When Pantone Picks White: What the 2026 Color of the Year Means for the Industry

It’s that time of year. Pantone has released the 2026 Color of the Year — a highly anticipated moment for creatives and anyone in print and design. The annual pick not only reflects trends in design but also shifting consumer attitudes.

According to Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, the program engages designers and color enthusiasts by spotlighting the relationship between culture and color. 

This year, that color is Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201) — described as “a billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity,” Pantone states in a press release. “An ethereal white hue, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection.”