A whisper of white: Pantone picks ‘Cloud Dancer’ for 2026
In its search for the most appropriate color of the year for 2026, Pantone opted for a hue that would bring calm to a frenetic society and quiet the mind.
It chose white.
Cloud Dancer (Pantone 11-4201) is “a billowy, balanced white imbued with a feeling of serenity,” the global color authority announced this morning.
It likened the color to a blank canvas and the opportunity for a fresh start.
“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,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the 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.”
Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, described Cloud Dancer as “an airy white hue that exemplifies our search for balance between our digital future and our primal need for human connection.”
In a new creative initiative, Pantone will spotlight artists across the creative community who create their own interpretation of the Pantone Color through the year through limited-edition designs from artists across all areas of design, from graphics to fashion.
For the first iteration of the project, Pantone is collaborating with Emiliano Ponzi, an illustrator, visual artist and author, to create a limited-edition tote bag that showcases Cloud Dancer through his distinctive visual language, which combines conceptual depth with graphic precision.
