Pantone Colour of the Year 2026: Hit or Miss?

Cloud Dancer 

‘A lofty white neutral…a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world’ is how the Pantone Color Institute defines its much anticipated Colour of the Year for 2026.  

Or is it just a little bit…boring? 

Pantone have been choosing an annual colour since 1999, but this is the first time they have picked white as the colour which will define the trends and styles of fashion and interiors across the globe. The reaction has been mixed, with some calling the decision uninspiring even ‘Pantone-deaf’ although others have been more flattering, arguing that society as a whole is craving respite, needing less noise and more simplicity.  

Is white a colour? 

This is another debate sparked by Pantone’s choice. Pure white is defined by the absence of colour, i.e. it can’t be created by mixing other colours together. Laurie Pressman, the vice-president of Pantone defends their choice by saying that Cloud Dancer is a ‘key structural colour, allowing all colours to shine.’ 

So how does ‘Cloud Dancer’ fit in with floristry? 

Nature has many shades of white in its palette, although defining them has often been a thorny subject, particularly when it comes to choosing roses for wedding bouquets. At some point every florist has had to define ‘white’ to a bride, clarifying the difference between white, off-white or ivory. Fortunately, Cloud Dancer is not a pure white, it has just enough of a hint of grey to give it a balance of cool and warm so it will complement floral tints and tones, bringing out the softness of pastels, and emphasising the richness of deeper shades.  

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Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over Thirty years' experience in the floristry industry. She is the author and publisher of three best-selling books: Cut Flowers, 4th edition (2020) Cut Foliage, 2nd Edition, (2021) and Houseplants (2019), all bookshelf essentials for the professional florist.