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Pantone's 2026 color of the year, Cloud Dancer, has received significant backlash for being essentially white and uninspired.
Pantone, a global color authority, announced 'PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer' as the color of the year for 2026, sparking immediate disapproval online.
Pantone described Cloud Dancer as 'a lofty white neutral whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world,' symbolizing a calming influence in a chaotic society.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, stated that Cloud Dancer represents a 'promise of clarity' and enhances focus by providing release from external distractions.
The choice of white as the color of the year has been met with widespread criticism, with Instagram commenters expressing anger and disappointment over the neutral and 'lazy' choice.
Many social media users have described the choice as uninspired and lacking in creativity, with some even questioning if it was a joke or 'rage bait'.
The reaction to the color stands in stark contrast to recent years where more vibrant color choices were met more favorably like Viva Magenta (2023) or Mocha Mousse (2025). However, similar backlash followed the color of the year for 2024, Peach Fuzz.
This marks the first time a shade of white has been selected as the Color of the Year, though a similar shade, “Sand Dollar” (essentially tan) was picked for 2006.