How to style Cloud Dancer, Pantone’s colour of the year 2026

In a moment where the world is collectively craving calm, Pantone introduces Cloud Dancer, a serene, ethereal hue that captures the quiet luxury of stillness. Soft, atmospheric, and effortlessly elevated, it feels less like a colour and more like a state of mind.

Cloud Dancer arrives as a gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and return to what feels intentional. It’s the palette of slow mornings, mindful rituals, and spaces designed with purpose. Expect it to drift seamlessly across fashion, beauty, and interiors, bringing with it a sense of refined ease, the kind that feels modern, grounding, and quietly powerful.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rosie HW (@rosiehw)

For 2026, Pantone isn’t dictating a trend, it’s setting a mood. And Cloud Dancer invites us into a world where elegance is weightless, softness is strength, and the most compelling luxury is the one that leaves room to exhale.

Past colors of the year have included Mocha Brown in 2025, Peach Fuzz in 2024 and Reddish Magenta in 2023.

Why was this pantone chosen?

Focused on meditation and the concept of slowing down, Cloud Dancer sheds light on a desire to step back and rediscover the value of stillness. The company described it as “a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection” in an announcement on Thursday, December 4, 2026.

In the sartorial world…

In the world of fashion, the colours have included plenty of voluminous silhouettes, dreamy designs, and natural fabrics, think billowy linen and floaty feathers.