This is The Pantone Of The Colour of The Year

Pantone has descended from the heavens and decreed the colour of the year to us. They have consulted with the oracle and determined the colour is going to be PANTONE 11-4201, which in human tongue is called “Cloud Dancer”, otherwise known to everyone else as “white”.

I jest of course. Anyone who’s ever had to pick a “white” paint for their house has discovered that this can be a long process, Perfectly white is too clinical, and other whites can have too much of a tint that goes one way or the other.

“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,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “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.”

“We are living in a transitional time where people are seeking truth, possibility, and a new way of living,” added Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “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.”

2025 was a busy year, I’m ok with 2026 turning things down a gear. We could all use a little more contemplation.