Pantone announces its Colour of the Year 2026: Cloud Dancer. A creative blank canvas.
Image courtesy of Pantone
PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer - a billowy, balanced white imbued with a feeling of serenity has been announced as the Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2026.
Cloud Dancer "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection."
At first glance it appears as a creative blank canvas. And that's no coincidence. "Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start. Peeling away layers of outmoded thinking, we open the door to new approaches. Cloud Dancer quiets the mind, encouraging true relaxation and focus that allows the mind to wander, and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation."
Some of the phrases used to describe the calming Cloud Dancer hue include "contentment", "feelings of peace", "unity and cohesiveness".
These sentiments were very much mirrored at some of our own events, interviews and initiatives this year, including Material Moods: Balance, with a strong desire shown for human connection in a technologically connected world.
Image courtesy of Pantone
“At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a discrete hue offering a promise of clarity,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director Pantone Color Institute.
“The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices of our inner selves. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences.”
“We are living in a transitional time where people are seeking truth, possibility and a new way of living", added Laurie Pressman, vice-president, Pantone Color Institute. “PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is an airy white hue that exemplifies our search for balance between our digital future and our primal need for human connection, a liminal space that is a launchpad for creative expression, as individuals and communities are experimenting beyond traditional boundaries, opening the door to increased imagination and innovation.”
What do you think of this year's selection?
Discover more about Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2026: Cloud Dancer here.
