The wait is over! Pantone has finally revealed, its ‘color of the year’ for 2026 as ‘Cloud Dancer’—a white color family with a hint of vanilla or more of an off-white tone.
The global color authority officially announced 'Cloud Dancer' (PANTONE 11-4201) as the defining shade of the next year.
This New Year's color trend looks less like a color and more like a soft marshmallow.
While explaining the details about the color family, Pantone said, “A lofty white neutral whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world. PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer symbolizes a calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.”
"A billowy white imbued with serenity, it invites true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe," says Pantone.
Pantone revealed Cloud Dancer, a vanilla-whipped, fluffy off-white that appears less like a colour trend and more like the inside of a marshmallow.
The color-revealing authority believes that in a world where color has become synonymous with personal expression, this newly introduced Cloud Dancer is a shade that can adapt, harmonize, and create contrast, bringing a feeling of airy lightness to all product applications and environments, whether making a standalone statement or combined with other hues.
Pantone said, "Cloud Dancer gracefully blends into a veiled palette of softened hues that ultimately dissolve into shadowy shades, producing an easy and effortless contrast in color."
The white shade symbolizes calm, creativity, and renewal, reflecting a cultural shift toward quiet reflection and personal expression.
Pantone’s annual selection involves global experts analyzing trends in design, technology and culture to choose a defining hue.
Since 1999, the Pantone Color Institute has selected a hue, for its annual 'Color of the Year' announcement.
The color-revealing authority Pantone uses a global team of color experts to select each year's tone.
Additionally, the color selection panel includes a variety of influencers from film and TV production, art, fashion and design trends, new materials, textures, and even social media or upcoming events.
