'Cloud Dancer' is Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year and reactions online are split

The shade inspired debate online, with reactions ranging from praise to claims of racial undertones

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

 

 

 

 

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Since 1999, Pantone has picked 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 office supplies and furniture to electronics and even Play-Doh. In 2026, expect to see Cloud Dancer on everything from smartphones and Post-it Notes to furniture and decorative items, demonstrating the influence a neutral shade can wield.

Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, said the choice reflects what people are looking for in the current moment. “Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start,” she explained. “An airy white hue, it opens up space for imagination and creativity, allowing new ideas to emerge.”

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Pantone has unveiled “Cloud Dancer” as its Color of the Year. Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, calls it “white with a human quality.” She says the choice reflects a collective desire for simplicity and clarity and that people want to see things “above the clouds.” #ColoroftheYear

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The announcement quickly stirred conversation online, with some critics interpreting the choice through the lens of this year’s social and political climate. They pointed to the rollback of DEI initiatives and the growing visibility of white supremacist movements, suggesting that selecting a color so closely associated with “whiteness” could feel tone-deaf or symbolic of broader societal inequalities. any social media users 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 — in which she referenced having “good genes.” For some, the combination of the imagery and wording carried racial undertones, making the timing of Pantone’s announcement feel especially charged.

At the same time, others argued that this reading is overblown, calling it a reach and suggesting that people are being too “woke,” turning a simple color announcement into a controversy where none exists.

Pantone has responded to the conversation, emphasizing that color carries multiple meanings depending on context. “We understand that people bring different feelings to its meaning; color shifts depending on context and perspective,” the company said. “Cloud Dancer is a color about relaxation, reflection, and creativity. The Pantone Color of the Year selection process is rooted in an understanding of humanity, drawing on close observation and global trend analysis to recognize 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 behind Pantone’s annual selection is largely confidential, but insiders 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 particular product but to highlight how color influences creativity, mood, and culture.