Each year, Pantone Color Institute releases its “Color of the Year” – a prediction of what color will represent the coming year and what it hopes for humanity, fashion, home décor and more.
For decades, Pantone has been an integral part of the conversation when it comes to leading the pack on hues that make an impact each year. From emerald greens to Marsala wine shades, Pantone seems to have a finger on the pulse. But lately, people have had a few questions when it comes to the Color of the Year picks. Are you OK, Pantone?
The choice for Color of the Year 2026 is “Cloud Dancer” – “a billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity,” describes Pantone. “Cloud Dancer serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection,” continued the press release.
Following the announcement, the color choice was met with mixed feelings. While there will never be a choice for anything that doesn’t include a few oppositions, Cloud Dancer had the internet asking if it was “rage bait,” claiming it was politically tone deaf and even sparking debate on whether white was an actual color or not. A Glamour magazine article came out titled, “Is the Pantone Color of the Year Rage Bait? The Cloud Dance Controversy, Explained,” and Vanity Fair stated, “Maybe DEI is really over.”
While we understand all opposition, we’re first looking at it from a trend standpoint. Out of the gate, yes, white is a color and – in home décor, fashion and even weddings – a popular one. White, in general, is a neutral color. It’s also a color that, with no underlying tones, can not only compliment a primary or secondary color, but also elevate in influencing saturation and vibrancy of other colors.
Additionally, white is a color that can be incorporated into any season. Thousands of New Orleanians don their white linen during our August’s White Linen Night, and white in winter makes for a winter wonderland – a popular theme for hotels, department stores and Christmas party hosts alike.
And finally, white is a part of traditional weddings. Though not always the color chosen by a bride, since the Victorian Era it’s the color brides have chosen to incorporate into their wedding for well over a century.
The color will forever be a popular choice – but was it the right choice for Color of the Year? White is the absence of color, so does that really spark creativity and innovation to the masses from a company whose whole being is the advancement of color.
“We are living in a transitional time where people are seeking truth, possibility, and a new way of living,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, in the press release about the reveal. “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.”
In talking about community and the transformation of what everyone in the world is going through right now, one user commented on the company’s Instagram post stating: “This choice shows a stunning lack of creativity and a complete disconnect from the artistic and design communities. In a moment when color is used to express culture, diversity, emotion, and innovation, choosing a white-based shade feels tone-deaf at best. At worst, it unintentionally aligns with cultural and political symbolism that many of us find deeply troubling.”
The closest to white the color institute has chosen in almost two decades was Sand Dollar in 2006. Since then, choices have included Chili Pepper (a red shade), Blue Iris (an indigo of sorts), Living Coral and many others that are vibrant and interesting.
White will always be incorporated into home décor, fashion, nail trends and everything in between. But did we need a Color of the Year distinction to remind us of all of that?
I don’t think so.
