Pantone Color of the Year 2026: Cloud Dancer HEX, CMYK and Palettes
The Pantone Color of the Year 2026 is Cloud Dancer, PANTONE 11-4201, a soft, airy white. Pantone announced it on December 4, 2025, describing it as a calming white that brings a sense of clarity and focus. On screens it is usually shown as about #F0EFEA, which is rgb(240, 239, 234).
Cloud Dancer at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Cloud Dancer |
| Pantone code | PANTONE 11-4201 (Fashion, Home + Interiors) |
| Announced | December 4, 2025 |
| HEX (approximate) | #F0EFEA |
| RGB (approximate) | 240, 239, 234 |
| CMYK (approximate) | C0 M0 Y3 K6 |
| Color family | Warm off-white |
Pantone does not publish official HEX, RGB or CMYK values for its Fashion, Home + Interiors colors. The screen values above are the widely used approximation, and the CMYK is a simple conversion of that HEX. For print, run it through your own press profile or check a physical Pantone guide.
What Cloud Dancer looks like
Cloud Dancer is not a pure white. It sits just below white in lightness, with a slight warm tint from a touch more red and green than blue. Next to pure white #FFFFFF it reads as soft and natural, closer to unbleached cotton or paper than to bright office white.
That warmth is what makes it easy to use. It pairs with warm neutrals, earthy browns and deep blues without looking stark.
Why Pantone chose a white
Pantone says it chose Cloud Dancer as a quiet, calming color for a noisy time: a fresh start and a clean background that lets people focus. It is widely reported as the first white chosen since the program began in 2000. It follows a run of soft, grounded picks: Peach Fuzz for 2024 and Mocha Mousse for 2025.
Cloud Dancer color palettes
These four palettes are our own pairings built around Cloud Dancer. Each one is ready to paste into the palette generator.
Soft neutral: Cloud Dancer #F0EFEA, Mocha Mousse #A47864, cocoa #7A5A4A, charcoal #36454F
Coastal blue: Cloud Dancer #F0EFEA, Classic Blue #0F4C81, cerulean #9BB7D4, soft black #1C1C1C
Garden: Cloud Dancer #F0EFEA, sage #9CAF88, olive #5E6B52, terracotta #C96A4B
Warm earth: Cloud Dancer #F0EFEA, terracotta #C96A4B, rust #8E4A35, charcoal #36454F
Using Cloud Dancer for text and UI
Cloud Dancer works best as a background. Pure white text on it is almost invisible, so pair it with dark text. Contrast ratios against a Cloud Dancer background:
| Text color | Contrast ratio | WCAG result |
|---|---|---|
Soft black #1C1C1C | 14.8:1 | Passes AAA |
Charcoal #36454F | 8.6:1 | Passes AAA |
Classic Blue #0F4C81 | 7.7:1 | Passes AAA |
Rust #8E4A35 | 5.7:1 | Passes AA |
Mocha Mousse #A47864 | 3.4:1 | Large text only |
Sage #9CAF88 | 2.1:1 | Fails; decoration only |
White #FFFFFF | 1.2:1 | Fails |
Check any pair yourself in the contrast checker.
How to use Cloud Dancer
- Interiors: walls, linens and large surfaces, layered with wood, stone and warm metals.
- Branding and packaging: a soft background that makes a single accent color stand out.
- Fashion: knitwear, tailoring and bridal, where a softer white is more flattering than optical white.
- Web and UI: a page background that is easier on the eyes than pure white, with dark text.
To find the nearest Pantone Solid Coated match for print work, paste #F0EFEA into HEX to Pantone.
Pantone Color of the Year history
| Year | Color | Pantone code | HEX (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Cloud Dancer | 11-4201 | #F0EFEA |
| 2025 | Mocha Mousse | 17-1230 | #A47864 |
| 2024 | Peach Fuzz | 13-1023 | #FFBE98 |
| 2023 | Viva Magenta | 18-1750 | #BB2649 |
| 2022 | Very Peri | 17-3938 | #6667AB |
| 2021 | Ultimate Gray and Illuminating | 17-5104, 13-0647 | #939597 #F5DF4D |
| 2020 | Classic Blue | 19-4052 | #0F4C81 |
| 2019 | Living Coral | 16-1546 | #FF6F61 |
| 2018 | Ultra Violet | 18-3838 | #5F4B8B |
| 2017 | Greenery | 15-0343 | #88B04B |
| 2016 | Rose Quartz and Serenity | 13-1520, 15-3919 | #F7CAC9 #92A8D1 |
| 2015 | Marsala | 18-1438 | #955251 |
| 2014 | Radiant Orchid | 18-3224 | #B163A3 |
| 2013 | Emerald | 17-5641 | #009473 |
| 2012 | Tangerine Tango | 17-1463 | #DD4124 |
| 2011 | Honeysuckle | 18-2120 | #D94F70 |
| 2010 | Turquoise | 15-5519 | #45B5AA |
| 2009 | Mimosa | 14-0848 | #F0C05A |
| 2008 | Blue Iris | 18-3943 | #5A5B9F |
| 2007 | Chili Pepper | 19-1557 | #9B1B30 |
| 2006 | Sand Dollar | 13-1106 | #DECDBE |
| 2005 | Blue Turquoise | 15-5217 | #53B0AE |
| 2004 | Tigerlily | 17-1456 | #E2583E |
| 2003 | Aqua Sky | 14-4811 | #7BC4C4 |
| 2002 | True Red | 19-1664 | #BF1932 |
| 2001 | Fuchsia Rose | 17-2031 | #C74375 |
| 2000 | Cerulean | 15-4020 | #9BB7D4 |
Looking ahead? See Pantone Color of the Year 2027.
PANTONE and Color of the Year are trademarks of Pantone LLC. The Color Tools is not affiliated with Pantone. HEX, RGB and CMYK values here are approximations for screen use.
FAQ
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2026?
Cloud Dancer, PANTONE 11-4201, a soft, warm white. Pantone announced it on December 4, 2025.
What is the HEX code for Cloud Dancer?
The widely used screen approximation is #F0EFEA, which is rgb(240, 239, 234). Pantone does not publish an official HEX value for it.
Is Cloud Dancer pure white?
No. It is a slightly warm off-white, a little darker and warmer than pure white #FFFFFF.
What colors go with Cloud Dancer?
Warm browns like Mocha Mousse, deep blues like Classic Blue, sage and olive greens, terracotta and charcoal all pair well with it.
What was the Pantone Color of the Year 2025?
Mocha Mousse, PANTONE 17-1230, a warm brown, announced on December 5, 2024.
When is the 2027 Color of the Year announced?
Pantone usually announces the next color in early December. The 2026 color was announced on December 4, 2025.