A lofty white whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world.

Pantone, the global color authority and provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today introduced PANTONE® 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity as the Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2026.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

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.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 TCX Cloud Dancer Cotton Swatches
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start. Peeling away layers of outmoded thinking, we open the door to new approaches. Cloud Dancer quiets the mind, encouraging true relaxation and focus that allows the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer Formula Guides
Photo © 2025 courtesy of PANTONE®

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer FHI Color Guides
Photo © 2025 courtesy of PANTONE®

Choosing rest and consciously stepping away from relentless demands and turning inward recognises that true strength lies not just in doing, but also in being. Expressing our aspiration for a future free from excess, Cloud Dancer evolves our desire for contentment and feelings of peace, unity, and cohesiveness.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 TPG Cloud Dancer, FHI Large Paper Swatch
Photo © 2025 courtesy of PANTONE®

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 white hue offering a promise of clarity. 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.
— Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

We are living in a transitional time where people are seeking truth, possibility, and a new way of living. PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is an airy white hue that exemplifies our search for balance between our digital future and our primal need for human connection-a liminal space that is a launchpad for creative expression-as individuals and communities are experimenting beyond traditional boundaries, opening the door to increased imagination and innovation.
— Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.

PANTONE® Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer – Plastic Chips.
Photo © 2025 courtesy of PANTONE®

In our quest to open up space for creativity and allow new ideas to take shape, Pantone will help provide the blank canvas that Cloud Dancer represents by inspiring and spotlighting artists across the creative community to create their own interpretation of the Pantone Colour throughout the year. Launching a new creative initiative that celebrates and supports the artist community as well as colour enthusiasts, Pantone will release surprise limited-edition designs from artists across all areas of design, from graphics to fashion. This initiative is part of a broader exploration of commissioning art and celebrating creativity. Each creation reflects the artist’s interpretation of the Pantone Color of the Year. 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. The tote will be available to Pantone fans on Pantone.com.

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Applications of the Pantone Color of the Year 2026

Pantone 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a key structural color whose versatility provides scaffolding for the colour spectrum. In a world where colour has become synonymous with personal expression, this is a shade that can adapt, harmonise, and create contrast, bringing a feeling of airy lightness to all product applications and environments, whether as a stand-alone statement or combined with other hues.

PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in Apparel 

PANTONE 11-4201 is the perfect anchor for monochromatic dressing. A discrete white with an understated presence, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer acts as a conscious statement of simplification, whether worn in a classic button-down, T-shirt, or jeans, or in activewear and suiting. Infused with a feeling of billowy softness that comes through in spongy, puffy silhouettes, oversized padding, and rounded shapes, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer cocoons and envelopes, promoting relaxation and well-being.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer Color Swatches – Work Station
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer FHI Guide Usage
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

Textures ranging from down- and foam-filled cloth, to fluffy and hairy furs, to plush and lofty wools gently swaddle. At the same time with its aerated and vapourised appearance, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer lends itself equally to diaphanous and floaty chiffons and fluid jersey fabrics that are easy to wear and move in, flowing from day to night, season to season. Cloud Dancer additionally mixes well with all other colours, supporting rather than shouting, presenting a contrast in colour that allows others to shine.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer – Texture: Floating Fabric
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in Fashion and Accessories

PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer mixes effortlessly with every colour, infusing each ensemble with quiet sophistication and comfortable elegance. Introducing feelings of freshness and modernity to fashion accessories, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer evokes gentle pleasure without overstimulation. Soft pieces from chunky knits to natural fibres wrap and conform, while hard structured accessories including fine and fashion jewelry, eyewear, belts, handbags, footwear, and sneakers introduce an understated sophistication.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer FHI Products Usage
Photo © 2025 courtesy of PANTONE®

PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in Beauty and Hair

Tied to simplicity, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer offers a clean, modern base for making a statement of minimalist chic or for endless creativity when used as a base for art, with cut-outs, hearts, pearls, and shimmer. Whether you’re leaning into soft, dreamy pastels or high-contrast, statement-making details, white nails are the perfect way to keep things fresh, modern, and effortlessly chic. Applied to the eye in liners, bold eyeshadow looks, or subtle brighteners, the addition of PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer can be used to create modern, eye-catching styles that range from dramatic and artistic to minimalist and whitened. For a balanced look, pair PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer with contrasting colours like black liner or complementary pastels. When worn in hair, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer makes a fashionable statement on its own or in colour blocking, especially when paired with a thoughtful, intentional personal style.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer FHI Products Usage in Beauty and Hair
Photo © 2025 courtesy of PANTONE®

PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in Home Décor and Interior Design

Just as in fashion, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer displays a conscious state of simplification, encouraging true relaxation and quiet focus for those seeking moments of disconnection and rest. With its expansive presence, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer invites a space where function and feeling intertwine to build atmospheres of serenity and spaciousness, providing a refuge of visual cleanliness that inspires well-being and lightness, whether introduced in furniture or furnishings throughout the home.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in Home Décor and Interior Design
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

Infused with serenity, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer introduces a spa-like feeling into bathrooms and an open and spacious feeling in the kitchen. A key structural colour, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer brings a feeling of airy lightness to all product applications and environments, whether used on its own or combined with other hues.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in Home Décor and Interior Design
Photo by The Development, courtesy of PANTONE®

PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in Packaging and Multimedia Design

A minimalist statement with a high-end modern feel, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer expresses a refined, pared back aesthetic that makes the product and brand quality the focal point. A versatile shade that serves as the perfect contrast, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer allows all other colours to shine and pop, whether in a digital environment or on a store shelf. A polar opposite to black-the yin and yang at the beginning and end-the combination of black with PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer conveys sophistication and luxury. Through white-on-white typography, blind embossing, or the play of shadow and relief, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer transforms simplicity into visual depth. A natural white devoid of artifice, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer represents a more sustainable choice for the eco-conscious and can be used to communicate a larger commitment to sustainability using materials like recycled paper or moulded fibre.

Pantone Color of the Year 2026: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer FHI Color Guides
Photo © 2025 courtesy of PANTONE®.

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Official Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Partners:

MOTOROLA x PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026

As part of its ongoing multi-year partnership with Pantone, Motorola is introducing a special edition of the motorola edge 70 in Pantone Color of the Year 2026, PANTONE® 11-4201 Cloud Dancer. This billowy white hue feels both grounding and ethereal, the perfect reflection of balance and refinement found in one of Motorola’s latest design-focused devices, motorola edge 70.

As the thinnest device in its category, the motorola edge 70 is a study in perfectly balancing elements, where craftsmanship meets performance in perfect harmony. Every detail has been considered with intention, from its hi-resolution 50MP cameras to its brilliant display, now paired with a refined vegan leather back finished in a quilted pattern, a tactile contrast to the soft glow of crystals by Swarovski and the calm presence of Pantone’s Color of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer. The result is a phone that allows creativity to breathe and focus to deepen, bringing peace back to our pockets, palms, and our digital lives… read more

PLAY-DOH x PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026

To celebrate 70 years of squishing, sculpting, and sparking imagination, the PLAY-DOH brand is proud to partner with Pantone to bring our iconic modelling compound to life in the Pantone Color of the Year 2026, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer—an airy white that whispers calm and inspires creators to pause, breathe, and imagine. Purposefully designed to reduce noise, restore balance, and create space to simply be, Play-Doh x Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer is a creative play tool that invites all ages to reshape how we intentionally engage with the world.

For seven decades, the PLAY-DOH brand has been the creative canvas for millions, shaping imagination and fostering creativity. The partnership with Pantone to celebrate Pantone Color of the Year 2026 continues this legacy, introducing a hue that embodies the limitless creative possibilities of a blank canvas where every great idea comes to life.

POST-IT x PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026

The Post-it® Brand is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Pantone® introducing Cloud Dancer as the centrepiece of our new Neutrality Collection. For the first time, we are featuring Pantone’s Color of the Year 2026 within a Post-it® Note colour collection, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to creativity and innovation.

The Neutrality Collection, with its earthy and natural tones, invites users to embrace a sense of peace and reflection at work or at home. Available in Spring 2026, this collection encourages users to declutter their minds and reconnect with their inner creativity. Discover the Neutrality Collection at post-it.com/pantone and explore our other colour collections available at major retailers.

