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Pantone Announces Color of the Year 2026

The Pantone Color Institute says Cloud Dancer signifies a “desire for a fresh start”

By Alexandria Sillo
Person in white outfit posing against a blue sky with clouds, next to Pantone Color of the Year 2026: Cloud Dancer.
Pantone Color of the Year 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Pantone

On Thursday, the Pantone Color Institute announced Cloud Dancer as its chosen color of 2026. Described as a “billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity,” the Pantone Color Institute, considered the authority on color, said Cloud Dancer signifies a “desire for a fresh start.”

“Searching for balance between our increasingly digital future and our primal need for human connection, the liminal space is a launchpad for creative expression, as individuals and communities eager to reset are experimenting beyond traditional boundaries, opening the door to innovation,” the announcement said.

Modern room with soft white furniture, fluffy textures, and light streaming through sheer curtains
PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer Photo: Courtesy of Pantone.

Cloud Dancer is also meant to adapt, harmonize, or create contrast in all applications.

“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,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “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.”

Last year, Pantone chose Mocha Mousse as the Color of the Year, a soft, warm, chocolatey brown hue that embodies a desire for comfort and coziness. The “Color of the Year” concept began in 1999, with the team considering scientific innovation, technological shifts, architecture, emerging materials, and sustainability when deciding on the selection.