This year, Pantone has taken a surprising turn: for 2026, they named Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201), a soft, natural white, as its official Colour of the Year. It’s the first time since the initiative began in 1999 that a shade of white has been chosen.

That decision comes at a moment when many in design and culture seem to crave a quiet reset. Pantone describes Cloud Dancer as a “billowy, balanced white imbued with a feeling of serenity,” designed to offer calm, clarity and a sense of renewal in a world that often feels noisy and overwhelming.

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With earlier years favouring expressive, bold or warm tones, from 2023’s vibrant choices to 2025’s earthy neutrals, this return to white signals a kind of collective pause; a moment

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