The annual Color of the Year announcements are a favorite industry ritual—and a fun guessing game. Each year major paint brands pick a hue or palette they think captures current design directions and consumer mood. Some choices are bold, some are restrained, and some become unexpectedly memorable. With January here, our 2026 roundup is complete (one tracked brand did not announce a 2026 pick). For context, we’ve also linked our 2024 and 2025 round-ups for previous selections and trends.
We show each company’s recent picks in this post to highlight how palettes and themes shift year to year. Scroll to the bottom for our own predictions and how they compared to the real selections.
What is the 2026 Color of the Year?
There’s no single universal “color of the year.” Multiple organizations—Pantone, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams and others—each name their own color or palette. The selection processes vary, but the goals are similar: to reflect current design thinking, forecast forthcoming trends, and articulate a mood—whether it’s comfort, connection to nature, or optimism.
What Were Last Year’s Colors?
In 2025 many brands leaned into moody browns, purples, and mauves, creating a surprisingly consistent palette across several companies. In contrast, 2024 showed more variety—warm and cool tones, lights and darks. It will be interesting to see whether 2026 returns to brighter, airier colors or continues the deeper, more grounded trend.
Every 2026 Color of the Year
We tracked 15 brands this year; 14 announced 2026 Colors of the Year. Below is a concise list, followed by a closer look at each pick.
- 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 context or themes behind it.
Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year
Pantone surprised many by choosing a refined white, Cloud Dancer, as its 2026 Color of the Year. Historically Pantone often selects bold, attention-grabbing hues; this year’s quiet, clean white signals a pause—allowing art, textiles, and cabinetry to stand out against neutral backdrops.
Benjamin Moore’s 2026 Color of the Year
Benjamin Moore named Silhouette (AF-655) their 2026 Color of the Year—described as a “burnt umber with delicate notes of charcoal.” Leading their “Refined Elegance” palette, Silhouette is a restrained alternative to black: deep, warm, and versatile for trim, cabinetry, and accent walls.
Sherwin-Williams’ 2026 Color of the Year
Sherwin-Williams selected Universal Khaki, a warm, earthy neutral anchoring their “Tailored & Timeless” forecast. The choice continues the trend toward versatile, understated neutrals that layer well with other tones.
Behr’s 2026 Color of the Year
Behr chose Hidden Gem, a smoky jade described as mysterious and richly saturated yet muted enough for walls. It continues Behr’s recent tilt toward deeper, moodier hues that work well for full-room color treatments.
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams 2026 Color of the Year
HGTV Home opted to align with Sherwin-Williams this year, also featuring Universal Khaki. HGTV Home did, however, publish a 10-swatch 2026 Color Collection called “Honest Essentials” that highlights timeless neutrals and nature-inspired tones.
Glidden’s 2026 Color of the Year
Glidden’s pick is Warm Mahogany, a rich red-brown intended to convey rest, connection, and creativity. It aligns with recent selections that favor earthy, grounded hues.
Valspar’s 2026 Color of the Year
Valspar selected Warm Eucalyptus, a muted gray-green described as restful and grounding. Valspar emphasizes how neutrals can be inviting and restorative rather than colorless.
Dunn-Edwards Color of the Year 2026
Dunn-Edwards chose Midnight Garden, a deep, muted green that evokes a garden at night. It’s one of the greener, more colorful picks in 2026 and highlights a quieter, earthy elegance.
Dutch Boy’s Color of the Year 2026
Dutch Boy’s pick, Melodious Ivory, is a warm cream chosen for its nostalgic, elevated vibe and ability to layer with stronger accent colors—suited for rustic-modern looks and comfortable neutrals.
Krylon’s 2026 Color of the Year
Krylon named Coffee Bean its 2026 pick. Spray paint brands have a different palette and audience, and Krylon’s selections often lean bold—this year a deep, neutral tone that follows last year’s dark choice.
Rust-Oleum’s 2026 Color of the Year
Rust-Oleum’s selection, Satin Lagoon, aims to blend tranquility with vibrancy. As a spray brand, Rust-Oleum’s palette tends to be more saturated, but this pick balances serenity and liveliness.
Minwax’s 2026 Color of the Year
Stain brand Minwax chose Special Walnut, a classic medium wood tone. Minwax highlights a move toward rustic wood finishes and “wood drenching” that extends wood tones across ceilings, walls, and furniture for a grounded aesthetic.
Graham & Brown’s 2026 Color of the Year
Graham & Brown selected Divine Damson, a deep, saturated purple chosen to complement their wallpaper Design of the Year. The hue aims to evoke luxury, elegance, and versatility.
C2 Paint’s 2026 Color of the Year
C2 Paint named Epernay, an earthy ochre inspired by European interiors and craftsmanship. Described as a soft yellow, it fits a grounded, artisanal trend and appears alongside other muted, restorative tones for 2026.
Our 2026 Color of the Year Predictions
We also make annual predictions. These were shared on Instagram stories on August 1, 2025. Below are the guesses from Sherry and John and a short note on how they matched the eventual announcements.
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 predict exact matches, but several picks landed close to our guesses. Dutch Boy’s Melodious Ivory and C2 Paint’s Epernay are warm, creamy tones similar to John’s “creamy white.” Dunn-Edwards’ Midnight Garden sits near Sherry’s hoped-for emerald family, while Glidden’s Warm Mahogany echoed the terra cotta direction—darker in value but similar in tone.
More Paint Colors We Love
For more go-to paint colors and in-depth posts, explore our previous Color of the Year roundups and curated lists:
- 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