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Every December, designers, editors, and brands eagerly await one announcement – the Pantone Color of the Year. This single hue influences everything from fashion runways and home interiors to paint colors and product packaging.
Let’s explore what experts predict for 2026, what’s shaping Pantone’s decision, and how you can use these upcoming tones in your own print-on-demand creations with Printful.
What is Pantone’s Color of the Year?
Pantone’s Color of the Year is more than a color trend – it’s a cultural reflection. Every year since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute has selected a color that captures the collective mood, energy, and creative style of the moment.
The chosen hue influences industries far beyond fashion. It shapes home decor, product design, digital art, packaging, and even marketing campaigns.
For brands and creative services, aligning designs with Pantone’s color is a smart way to stay fresh and connected to what’s trending.
How does Pantone choose its annual Color of the Year?
Pantone’s selection process blends psychology, art, and sociology. Their team studies global trends in fashion, home design, travel, technology, and entertainment. They also monitor color marketing, analyzing how certain shades affect emotions and purchasing behavior.
Each year, Pantone’s editors and color strategists gather insights from cultural movements, film releases, fashion collections, and even political or environmental shifts.
The final Color of the Year reflects not only the current visual trend but also the emotional tone of society.
While Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year hasn’t been announced yet, paint brands are already shaping the conversation.
For example, Sue Kim, Valspar’s Director of Color Marketing, explained in the company’s official 2026 release:
“Warm Eucalyptus is more than just a beautiful shade of green, it’s a reflection of the comfort we crave in our homes.”
Her comment highlights the broader green-forward mood influencing next year’s design palettes – even before Pantone reveals its final choice.
When will the Pantone Color of the Year 2026 be announced?
Pantone typically reveals its Color of the Year in early December. The Pantone 2026 Color of the Year will follow that timeline, continuing the tradition of unveiling the next trend just before the new year begins.
Want to stay ahead of the curve? Keep an eye on Pantone’s official website, where teasers and palettes often appear weeks before the announcement.
You can also follow trusted design outlets like Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, and Forbes for early coverage and analysis.
What will be the color of 2026?
Industry experts and color marketing analysts are pointing toward green as the defining tone of 2026. Specifically, teal, jade, and eucalyptus shades seem to dominate upcoming trend reports.
Likely a green or teal
According to multiple forecasters, including WGSN and Coloro, the Pantone Color of the Year 2026 could be Transformative Teal – a bright, refreshing hue that symbolizes adaptability and emotional balance.
This aquatic blue-green tone bridges the natural world and digital design, making it perfect for modern branding and fashion.
Other paint companies have made similar moves:
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Behr’s “Hidden Gem” is a smoky jade tone, blending green and blue for subtle depth.
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Valspar’s “Warm Eucalyptus” offers a neutral, muted take – ideal for cozy interiors and home design.
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Benjamin Moore’s “Silhouette” (AF-655) is a deep, dark, rich hue that blends espresso and charcoal, offering a sophisticated, grounding alternative.
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Sherwin-Williams’ “Universal Khaki” (SW 6150) balances neutral hues with warmth and versatility, pairing beautifully with both browns and bright accents.
Together, these predictions hint at a green-forward palette rooted in balance, depth, and connection to nature. Expect to see these tones in furniture, fashion, and digital art throughout the coming year.
Why green and teal are trending
In a world seeking calm and optimism, green represents renewal, restoration, and growth. The Transformative Teal trend perfectly captures that notion – it’s both modern and familiar, offering the grounding quality of nature with the vibrancy of innovation.
Design strategists believe Pantone’s color choice will reflect the energy of transformation and eco-conscious creativity. Teal-based hues feel equally at home in minimalist design and bold fashion statements, offering endless balance between serenity and expression.
The rise of these tones also reflects how global brands are prioritizing sustainability and mindfulness. The connection between paint colors, home decor, and the fashion world shows a shared movement toward authenticity and the beauty of the natural world.
What to watch next
If the official Pantone 2026 Color of the Year hasn’t been announced yet, there are still clear signs to watch:
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Monitor trend agencies like WGSN, Coloro, and global editors at design publications for early clues.
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Look for Google Trends spikes around “green,” “teal,” and “warm neutral” terms to identify which palettes are gaining momentum.
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Follow Pantone’s December updates for teaser palettes.
