‘Cloud Dancer’ is Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year, and reactions online are divided

Pantone announced the Color of the Year for 2026 and it may surprise some: the chosen shade is White, specifically Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201). The company describes it as “a tall white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.”

Since 1999, Pantone has chosen a color each year that it predicts will define global design trends and capture the cultural mood. The Color of the Year becomes a visual guide for designers, brands and consumers, appearing on products ranging from stationery and furniture to electronics and even Play-Doh. In 2026, expect to see the Cloud Dancer on everything from smartphones and Post-it Notes to furniture and decorative objects, showing the influence a neutral shade can have.

Laurie Pressman, its vice president Pantone Color Institutehe said the selection reflects what people are looking for at the current time. “Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a new beginning,” he explained. “An airy white shade, opens up space for imagination and creativity, allowing new ideas to emerge.”

The announcement quickly sparked debate online, with some critics interpreting the selection in light of this year’s social and political climate. They highlighted the rollback of DEI initiatives and the growing visibility of white supremacist movements, suggesting that choosing a color so closely associated with “whiteness” could feel tone-deaf or symbolic of wider social inequalities. Social media users all said the choice was particularly striking this year, pointing out connections to the American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney – a white woman with blonde hair and blue eyes – who he said has “good genes”. For some, the combination of imagery and wording carried racial overtones, making the timeline by Pantone the announcement feels particularly charged.

At the same time, others have argued that this reading is too much, calling the approach and suggesting that people are too “woke”, turning a simple color announcement into a controversy where there is none.

Pantone responded to the discussion by emphasizing that color has multiple meanings depending on the context. “We understand that people bring different emotions to its meaning; color changes depending on context and perspective,” the company said. “Cloud Dancer is a color for relaxation, reflection and creativity Pantone The Color of the Year selection process is rooted in an understanding of humanity, based on close observation and analysis of global trends to identify what is emerging across the design landscape. It considers the moods a color can evoke and the experiences it can shape in design.”

The process back by Pantone The annual selection is largely confidential, but experts describe it as a combination of cultural observation, trend forecasting and design insight. Pressman emphasizes that the Color of the Year is not intended to promote a specific product but to highlight how color affects creativity, mood and culture.