Each year, designers and creatives await the single announcement that influences design, fashion, branding, interiors, and product development across the globe: the Pantone Colour of the Year. More than simply a trend forecast, this yearly selection serves as a cultural insight, capturing the mood, attitudes, and emerging themes in society.
Pantone Colour of the Year 2026 – Cloud Dancer (11-4201)
As the Pantone Colour of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer drifts between light and ethereal, an understated stillness that inspires renewal, vision, and creative ease. A soft, airy white, it offers a quiet sense of calm in a noisy world. It brings gentle serenity that encourages reflection, relaxation, and clear focus.
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Here’s what our graphic designer, Ruth, has to say on this year’s colour: “I must admit I am a little disappointed, as some of the predictions suggested teal, which is one of my favourite colours. This will certainly be a controversial choice, not a colour I can get that excited about.”
What Is the Pantone Colour of the Year?
The Pantone Colour of the Year is an annual colour selection chosen by the Pantone Color Institute, representing a tone that reflects the current global cultural outlook. Designers, marketers, and brands use this colour as a guide for creative direction, helping them connect with consumers emotionally and aesthetically.
The chosen colour isn’t random—it’s based on extensive research into lifestyle trends, socio-economic shifts, technology, fashion, psychology, and global events. The Colour of the Year aims to embody collective feelings and translate them visually into a single, influential shade.
Who Are Pantone?
Pantone is a world-leading authority and the global standard for colour communication and consistency across industries. Founded in the 1960s, Pantone transformed design by creating the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a universal language for identifying and reproducing colours with exact accuracy.
Today, Pantone provides:
- Colour standards for print, fashion, textiles, interiors, and digital use
- Trend forecasting
- Colour consulting for major global brands
- Annual insights and reports through the Pantone Color Institute
Why Is the Colour of the Year Significant?
The Pantone Colour of the Year influences a vast range of industries, from interior design to fashion and beauty, as well as graphic design, branding, product development, and packaging. Its power comes from:
Cultural Reflection
Pantone chooses a colour that symbolises the state of the world, whether that’s a need for calm, optimism, creativity, resilience, or connection.
Creative Direction
Designers use the colour as inspiration for product lines, campaigns, and collections.
Consumer Influence
The announcement often shifts colour preferences in retail, branding, and even social media aesthetics.
Trend Leadership
Pantone’s influence drives colour trends for the year, guiding industries toward coordinated visual themes.
Previous Pantone Colours of the Year
Below is a selection of recent colours that illustrate how each shade captures the spirit of its time:
2025 – Mocha Mousse (17‑1230)
A warm, soft brown with chocolate and coffee tones, symbolising comfort, harmony, and thoughtful indulgence.
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2024 – Peach Fuzz (13-1023)
A soft, warm peach tone symbolising comfort, tenderness, and human connection.
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2023 – Viva Magenta (18-1750)
A bold, vibrant red that represented vitality, bravery, and empowerment.
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2022 – Very Peri (17-3938)
A dynamic periwinkle blue infused with violet-red undertones—Pantone’s first ever newly created colour for the award, highlighting innovation and transformation.
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2021 – Ultimate Gray (17-5104) & Illuminating (13-0647)
A rare dual selection combining resilience (grey) with optimism (yellow) in response to global uncertainty.
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Each of these colours not only reflected design trends but also spoke to broader cultural narratives and emotional themes.
