Pantone recently announced their 2026 Color of the Year: Cloud Dancer, a quiet, tranquil white.
"A lofty white whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world."
What is Pantone's Color of the Year?
Every year Pantone gathers designers and color experts to select a color that they believe will characterize the new year. They consider trends, global mood, and more as they determine which color will represent the coming year.
Past Colors of the Year
Last year's Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse was described as "a warming, brown hue imbued with richness [that] nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort."
Since 2000, Pantone's Color of the Year has represented many shades of all colors from a classic blue in 2020 to a bright orange in 2012 to a pale rose in 2016.
Cloud Dancer
This clean, light color is intended to invite reflection and space to innovate. As a neutral tone, the Pantone Color of the Year team hopes the Cloud Dancer provides a background for other colors to stand out.
"In a world where color has become synonymous with personal expression, this is a shade that can adapt, harmonize, and create contrast, bringing a feeling of airy lightness to all product applications and environments."
Palettes Compatible with Cloud Dancer
As a "scaffolding" for other colors, Cloud Dancer works well with a wide variety of color palettes, include:
- Powdered Pastels, like Pantone's yellow Lemon Icing, blue Ice Melt, and lavender Orchid Tint.
- Light & Shadow, including Pantone's yellow Golden Mist, green Veiled Vista, and grey Cloud Cover.
- Comfort Zone, a palette that includes pink and purple tones like Coral Haze, Woodrose, and Rose Brown.
How to Decorate with the Color of the Year
Introducing Cloud Dancer into your home decor can be as intensive as repainting your interior or as simple as purchasing a few new throw pillows. Here are a few ideas:
- Paint. Cloud Dancer is intended to allow other colors to shine. Consider painting interior walls with Cloud Dancer and accenting with compatible color palettes.
- Decor. Furniture and window treatments featuring Cloud Dancer's light, expansive tones create a visual impact of a larger space.
- Accents. To add a touch of the color of the year without the expense of painting or more expensive decor, incorporate Cloud Dancer into your home with tableware, frames, throw pillows, and rugs.
Cloud Dancer's Reach Beyond Decor
Pantone's Color of the Year has a wide reach, far beyond paint colors and home decor. You can also find Cloud Dancer featured in these unexpected ways:
- Music. Spotify's Pantone Color of the Year 2026 playlist features music inspired by Cloud Dancer.
- Tech products. itel's collaboration with Pantone's Color of the Year resulted in three products, wireless buds, a magnetic powerbank, and a precision clipper, featuring Cloud Dancer.
- Organization. Find Cloud Dancer Post-It Notes or Command strips to bring the Color of the Year into your home or systems.
- Play. Even Play-Doh is jumping on the Cloud Dancer bandwagon with a Cloud Dancer version of it's famous clay, "because sometimes the best play starts with a blank canvas."
Check out Pantone's 2026 Color of the Year page to learn more about this peaceful, clean tone and find out how you can incorporate it into your home and your life.
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