We’re SO BACK. There is a vibrant energy coming from new maximalism, and an exciting debate has emerged over the rising color of 2026. The official forecast from trend authorities WGSN and Coloro has named “Transformative Teal” the next Color of the Year, and I have to agree with their reasoning. Described as a “fluid fusion between dependable dark blue and aquatic green,” the shade is meant to represent a period of “change and redirection,” tapping into an “Earth-first mindset” and the need for resilience.
While color is exploding across the runways, there still is no single consensus on the “it” color for 2026. The Pantone Color Institute typically releases their announcement on the first Thursday of December, so there are still a few days left for trend forecasters to cast their votes. A debate is emerging with several strong hues vying for the top spot. The runways are placing a heavy bet on a vibrant Deep Sky Blue. Fashion writer Emilee Russell (the analyst behind the “it’s critical” newsletter) called this saturated hue the color of Spring 2026. Fendi particularly embraced it, weaving the color throughout its collection in everything from handbags and bras to sharp blazer dresses. I can’t say that I’m as excited about this- the candy colors feel fun and futuristic, but I don’t think we’re quite ready for them in 2026. Give me a few more years to appreciate earth tones before the cyber fashion future catches up to us.
On the other side of the vibrant maximalist predictions is Pantone’s Lava Falls, a dramatic red shade that is already coming to life on Chanel’s latest runway. Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel show was the Spring/Summer 2026 Ready-to-Wear collection, presented on October 6, 2025. He is a Chanel newcomer who got his start at Maison Margiela and more recently served as the creative director for Bottega Veneta. His first runway (that Numéro called “a glorious debut”) highlighted vivid reds, androgynous silhouettes, and statement accessories, all in line with 2026’s eclectic maximalist theme. We’re already seeing dark burgundy across the nation in retail fashion, so it’s not unlikely that it will grow into a brighter red as winter comes to a close. On the other hand, Lava Red was featured for the Autumn/Winter 2022-2023 season, and a similar deep red trend was predicted for Fall 2024, so it might just be time for us to move on.
And so we come back to teal once again. I just can’t seem to make up my mind on this shade. Analysts say that it marks a return to the conscious sustainability focus, but the industry does not always seem to be headed in that direction. Rising demand and technological advances in cheap, fast fashion are already squeezing profit margins, and a return to maximalism might push this over the edge. If we want more colors, more shapes, and more big accessories, sustainability might end up on the back burner for 2026. Teal might be the next big thing, but we’ll see whether it will really be transformative.