Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year has people seeing red, ironically over the choice of white. When the company announced Cloud Dancer, a soft, balanced shade of white, the reaction quickly expanded beyond questions of taste into broader cultural and scientific debate.
Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201) was introduced as a calming, clarifying white meant to offer a visual reset after years of sensory overload. It is the first white ever chosen since the Colour of the Year program began in 1999, marking a shift from recent emotionally driven hues like Peach Fuzz (2024) and Mocha Mousse (2025) toward something more restrained.
© Pantone
That restraint, however, has split audiences. Supporters argue that white is already a universal presence, in fashion, interiors, and digital design, making the choice intuitive and reflective of how people already live. Critics, meanwhile, call it unoriginal or, more pointedly, culturally tone-deaf. In a period marked by charged conversations about whiteness and power, some questioned whether naming white as the defining colour of 2026 carried unintended symbolism.
The critique wasn't only cultural. A familiar scientific argument resurfaced across social platforms: that white is not a colour at all. Commenters cited school-level explanations describing white as either the absence of hue or, in terms of light, the combination of all wavelengths.
Facing these reactions head-on, PANTONE's new president, Sky Kelley, addressed the criticism in launch events and short online videos. "To address some of the comments, let me state clearly that white is a colour," she said, adding that the team anticipated strong responses. "We knew people would have emotions about this colour," she admitted. "My first thought was: 'Ooh, this is going to be controversial.'"
Kelley emphasises that Cloud Dancer is not a neutral fallback, but an intentional choice designed to spark dialogue. The shade holds a formal place in PANTONE's system like any other swatch, and to her, the intensity of the reaction validates the program's purpose.
"The power of the Colour of the Year is that it sparks a conversation," she said. "We don't dictate that conversation, we facilitate it."
Whether viewed as soothing, superficial, or symbolic, Cloud Dancer demonstrates how even a seemingly simple shade can carry more weight than expected.
Source: DesignTaxi
