Color goes beyond aesthetics; it influences emotion, cognition, behaviors and even our circadian rhythms. As humans, we are biologically wired to respond to color on a deeply intuitive level. For businesses, however, color carries even greater weight; it defines brand identity, attracts consumer attention and is a major influence on purchasing decisions. Used strategically, color becomes a competitive strength.
Each year, in the waning days of summer and into fall, leading paints and coatings companies like PPG unveil their annual color trend forecasts. These forecasts ripple across industries—from furniture and consumer electronics to kitchenware and architecture—guiding the design of products and spaces that reflect cultural moods, evolving preferences and emerging market trends. These curated palettes influence everything from material selection and surface finishes to the ambiance of our surroundings.
These anticipated annual color forecasts are more than trend reports; they’re strategic tools that help brands stay culturally relevant, spark innovation and design products that resonate with their customers.
By tapping into the psychology of color and the cadence of global moods, brands can align design and messaging with the most influential emotional and cultural currents of the times.
Introducing 2026 Color of the Year Secret Safari (PPG1110-4)*
In October, PPG named Secret Safari, a midtone yellow-green with subtle lime undertones, as the 2026 color of the year. With a lush botanical aesthetic that strikes a balance of earthy elegance and vitality, it brings a modern edge to industrial, architectural and consumer product applications.
This versatile, nuanced shade responds beautifully to changing light. In natural daylight, it evokes a sense of tranquility, while in shadowed or low-light settings, it reveals a rich, layered depth that adds dimension and interest to walls, cabinetry and furnishings.
With an intriguing organic, mineral quality, Secret Safari embodies both resilience and freshness, making it an ideal choice for designs that feel contemporary, grounded and steeped in quiet luxury.
In industrial and consumer product design, Secret Safari is a bold yet grounded choice that evokes tranquility and balance. Its biophilic feel hints of durability and freshness and is well suited for products seeking an aesthetic of understated elegance.
Beyond a Singular Hue
Color forecasting goes beyond selecting a signature color. It’s the art of crafting a cohesive color story, one that transcends industries, cultures and continents.
A key part of this process involves building distinct yet complementary color stories. These stories are unified under an overarching theme that reflects the emotional and aesthetic responses of people around the world.
PPG’s 2026 theme—Parallels—emerged from a striking truth: while global events and shared experiences affect everyone, our reactions to them are deeply personal and culturally nuanced.
Informed by international collaboration across industries, the forecast revealed a surprising alignment on key influences—geopolitical and economic instability, climate urgency, and social transformation—paired with a compelling divergence in how these forces manifested in design across regions. Parallels captures this duality, balancing shared realities with distinct creative expressions.
The comprehensive forecast features 36 shades organized into three expertly curated palettes, each offering a unique design direction:
- Authentic – Enduring Values: Earthy tones and natural textures evoke simplicity, comfort and nostalgia. Rich browns and warm neutrals create timeless designs rooted in tradition and familiarity.
- Visionary – Sanctuary and Optimism: A bold mix of shimmering neutrals, metallics and mineral tones designed for forward-thinking spaces. Light hues contrast with immersive darks to create depth and intrigue, evoking a sleek, futuristic aesthetic.
- Expressive – Creativity Without Limits: Vibrant hues and dynamic combinations celebrate originality and personal style. This whimsical palette features translucent and bioluminescent shades that shift from subtle to dramatic, perfect for playful, imaginative designs.
Secret Safari serves as a versatile foundation throughout, enabling flexible layering and spatial storytelling across applications.
Behind the Color Forecast
While naming the “it” color of the year is common among major paint and coatings brands, PPG’s approach and the breadth of industries it touches is anything but typical. In fact, PPG stands out for its fact-based, collaborative approach to color.
Each year, dozens of stylists from around the world—spanning automotive, aerospace, architecture, consumer electronics, and industrial design—gather for an immersive multi-day workshop. Together, they analyze cultural shifts, industry research and emerging global influences to shape the future of color. The result is an annual forecast that is unmatched in scope, depth and cross-industry relevance.
In preparation for the 2026 color forecast, 36 PPG stylists met in Paris for the three-day color workshop, representing 11 different countries and eight major industries.
The experience was a unique one for the stylists. “This was one of the first years that we were all armed with the same research regarding the most significant factors shaping global color direction,” explained Vanessa Peterson, color design manager. “With little dissention, we all concluded that the political and economic distress and global social movements were the most notable forces influencing color direction.”
Vanessa went on to explain that their divergence was on how these forces shaped the aesthetic directions and resulting microtrends that developed in their respective regions and spaces.
But color forecasting isn’t just about research—it’s about emotion. It was up to the team to interpret the collective mood to predict where color trends are headed next. Vanessa went on to explain that the storytelling pieces of the color forecast were widely diverse across regions. “The team spent a lot of time ensuring that we crafted a unified message and story that captured current sentiments but were also scalable and relevant across continents, cultures and customers.”
“We had to tell the Parallel movement story in a way that was adaptable to the world we live in, where we are both protective yet joyful. That’s why the Parallel story feels grounded and nostalgic but also optimistic. Where last year’s Kinetic theme was about adaptation, Parallels is about embracing the future in a new world.”
What didn’t change from years’ past was that the process was intensely collaborative across all PPG business units, united in mindset to curate a palette that served each of their collective industries and customers.
The result is a comprehensive forecast, including the defining Color of the Year, that is expected to shape the color direction of office furniture, kitchenware, cabinetry, transportation and architectural products in meaningful ways.
PPG’s Color Services
But PPG’s leadership in color doesn’t stop at forecasting. With advanced tinting systems and a full spectrum of coating technologies, PPG transforms these colors into powder, liquid and waterborne solutions tailored to each customer’s performance and application needs. Working closely with OEMs and product designers, PPG’s color experts deliver precise shades, tones and finishes—ensuring consistency from concept to production.
This powerful blend of global insights, technical innovation and design expertise positions PPG as a driving force in shaping the future of color across industries and around the world.