The choice of the color of the year by Pantone reflects what fashion, design, and society are living: annually, experts from the Color Institute analyze trends and determine the shade that will become the visual code of the year, starting to appear on runways, in stores, and even in interiors. This time, the bet is on an astonishingly calm and light tone: the color of 2026 according to Pantone promises to breathe more clarity and softness into the world.
The news about the selection of the color of the year by Pantone is, as usual, one of the most discussed events of the month.
The main character is Cloud Dancer, a soft white shade with a barely noticeable balance of warm and cool notes. In the Pantone palette, it is described as a color of harmony and inner balance, reflecting society's demand for silence, pause, and rethinking. Pantone Color 2026 is already being called "the beginning of a new era of calm luxury."
Cloud Dancer: why it became the color of the year 2026 according to Pantone
The choice of the color of the year 2026 by Pantone is not a random process and certainly not an intuitive one. Experts at the institute study cultural, political, economic, and visual trends, analyze areas from cinema to street style, and only then form a group of shades from which the final choice emerges.
As noted by Pantone, the color should reflect not only trends but also the state of collective consciousness — and that is why Cloud Dancer became the ideal candidate. The shade is described as "airy" and "soothing," yet devoid of sterile coldness. One should not see the strictness of a blank sheet here: on the contrary, it is a balance of warmth and freshness that symbolizes renewal and a desire for a reboot. Experts emphasize that a too-bright white would look harsh, while Cloud Dancer maintains a sense of lightness.
It is this natural softness that makes the Pantone color universal. In clothing, "Cloud Dancer" reveals itself in flowing fabrics, layered silhouettes, feathers, and translucent materials. On the red carpets, it looks not boring but expressive: here we recall Diana Ross's feathers at the Met Gala or the airy dresses in the spirit of old Hollywood that are making a comeback.
Cloud Dancer is easy to combine with minimalist monochrome colors and with those very natural materials that continue to dominate design: among them are wood, stone, and raw linen.
Past shades — Mocha Mousse in 2025 and Peach Fuzz in 2024 — were also soft and close to natural palettes, but Cloud Dancer goes further, as if inviting us to take a pause and start anew.
Color of the Year 2026 Pantone: what to expect from the stars
When the color of the year 2026 was announced by Pantone, no one in the industry was surprised. White has long dominated the red carpets, and if you take a close look at recent events, it becomes clear: stars have been preparing the ground for the Pantone color of 2026 for several seasons now.
White dresses have become a kind of universal solution for celebrities: they emphasize the figure, catch the light better than others, and look great in photos even under the most challenging lighting. White is effortless luxury, and judging by how confidently it is showcased at the Oscars, Grammys, and Met Gala, it is hard to argue here.
Cloud Dancer fits perfectly into this aesthetic: it looks airier than the usual creamy tones but softer than the cold icy white. This makes the Pantone color advantageous for runways and red carpets: it adds volume to feathers, shine to satin, and depth to matte fabrics.
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