Pantone’s last five ‘Color of the Year’ picks have captured a broad mix of moods — from the strength and hope signalled by 2021’s yellow-and-grey duo, to magenta’s high-voltage optimism in 2023, and 2025’s soft, earthy Mocha Mousse, chosen for its sense of comfort and harmony.
The focus now shifts to 2026, as artists and designers are weighing in with their predictions on the next headline-making hue.
To get a snapshot of where opinions are leaning, we asked seven OCAD U faculty members—and these fearless predictors didn’t hesitate to put their 2026 Pantone guesses on the record:
Lecturer, Faculty of Design
“I selected Tined Red (Pantone 178C). 2025 has been a difficult year for many Canadians as we are confronting many uncertainties. The colour red often associates with luck and prosperity in oriental culture. I hope 2026 will bring a positive direction and rejuvenation to all Canadians.”
Associate Professor, Faculty of Art
“Colour forecasting has established industry expectations and guided consumer choices by shaping or directing product development for decades. It has been useful to use these predictions to align creative outcomes and to shake up my chromatic dexterity in the studio for at least 30 years. In fashion, they are promoting 2026, colour of the year as Aventurine, a “transformative teal” otherwise known to designers as Pantone 19-5421 TCX.”
Advertising Program Chair, Faculty of Design
“I'm going with rich Teal (Pantone 7716C). In light of Hurricane Melissa, I am reminded of the beautiful teal seas of the Caribbean and how the beauty of nature can bring uncertainty to our planet if we continue to disregard and disrespect the earth through extraction, erosion and emissions. Connecting Teal to my Caribbean (Jamaican) roots and to the natural world through its aquatic undertones reminds us of oceans and forests and reinforces movements toward ecological responsibility and mindful living. It taps into the instinct to seek harmony with nature while embracing a modern aesthetic. It brings hope and a future!”
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Design
“As the lines between our physical and digital lives blur, we seek colours that feel both simulated and organic. This trend captures the tension between digital and analog. My choice would be Sherwin-Williams Roycroft Copper Red, but it's close to the Pantone 181 C.”
Instructor, Faculty of Art
“My predicted colour is this dreamy green (Pantone 335C). It's got a lovely hint of blue, which makes it feel simultaneously like forest and water. I've chosen it because, today, we are more aware than ever of the critical harmonies between earth and water. This colour feels like a tranquil respite — and a call to stewardship.”
Associate Professor, Faculty of Art
“It is the optimist in me that proposes Pantone 382C for the 2026 colour of the year. This is a colour of hope, new beginnings, regeneration, youth, and courage. This bright green/yellow alludes to nascent, green shoots that are coming to life - not yet mature. In this time of uncertainty, we need a colour that emerges from the autumn darkness that was Mocha Mousse to bring light, freshness and hope.”
Dean of Design, Faculty of Design
“The Pantone colours are always more muted than I expect and they often make me think of food. Green / teal is one of the predictions for 2026. I’m a plant person and I’m from the tropics, so I’ll bet on a deep jewel-toned blue-green (Pantone 308C) that reminds me of the depths of the ocean.”
More about ‘Pantone Color of the Year’
The Pantone Color Institute originally created the ‘Pantone Color of the Year’ in 1999 as an educational program to engage the design community and colour enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around colour. The plan was to draw attention to the relationship between culture and colour, highlighting what is taking place around the globe, expressed and reflected through the language of colour.
According to the Pantone website, “a global team of color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, aspirational travel destinations, new lifestyles, playstyles or enjoyable escapes as well as socio-economic conditions.”
Predictions aside, Pantone’s experts will determine the ‘2026 Color of the Year’ based on their global trend research.
The official announcement arrives on December 4, 2025. What’s your prediction?
Source: The Pantone Color Institute