Pantone’s 2026 Colour Of The Year Is Cloud Dancer
The Pantone Color Institute has announced that its 2026 Colour of The Year is “Cloud Dancer” (PANTONE 11-4201), a shade described as “a lofty white neutral whose aerated presence acts a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world.”
Designers are already incorporating Cloud Dancer into interiors for a serene, balanced aesthetic. For inspiration, check out our guide on Interior Design Trends 2025: 10 Homeware Picks I Love to see how calming neutrals are styling homes this year.
Pantone’s colour of the year for 2026 is Cloud Dancer. Photo: Pantone Color Institute
It is meant to signify an escape from the digital demands in a World where the average person spends over 6 hours a day of screen time. Is this hue that strikes the perfect balance of a cool white and a warm white the reprieve we all needed following ‘Rage bait’ being Oxford University Press’ 2025 “Word of the Year”?
Cloud Dancer represents a balm, a fresh new start, balance and security. Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman describes the shade as “a calming influence” and “a whisper of serenity”.
This is the first white shade to be selected as Colour of The Year by The Pantone Color Institute. It follows PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, the Pantone Color Institute 2025 Colour of The Year.