Pantone has revealed its highly anticipated color for 2026: Cloud Dancer, a “billowy, balanced white.”

According to the “global color authority,” PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer possesses an “aerated presence,” offering “a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world.”

This marks the first time Pantone has selected white as its color of the year since the initiative began in 1999.

Pantone states that the color of the year is chosen by a team of experts to “draw attention to the relationship between culture and color.”

This year’s selection is intended to represent serenity and tranquility, which Pantone believes is increasingly necessary “in a frenetic society.”

“Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start. By shedding outdated ways of thinking, we open ourselves to new perspectives,” Pantone announced.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, stated in a press release, “At this time of transformation, as we reimagine our future and place in the world, Pantone 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a subtle hue that promises clarity. The overwhelming cacophony surrounding us makes it harder to hear our inner voices. Cloud Dancer, a conscious statement of simplification, enhances our focus and releases us from external distractions.”

Pantone is a global color-standardization company. Its color of the year is chosen annually by the Pantone Color Institute, a team of color researchers who also offer color consulting services and forecast market trends.

The color is selected by a global team that considers new technologies, social values, art collections, travel destinations, and the overall mood or feelings prevalent among designers and consumers throughout the year.

Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, told TIME last year, “There’s a reason why people gravitate toward certain color families. For us, it’s about pinpointing a color family that we see emerging across all design areas and then narrowing it down to the specific color we identify.” She added, “I often compare this team to color anthropologists.”

Pantone has previously aimed to promote calm with its color choices. Mocha Mousse was selected for its warmth and harmony, and 2024’s Peach Fuzz was similarly described as a .

While Cloud Dancer is the first white to be named color of the year, Pantone nearly chose a neutral in 2006 with Sand Dollar, which was selected to reflect economic concerns.

The color may be particularly relevant, as the past year has been marked by significant upheaval in the U.S. The assassination of shook the nation amidst against notable figures, including the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, among other attacks. The unrest continued into 2025 with and the of two National Guard members, resulting in one fatality and one injury.

Pantone says that Cloud Dancer highlights the need for human connection and mutual understanding. The white color also embodies the potential for a fresh start or new beginning.

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