10 Iconic Covers That Made Their Mark on TIME Magazine's History
1. Is God Dead? (1966)
Perhaps the boldest cover in TIME history. For the first time, no photo of a person was used and only three words were included: "Is God Dead?" (Is God Dead?). Even today, the simple typography on a red background is considered one of the strongest examples of modern magazine design.
2. September 11, 2001
Special issue with black frames published after the September 11 attacks. It is considered one of the covers that most powerfully reflects mourning and national trauma in TIME history.
3. Person of the Year – Adolf Hitler (1939)
One of the most controversial TIME covers in history. It was one of the most important examples showing that TIME's "Person of the Year" selection is not an award, but represents the most influential person of the year.
4. The Computer Moves In (1983)
It is considered one of the covers that symbolizes the period when computers began to enter our lives and heralds the beginning of the technology age.
5. Yep, I'm Gay (1997)
The issue in which Ellen DeGeneres appeared on the cover and openly announced her gay identity was an important turning point in the history of popular culture and media.
6. Endangered Earth (1989)
It was one of the first major TIME covers to bring the environmental crisis and global warming to the center of mainstream media.
7. Barack Obama – Hope Era
Covers representing Obama's rise were among TIME's most talked about political covers. Obama became one of the leaders with the most covers in the magazine's history.
8. Donald Trump Covers
Throughout the Trump era, TIME has used minimalist and metaphorical cover designs many times. In particular, the covers where the Oval Office was flooded or turned into a storm were frequently analyzed in the design world.
9. TIME 100th Anniversary Cover (2023)
In the special cover prepared for the 100th anniversary of the magazine, 144 different TIME covers selected from the last century were brought together in a single composition. It was a real archive work in terms of design history.
10. Monopoly 90th Anniversary Special Issue (2026)
It's a rare occurrence for a board game to make it to the cover of TIME. The special issue prepared for Monopoly's 90th anniversary reminded us that the game is not only an entertainment product, but also an important part of American culture and brand history.
Where Can You View the TIME Cover Archive?
TIME's entire digital archive:
TIME Vault Archive
Cover search archive:
TIME Cover Archive
TIME's own list of the best covers:
The Best TIME Covers
100 years of cover evolution:
100 Years of TIME Covers
Nur Oğuz