Whilst fashion has always been a hotbed for discord, it certainly feels like one segment of the industry is stoking the ire of the internet more so than any others; the 2026 colour fashion trends.

Colours have always been at the centre of the most outdated style rules. (No mixing of navy and blue! White is best suited for the summer! Neon colours should be left in the ‘80s!) Yet, the leading colours set to define the year ahead have been marred in more controversy than ever before.

From Pantone dubbing a “billowy, airy, and serene off-white” as the 2026 colour of the year from Pinterest predicting lurid tones like “wasabi green” and “plum noir” as the shades that will dominate the next 12 months, the latter of which are closely similar to the tones foretold by New York-based fashion analyst, trend forecaster and content creator Mandy Lee, it’s safe to say a lot of confusion surrounds what colour trends will actually come to fruition in 2026.

We here at Who What Wear UK thrive in this kind of uncertainty. Instead of being dictated by data, statistical insights, consumer shopping habits or any sort of digital material, we’ve always found that the trends that make the biggest impact are the ones determined in real life and exhibited by real people. We pride ourselves on paying close attention to what those living in fashion capitals and international tastemakers wear on a daily basis, whether it be whilst visiting a local café or stepping out on a press tour.

So, when we’ve already begun to notice a few of these so-called 2026 colour trends begin to crop up in the wild, you can rest assured that we took good notice. Of course, we can’t do this alone, as, with most things in the industry, the runways are always a good barometer of what’s to come, too. After all, what we see in new-season designer collections will ultimately be the designs worn by style luminaries in a few months’ time.

For the uninitiated, the spring/summer 2026 shows were a hotbed of inspiration, and brought with them a new wave of palettes, hues and finishes which will no doubt permeate our desires in a mere few months. Poppy red and expensive aubergine are both part of the new cohort of colours on the rise, but there are also a few others that I just have to tell you about now, before they hit the mainstream.

I’ve been taking a deep dive into fashion’s biggest players, including Alaïa, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Stella McCartney, to explore which tones they’re favouring for 2025, so consider this your sneak peek at what the year has to bring in terms of colour. From head-turning tones like vibrant chartreuse, canary yellow, vibrant purple, candy pink and rich teal, to the palette-cleansing hue of “cloud-dancer” white, this scheme of shades will be sure to add a saturated appeal to your Monday-to-Friday looks, and your off-duty ‘fits, too.

Scroll on to get the lowdown on the biggest colour trends that 2026 has to offer, plus a little bit of shopping inspiration to help you get ahead of the curve.

The 7 Biggest Colour Trends of 2026

1. Icy Blue

Style Notes: Feeling blue? Don’t let the year’s frosty beginnings and depressive winter weather keep you from dressing up, with the runways and red carpets indicating a penchant for this specific shade of icy blue. Perhaps an indication of where we are as a culture, this polar shade might have you channelling your inner Snow Queen as a response to the precarious times we’re living in. Consider this shade like a form of sartorial resistance, because there is truly nothing more intimidating than walking around dressed cold-heartedly.

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2. Chartreuse Green

Style Notes: It might’ve been a quarter of a century since pop diva Kylie Minogue brought chartreuse to the mainstream with her bit part as the Green Fairy in 2001’s Moulin Rouge!, but as they say, good things come to those who wait. A tone that’s as polarising as it is inescapable, the chartreuse reign feels like a natural successor to the Brat green tone pioneered by Charli XCX in 2024, but with a slightly more yellow undertone. Some consider it ghastly, some don’t consider it at all. But irrespective of where you stand, there is no denying it’s quite hypnotic. Plus, in a world that’s constantly threatened by the intersection of man and machine, the hyper-virtual undertow of this shade feels like the perfect shade to represent the glitch-in-the-matrix sensation of now.

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3. Vibrant Purple

Style Notes: I profiled the rise of expensive aubergine this year, and for the new season, this shade is getting a bit of a facelift. I’m seeing a much richer, vintage-inspired, decadent hue push it from the top spot, which I’m calling it vibrant purple. A little bit ’80s with a splash of royal, aristocratic flavour, it’s a shade which feels both luxurious and fun. It dominated some of the most headline-grabbing shows, including Balenciaga, Burberry, Valentino and Chloé, and worked beautifully in head-to-toe looks or with the odd floral thrown in. It’s already making the waves amongst the street style set, too, with both Zoë Kravitz and Jennifer Lawrence incorporating the colour into their winter accessories. To dial it back, it pairs exquisitely with sand, taupe and beige, but if you’re adventurous, canary yellow complements it delightfully.

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4. “Cloud-Dancer” White

Style Notes: Cloud Dancer has been named Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2026. This light and bright-white hue leans slightly into natural putty territory, and it’s your sign to start 2026 as a clean break. This really couldn’t be more apt, as we all desire to go into the new season with a fresh perspective and a clear palette. Cloud Dancer is a chance to unshackle from the grey days of winter and enter the year ahead with an open mind and little visual distraction. Do you have a minimalist personal style? Look to Bottega, Pauline Dujancourt, Dior and Noon By Noor, who all embraced this pillowy-soft tone on the runways, across dresses, suits and accessories.

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5. Canary Yellow

Style Notes: Butter yellow had us all salivating over the summer. For 2026, enter its natural upgrade, which I’m calling canary yellow. This eye-catching tone is brilliant, full contrast and intense, and some of fashion’s biggest labels gave it serious airtime on the runways. Bottega, McQueen, Loewe and Tove all dipped their toes in, with all other colours paling in comparison. If you’re ready to let the canary sing, pair it with beige, or even citrusy orange for your spring/summer ensembles.

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6. Candy Pink

Style Notes: Powder pink reigned supreme in 2025, but for 2026, its not-too-distant cousin is entering the chat. Candy pink, a more strikingly sweet and drool-worthy shade, is what I took note of on the runways for spring. Fresh and undoubtedly pretty, it packs a stronger punch than its predecessor, popping down the catwalks of Stella McCartney, Patou, N°21 and Blumarine, on dresses, suits and shoes. It can be toughened up with charcoal grey, chrome and patent black. It’s the chicest way to do pink.

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7. Rich Teal

Style Notes: Not blue and not green, this mysterious mix of both raced down some of the biggest runways this season, predominantly on coats, jackets and suiting. Rich teal permeated the collections of Alaïa, Saint Laurent, Acne Studios and Loewe; labels that pride themselves on the bold use of colour season after season. It’s the sort of hue that just reads expensive. I see this tone working well in monochromatic looks, but it also complements black, chocolate brown and, if you’re feeling extra peacock-y, pillar-box red.

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