The annual Color of the Year announcements are one of our favorite design traditions to follow (and try to predict). Each year, major paint makers choose a hue or palette they feel captures current tastes or points to future trends. Some picks are bold, some are safe, and a few are downright surprising. With January here, our 2026 Color of the Year roundup is complete—though one brand we track did not name a color. If you’d like a refresher, check our recaps for 2024 and 2025.
Like last year, we include each company’s recent picks so you can see how preferences shift over time. At the end of this post we also share our own predictions.
What is the 2026 Color of the Year?
There isn’t a single universal Color of the Year. Brands such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Pantone and others each announce their own selections. Their methods vary—some base choices on research, trend forecasting, or cultural cues—but the common aim is to signal what they see shaping interiors and consumer moods, whether that’s comfort, connection to nature, or a desire for calm.
What Were Last Year’s Colors?
Below are links to our detailed recaps of the 2024 and 2025 Color of the Year selections. The 2025 round-up revealed a notable leaning toward moody browns, purples, and mauves—quite consistent across many brands. In contrast, 2024 showed more variety, mixing warm and cool tones as well as light and dark hues.
We’ll be watching to see whether 2026 brings a return to lighter, brighter colors or continues the recent trend toward deeper, earthier neutrals.
Every 2026 Color of the Year
Most announcements for 2026 were released over several months. We track 15 brands each year; 14 named a 2026 color. Here’s a concise list, followed by a closer look at each choice.
- Pantone: Cloud Dancer
- Benjamin Moore: Silhouette
- Sherwin-Williams: Universal Khaki
- Behr: Hidden Gem
- HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams: Universal Khaki
- Glidden: Warm Mahogany
- Valspar: Warm Eucalyptus
- Dunn-Edwards: Midnight Garden
- Dutch Boy: Melodious Ivory
- Krylon: Coffee Bean
- Rust-Oleum: Satin Lagoon
- Minwax: Special Walnut
- Graham & Brown: Divine Damson
- C2 Paint: Epernay
Below is a closer look at each brand’s selection and the reasoning behind it.
Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year
Pantone surprised many by choosing a soft white called Cloud Dancer as its Color of the Year. Historically Pantone often picks vivid, statement-making shades, so this understated white feels like a notable departure. The brand suggests this tone provides a fresh backdrop that lets art, textiles, and accent pieces stand out.
While we appreciate classic white walls for showcasing color, we were hoping Pantone would return to a more adventurous pick. Still, Cloud Dancer will likely be a versatile choice for interiors.
Benjamin Moore’s 2026 Color of the Year
Benjamin Moore named Silhouette (AF-655) its 2026 Color of the Year. Described as a “burnt umber with delicate notes of charcoal,” Silhouette leads their 2026 Color Trends under the theme “Refined Elegance.” It’s a warm, deep neutral that works well as a softer alternative to black.
Compared with Benjamin Moore’s past decade of selections, Silhouette is among the most restrained, reflecting the broader shift toward deep neutrals.
Sherwin-Williams’ 2026 Color of the Year
Sherwin-Williams chose Universal Khaki, a warm earthy neutral. It anchors their “Tailored & Timeless” forecast, emphasizing classic, simple, and elegant tones. Universal Khaki is one of several creamy tan shades featured among 2026 picks.
Sherwin-Williams often favors muted, timeless hues with warm undertones, a tendency that continues with this year’s choice.
Behr’s 2026 Color of the Year
Behr’s 2026 pick, Hidden Gem, is a smoky jade described as mysterious yet approachable. It continues Behr’s recent trend toward darker, saturated colors that can still function as wall tones.
Behr’s recent selections represent a clear move away from lighter, breezier shades to richer, moodier colors—reflecting the current popularity of full-room, saturated palettes.
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams 2026 Color of the Year
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams selected the same swatch as its parent company: Universal Khaki. Rather than a single color, they highlighted a 10-swatch Color Collection called Honest Essentials, which emphasizes timeless neutrals, conscious colors, and nature-inspired tones.
HGTV Home often leans toward bolder, punchier colors, so this neutral selection feels more aligned with Sherwin-Williams’ overarching trend. We hope they return to their own stand-alone pick in 2027.
