Revealed! Pantone Color Of The Year 2026

It’ll be all white on the night for this year’s trending shade…

by AMANDA | INFORM

Cloud Dancer has been unveiled as the Pantone Color of the Year 2026.

Described as a “lofty white whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world”, the tone is something of a blank canvas that could act as a jumping off point for blonding and grey services in salons.

“At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, Cloud Dancer is a discrete white hue offering a promise of clarity,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone Color Institute. “Cloud Dancer opens up space for creativity, allowing our imagination to wander and drift so that new insights and bold ideas can emerge and take shape,” added Laurie Pressman, the Institute’s vice president.

The company even had a comment on the application of the shade in hair. “When worn in hair, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer makes a fashionable statement, on its own or in colorblocking, especially when paired with a thoughtful, intentional personal style.”

What’s been the reaction from colourists? “Cloud Dancer is a beautiful clean, white tone with a slight grey/neutral tone to give it balance,” said Tracey Ann Smith, creative director at MOOD. “This is a beautiful shade for the winter season – almost snow like. It’s bold yet chic, and a great choice for those who are already blonde.”

“Cloud Dancer is a beautiful soft, vanilla whipped, fluffy-esque shade of white. This is a perfect choice for blondes who prefer a lighter, creamier, slightly ashy hue and don’t like their blonde to be too warm or golden toned,” said Suzie McGill, artistic director at Rainbow Room International.

“This shade is a step away from your typical platinum blonde shade – traditionally being perceived as a cool, almost-white hue with blend of vanilla and cream ribbons to create a multi-dimensional finish,” added Seung Ki Baek, creative colour expert at RUSH Hair. “In recent months we have noticed a rise in clients opting for icier, cooler blondes – its dreamy, soft appearance makes it the perfect colour for showcasing the hair’s health and natural shine. Cloud Dancer gives us colourists a blank canvas to experiment with minimalism, partnering different variations of depth, dimension, and tones to create our own interpretation of this colour trend for clients in the salon.”