COMMAND x PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026

Let your creativity roam free with Command™ Brand and the Pantone® Color of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer. This collaboration features Command™ Brand’s limited-edition Cream Speckled collection, inspired by Cloud Dancer’s soft, neutral tones—designed to help your walls keep up with your imagination. With damage-free hanging, you can curate string lights like constellations, photos that tell unfinished stories, and inspiration boards that refuse to stay still. Rearrange as often as you like without consequence and make room for ideas that haven’t formed yet.

Available at Target and Amazon or explore the collection at Command.com/Pantone. For more information, contact Maddie Barnes at [email protected].

PURA x PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026

Pura, the leader in smart home fragrance, celebrates the Pantone Color of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer, with an exclusive fragrance that captures the hue’s luminous, airy spirit. Pura’s innovative combination of smart diffusers, app control, and world-class fragrance development transforms a colour into the ethereal scent that invites radiance, calm, and clarity into every space, creating a truly immersive sensory experience…read more

MANDARIN ORIENTAL x PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026

As the official hospitality partner of Pantone’s Color of the Year 2026, Mandarin Oriental is transforming into a place to touch the clouds with 10 unique interpretations of the campaign in its exceptional properties around the world. From curated Cloud Dancer afternoon tea sets and oxygenating spa treatments to luxurious stays high up in the clouds and Cloud Dancer post boxes for letters to Santa, there’s truly something for everyone.

What’s more, festive decorations in these locations will bring the hue to life in whimsical, creative, and elegant ways, offering guests unmissable opportunities to see, feel, taste, and touch this enchanting colour. Book your stay at participating hotels to relish the magic firsthand: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, Mandarin Oriental, New York, Mandarin Oriental, Boston, Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen, Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai, Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech and the newly opened Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai.

JOYBIRD x PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026

Cultivating calm and relaxation, the exclusive Joybird x Pantone collaboration fulfils our longing for harmony at home with invitingly tactile fabrics that evoke serenity and inspire quiet reflection. The collaboration features PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer in new, deeply tactile fabrics, Soul and Karina, that transform simplicity into a sensory experience, elevating everyday moments into opportunities for reset. Karina is a beautifully textured fabric—combining silky eyelash and chenille yarns—that’s exceptionally soft to the touch, while remaining inviting for everyday use. Soul is a luxe, textured chenille offering a vintage feel and bringing depth and warmth to any piece it graces.

PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is customisable across 300 of Joybird’s modern silhouettes, including sectionals, sleeper sofas, bed frames, accent chairs, ottomans, pillows, and more. An assortment of curated accessories like tables, lamps, rugs, wall decor, and pillows is available to create complete environments for measured consideration and peace, allowing your mind to wander and your creativity to flourish. The Joybird x Pantone collection is available for purchase at www.joybird.com/collaborations/pantone and in all 15 Joybird showrooms. Serenity starts Dec. 4th…read more

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Pantone
www.pantone.com

Pantone provides the universal language of colour that enables colour-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate, and control colour from inspiration to realization—leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve colour consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion, and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical colour specification and workflow tools. The Pantone Color Institute™ provides customised colour standards, brand identity, and product colour consulting as well as trend forecasting inclusive of Pantone Color of the Year, Fashion Runway Colour Trend Reports, colour psychology, and more. Pantone B2B Licencing incorporates the Pantone Color System into different products and services, enabling licensees to communicate and reproduce certified Pantone values and improve efficiencies for their users. Pantone Lifestyle brings colour and design together across apparel, home, and accessories. Connect with Pantone on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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About the PANTONE Color of the Year

The Color of the Year selection process requires thoughtful consideration and trend analysis. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles, and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even up-coming sporting events that capture worldwide attention. For 25 years , Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. Past selections for Color of the Year include:

• PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse (2025)
• PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz (2024)
• PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta (2023)
• PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri (2022)
• PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating (2021)
• PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue (2020)
• PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral (2019)
• PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet (2018)
• PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
• PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
• PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala (2015)
• PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
• PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
• PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
• PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
• PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
• PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
• PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
• PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
• PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
• PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
• PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
• PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
• PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
• PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
• PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)

All images and trend information courtesy of PANTONE®. PANTONE® and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC in the United States and/or in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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