit that is rotatably supported and that causes the recording medium to pass between the pressure unit and the fixing cylinder while a pressure is applied between the pressure unit and the fixing cylinder; and a transfer roller that is rotatably supported and disposed at a location close to the transfer cylinder, the transfer roller opposing the first groove when a rotationally upstream end portion of the second groove in the fixing cylinder is in contact with the pressure unit.