The Pantone Color Institute has announced its 2026 color of the year: cloudy white 11-4201 Cloud Dancer. The announcement was made on the official website of the global color trendsetter.
Pantone explains that this soft, natural white symbolizes a new beginning and a sense of inner peace. According to Leatrice Eiseman, director of the Pantone Color Institute, the shade helps us recognize the value of “quiet, measured reflection” in a world constantly in a rush.
Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, added that the color selection was particularly careful. A stark white, she noted, would appear too sterile and would lose the naturalness that was the key theme of 2026.
As a reminder, Pantone has named the warm brown 17-1230 Mocha Mousse as its 2025 color of the year. The Pantone system, created in the mid-20th century, has long been a global standard: the company annually sets color trends, and its catalogs and digital designation system are used in fashion, design, printing, and the beauty industry.
