"At a time when the political significance of whiteness has been at the center of debates across United States and Europe, Pantone has named "Cloud Dancer," a shade of white, as its 2026 Color the Year. According to Pantone's gushy press release about the hue, Cloud Dancer is "a billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity" and "a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection"-heavy stuff, indeed."
"So heavy, in fact, that you might forget that white is not technically a color. "In a technical sense, black and white are not colors, they're shades," Adobe says on its website. And it isn't just Adobe: the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines white as "free from color." But enough from the world's most widely consulted English-language dictionary."
""At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a discrete white hue offering a promise of clarity. The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices of our inner selves. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences.""
Pantone named Cloud Dancer as its 2026 Color of the Year and described the hue as a billowy, discrete white that conveys serenity and calming influence. The designation frames the shade as a symbol of clarity, simplification, and enhanced focus amid overwhelming external noise. Technical sources note that white and black are categorized as shades rather than colors, with Merriam-Webster defining white as "free from color." Pantone did not explicitly link the selection to political or global crises. The naming intersects with broader debates about whiteness, cultural signaling, design influence, and the role of color in public discourse.
Read at ARTnews.com
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