Is the Pantone Color of the Year Rage Bait? The Cloud Dancer Controversy, Explained

When “Cloud Dancer” was first announced as the Pantone Color of the Year for 2026, there was more than one complaint. Online critics felt the slightly off-white shade was politically tone-deaf at best, and an “obvious dog whistle” at worst. Meanwhile, others called the decision “boring” and a “colorless recession indicator” in uncertain economic times.

Now, Pantone’s response to the backlash is receiving it’s own wave of criticism, with some internets users suggesting the whole campaign was “rage bait” designed to fuel exactly this response. Is this true, or was Pantone really just hoping to address the age-old question, “is white a color?” Here’s the TL;DR.

What is the Pantone Color of the Year?

According to Pantone’s website, the Color of the Year program was created in 1999 to start a conversation about the “relationship between culture and color.” Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute Laurie Pressman says, “We wanted to highlight to our audience how what is taking place in our global culture is expressed and reflected through the language of color.”

To do this, Pressman says they utilize a “global team of color experts at the Pantone Color Institute” to search for the color they see “crossing all areas of design; a color that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude on the part of the consumers, a color that will resonate around the world, a color that reflects what people are looking for, a color that can hope to answer what they feel they need.”

The 2025 Color of the Year was Mocha Mousse, which certainly aligns with current fashion trends, suggesting the team is pretty on the pulse.

Okay, so why did they choose “Cloud Dancer” for 2026?

According to Pantone’s press release on December 3, Cloud Dancer (aka PANTONE 11-4201) is “an ethereal white hue” that “serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection.”

The statement continues:

Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start. Peeling away layers of outmoded thinking, we open the door to new approaches. Cloud Dancer quiets the mind, encouraging true relaxation and focus that allows the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation.

Choosing rest and consciously stepping away from relentless demands and turning inward recognizes that true strength lies not just in doing, but also in being. Expressing our aspiration for a future free from excess, Cloud Dancer evolves our desire for contentment and feelings of peace, unity, and cohesiveness.