For home decor lovers, Transformative Teal and Warm Eucalyptus can easily blend with neutral hues on walls, kitchen cabinets, or textiles. These paint colors are perfect for refreshing your spaces without feeling too flashy or overpowering.
For designers and small brands, these tones offer creative storytelling opportunities, especially for seasonal product drops or limited-edition collections around nature and innovation.
Color of the Year and your print-on-demand business
Adopting the Color of the Year early can help your brand stand out. For Printful sellers, it’s an opportunity to refresh collections, connect with current trends, and attract style-conscious buyers.
Here’s how you can make it work for you.
1. Design new collections
Create product lines inspired by Transformative Teal or Smoky Jade. Upload patterns or gradient art on custom t-shirts, hoodies, or ceramics like mugs and candles.
2. Launch themed home products
Refresh your Home and Living product catalog with calming hues. Think throw blankets, pillows, or wall art in Warm Eucalyptus tones for a cozy, sophisticated feel.
3. Market with story-driven visuals
Use the Pantone Color of the Year 2026 as your foundation for storytelling. Explain what the color symbolizes, how it connects to nature, and why it evokes calm and creativity.
4. Stay ahead of search trends
Early alignment with Pantone’s color boosts visibility in search and social discovery. Shoppers searching for new paint colors, fashion, or interior trends will find your listings more relevant.
Incorporating trending hues across your brand identity creates cohesion – from product photos to packaging and marketing visuals.
Conclusion
While the official announcement hasn’t arrived yet, all signs point to green as the color of 2026 – especially Transformative Teal, Warm Eucalyptus, and Hidden Gem (Smoky Jade). These hues embody the world’s collective desire for healing, balance, and renewal.
For creators and entrepreneurs, it’s the perfect moment to refresh your designs and get inspired by nature’s palette.
With Printful’s easy-to-use Design Maker and high-quality print-on-demand products, you can bring these trending tones to life across apparel, home decor, and accessories.
Tip: Explore our design trends for 2026 and start your next collection with custom t-shirts and home and living products.
Frequently asked questions
While the official announcement is expected in December, most experts predict a green shade like Transformative Teal or Smoky Jade – tones that reflect nature, emotional balance, and sustainability.
The Pantone Color Institute typically announces its Color of the Year in early December of the previous year. For example, the 2025 Color of the Year was announced on December 5, 2024.
To stay ahead of the announcement:
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Bookmark Pantone’s official Color of the Year page for updates.
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Set a reminder around late November and early December to monitor the reveal.
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Subscribe to Pantone’s press releases or follow trusted design-media outlets (such as Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Forbes) to be among the first to know.
It’s too soon to tell, but design experts and editors speculate 2027 might move toward warm mahogany or rust-inspired hues – neutral, earthy, and comforting.
Forecasts suggest Pantone’s color will fall within the green or teal family, bridging the serenity of nature with a modern, tech-forward edge.
Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025 was Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230) – a rich, comforting brown hue chosen for its sense of grounding, warmth, and timeless elegance.
The program began in 1999, when the Institute introduced the concept of a Color of the Year to engage the global design community and highlight how color reflects cultural shifts.
The first official pick (often cited as the year 2000) set the tone. Since then, the Institute announces a color choice every December intended to capture the mood, values, and aspirations of the coming year.
Over the years, it has grown beyond a single shade to influence multiple industries – from fashion and home decor to product packaging, branding, and beyond.
For example, the 2020 pick was Classic Blue, chosen for its sense of dependability and calm. In 2021, Pantone named not one but two Colors of the Year – Illuminating, a bright yellow, and Ultimate Gray. The 2022 pick was a newly created hue called Very Peri, conceptualized to reflect a fusion of digital and physical realms.
Wondering what is the Pantone Color of the Year for 2026? Check the Pantone Color Institute’s official site or trusted publications like Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, and Forbes for verified updates.
Each Color of the Year typically influences design and fashion trends for 12-18 months, but often continues inspiring paint colors, interiors, and product collections long after.
You can use similar or inspired hues in your creative work. For Print on Demand, Printful’s Design Maker supports HEX and RGB color customization, letting you match Pantone’s color closely for your custom art and product lines.
Published author, scholar, and musician, Andris draws on over 11 years of experience in and outside academia to make complex topics accessible – from SEO and website building to AI and monetizing art. Devoted to his family and self-confessed introvert, he loves creating things, playing musical instruments, and walking around forests.
