Colours of the Year for 2026 besides Pantone’s Cloud Dancer, according to leading colour and paint experts

In spaces and fashion alike, Cloud Dancer may work best as a backdrop rather than a star, great for harmonising other colours but somewhat less compelling as a standalone statement.

For those seeking more character, these following colours, from quietly confident neutrals to expressive shades inspired by nature, craft and culture, speak to how we want our spaces to feel now. Earth-derived tones sit alongside modern, elegantly muted shades, creating a palette that is at once comforting and forward-looking.

Transformative Teal, WGSN and Coloro’s Colour of the Year 2026—forecast back in 2024—is a fluid fusion of deep blue and aquatic green that reflects society’s yearning for global redirection, resilience and ecological focus. The shade embodies a blend of calm and renewal, symbolising how design and consumer preferences are increasingly shaped by environmental responsibility, future-focused thinking, and an ever-urgent desire for change.

Its soothing yet dynamic presence suggests both restoration and transformation, making it versatile across sectors from fashion and beauty to interiors and branding. With interest in teal on the rise, the hue encapsulates a collective desire for balance between nature and innovation, stability and change.

Benjamin Moore’s Silhouette AF-655 is a refined hue that marries rich espresso brown with subtle charcoal undertones, evoking the elegance of a tailored suit. Inspired by the renewed interplay between fashion, interiors and a cultural gravitation towards grounded, warm tones, the shade sits between bold and subdued.

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The colour was identified after months of observation across fashion runways, design trade shows, and just paying attention to what draws in consumers. Silhouette AF-655 is designed to offer depth and versatility, warming spaces with sophistication while pairing beautifully with lighter neutrals or layered with complementary palettes.

Homegrown paint company Gush singled out Tutu Kueh, a comforting cream shade, as the colour representative of 2026. Neither stark nor overly sweet, Tutu Kueh is a neutral shade designed to soften edges and flatter natural materials while letting life and light remain the focal point.

Lester Leong, director and CEO of Gush, notes: “The name [Tutu Kueh] draws from the beloved local delicacy, a small steamed rice cake filled with coconut and gula melaka. Much like its namesake, the colour carries a quiet nostalgia and a sense of cultural warmth—a homage to the everyday rituals that shape our shared identity. In celebrating Tutu Kueh, we’re also celebrating the beauty of the ordinary, the handmade, and the deeply personal moments that define home in its past, present, and future.”

Rather than just naming one hue as the “it” colour of 2026, Nippon Paint has elected to highlight four key colours—Sweet Manuka, a honey brown; Restful Spot, an off-white shade with a tinge of yellow-green; Blue Planet, a restful shade of blue; and Sports Green, a vibrant hue that evokes “the space between the biophilic greens of fantasy and reality”—each with an accompanying complementary palette.

Nevertheless, the brand’s Colour My World report names Blue Planet as the colour of 2026. “Blue Planet is a love song to the vast skies above and the fathomless oceans below,” the report reads. The soothing hue looks set to be the trending colour of 2026 thanks to its calming, grounding properties—something that’s much needed in an increasingly turbulent world.

Etsy’s pick for 2026 is Patina Blue, a softly saturated blue-green inspired by the natural oxidation of copper. The hue evokes a lived-in, vintage charm that feels calm, grounded and rich with character, reflecting a shift towards objects and spaces that show age and story.

According to Etsy, searches for “blue copper” increased threefold over the past year, solidifying Patina Blue as the shopping platform’s pick as the colour to rule 2026. Versatile enough for textiles, ceramics or accent walls, the hue pairs beautifully with warm metals and natural textures such as linen, which also happens to be Etsy’s 2026 Texture of the Year.

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