Glidden’s 2026 Color of the Year
Glidden’s pick, Warm Mahogany, is a rich red that the brand positions within a trends collection focused on rest, connection, and creativity. It complements this year’s overall tendency toward warm, saturated tones.
Warm Mahogany aligns with last year’s deeper, saturated picks, showing continuity in Glidden’s recent choices.
Valspar’s 2026 Color of the Year
Valspar chose Warm Eucalyptus, a muted gray-green described as calming and restorative. Valspar framed the color as a redefinition of “neutral,” emphasizing that neutrals can be grounded, inviting, and soothing rather than colorless.
This marks Valspar’s third year selecting a single Color of the Year. Warm Eucalyptus is a safe, versatile choice that fits many interiors without defaulting to beige or gray.
Dunn-Edwards Color of the Year 2026
Dunn-Edwards selected Midnight Garden, a deep muted green described as timeless and quietly elegant. It’s one of the more colorful choices this year and the only true green among the selections we tracked.
Dunn-Edwards has historically favored saturated hues, so Midnight Garden reads as relatively restrained for them, consistent with this year’s trend toward subtler tones.
Dutch Boy’s Color of the Year 2026
Dutch Boy named Melodious Ivory as its 2026 pick. This warm cream was chosen for its nostalgic, elevated feel and its ability to pair well with stronger accent colors—often showcased in rustic or modern farmhouse contexts.
Melodious Ivory sits comfortably within Dutch Boy’s pattern of warm, quiet neutrals.
Krylon’s 2026 Color of the Year
Krylon’s 2026 pick is Coffee Bean. The brand shared limited context, but noted inspiration from natural elements. As a spray paint line, Krylon’s palette is narrower than traditional paint brands, so their selections often feel more direct and utilitarian.
Coffee Bean follows last year’s Black, marking two darker neutral choices in a row for Krylon.
Rust-Oleum’s 2026 Color of the Year
Rust-Oleum selected Satin Lagoon, a hue meant to combine tranquility with vibrancy. Like other spray paint brands, Rust-Oleum’s selection reflects a curated, often saturated palette suitable for DIY projects.
Rust-Oleum’s choices typically favor lively colors rather than traditional neutrals.
Minwax’s 2026 Color of the Year
Minwax, the stain brand, named Special Walnut. It’s a classic medium wood tone that supports the growing interest in rustic finishes and “wood-drenching” applications across interiors. Minwax describes it as grounding—language echoed by other brands this year.
Reviewing Minwax’s past choices, Special Walnut stands out as their first classic medium-stain selection in several years.
Graham & Brown’s 2026 Color of the Year
Graham & Brown selected Divine Damson, a deep, saturated purple chosen to complement the brand’s wallpaper design of the year. It’s described as luxurious and timeless, reinforcing their focus on sophisticated, high-end colorways.
Divine Damson continues Graham & Brown’s pattern of refined, saturated choices designed to pair with their wallpapers.
C2 Paint’s 2026 Color of the Year
C2 Paint named Epernay, an earthy ochre inspired by European interiors and artisan craft. As part of their En Terre palette, Epernay reflects the year’s recurring theme of grounded, nature-influenced tones.
C2’s past selections tend toward softer, gentler hues, so Epernay sits comfortably within their established aesthetic.
Our 2026 Color of the Year Predictions
We like to make our own guesses before the announcements. Below are the predictions we posted on August 1, 2025. You can compare them to the actual selections above.
Sherry’s Guesses
- A taupey-purple
- Emerald green
- Fire engine red
John’s Guesses
- A creamy white
- Rich navy
- Pink-ish terra cotta
We didn’t get an exact hit, but some picks were close. Dutch Boy’s Melodious Ivory and C2’s Epernay are warmer and more saturated than the “creamy white” I imagined, but both are in the same general family. Dunn-Edwards’ Midnight Garden is more muted than the emerald Sherry hoped for, but still related.
Predictions are mostly for fun—and for friendly bragging rights in our household.
More Paint Colors We Love
For more favorite paint colors and deep-dive posts, explore our site menu. Here are a few of our popular guides and round-ups:
- Every 2025 Color of the Year
- Every 2024 Color of the Year
- The 12 Best White Paint Colors
- The Best Greige Paint Colors
- Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Sherwin-Williams Pure White
- Sherwin-Williams Extra White
- The 12 Best “Haint Blue” Paint Colors