Pantone’s choice of white as colour of the year isn't racist

For those of you dreaming of a white Christmas, here’s some advice: keep your thoughts to yourselves. Or at least select carefully who you share such sentiments with. That’s because there are some people today who even find the concept ‘white’ offensive and unacceptable.

For those of you dreaming of a white Christmas, here’s some advice: keep your thoughts to yourselves

Pantone has nominated a shade of white – ‘Cloud Dancer’ – as its 2026 ‘Colour of the Year’, describing it as ‘a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society’. That alone would seem unremarkable, seeming to be just one of those harmless and inane corporate publicity ruses that emerge this time of year. But no. It’s caused outrage. Of course it has. Those itching to jump on their high horses are always on the lookout f