Pantone have revealed their colour of the year for 2026 - PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a dreamy and lofty white with a calming presence.

Each year, experts at Pantone Colour Institute™ choose a colour of the year based on the global landscape and culture of the time, best reflecting all areas of design for the year ahead. Through extensive global research and analysis, the Pantone Colour of the Year best reflects how our global culture is expressed and communicated through the language of colour.

The 2026 colour - Cloud Dancer reflects the want for more calming, relaxing year amongst the overstimulation of a ‘hustle culture’ world – it allows the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation in design. In a world where colour has become synonymous with personal expression, this is a shade that can adapt, harmonise, and create contrast, bringing a feeling of airy lightness to all product applications and environments.

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute explains this year’s colour choice, "At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a discrete white hue offering a promise of clarity. The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices of our inner selves. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences."

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Discover how Pantone has bought Cloud Dancer to life:

Playdoh x Pantone

Joybird x Pantone

Motorola x Pantone

Find out more about this year’s colour of the year from Pantone.