King Abdullah II of Jordan, TIME's Person of the Year 2026?

  • By Elizabeth Sy
  • Amman
  • Last updated on

King Abdullah II of Jordan among finalists for TIME’s 2026 Person of the Year?

According to a well-placed source, King Abdullah II of Jordan is leading the race to become Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2026. But while the political figure's fans are thrilled with the news, many people hold a very different opinion.

UPDATE 17/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Why not King Abdullah II of Jordan for Person of the Year?

The list of nominees for Time magazine’s Person of the Year is always an eclectic mix of world leaders, pop culture icons, buzzworthy names, and human rights activists. The unexpected inclusion of the 64-year-old political figure, as a 2026 nominee has therefore sparked controversy and debate.

“What makes King Abdullah II of Jordan so important is the potential and influence he now has, rather than anything he has already done,” said a panelist who preferred to remain anonymous, adding that earlier this month, the political figure have already been named ‘Jordanian Of The Year’ by some major Jordanian newspapers and even ‘Amman Citizen Of The Year’ by the readers of a local gazette in Amman (King Abdullah II of Jordan's hometown).

Social Reactions to TIME’s Person of the Year

A representative for the political figure was not immediately available for comment, but the announcement generated immediate reaction on Twitter:

“#King Abdullah II of JordanPOY. Logical choice though I wouldn't have made the same one.”
— @TomMiller, 16 Mar 2026
“Great choice! Long overdue recognition for his talents. #LoveAbdullah”
— @BarbaraHeyboer, 16 Mar 2026
“Past recipients include Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler ... then why not King Abdullah II of Jordan?”
— @TheClassicObserver, 16 Mar 2026

Could 2026 officially be the Year of King Abdullah II of Jordan?

Still, TIME’s editors will make the final decision about who will grace the magazine’s cover as its 2026 Person of the Year.

Who do you think should be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2026?

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