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Pantone Picks ‘Cloud Dancer’ as 2026 Color of the Year

The choice marks the program’s first white tone since its launch, signaling a push toward calm, inward reflection.

Overview

  • Pantone identified PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as a near-white shade positioned to evoke serenity and quiet contemplation.
  • The selection follows bolder recent picks, contrasting with 2025’s Mocha Mousse, 2024’s Peach Fuzz, and 2023’s Viva Magenta.
  • Early reaction is split, with some praising minimalist elegance while critics, including Vogue and Stern, call the pick bland or out of step with brighter trends.
  • Brands are already aligning products, including a Motorola Edge edition in Cloud Dancer with a patterned back and Swarovski accents, plus collaborations referencing Play-Doh and Post-it.
  • Pantone’s annual choice continues to steer design and marketing plans, a sway underscored by past hits like Ultra Violet in 2018 and Classic Blue in 2020.