COLORS OF THE YEAR 2026

AkzoNobel’s Colors of the Year 2026 are set to bring the Rhythm of Blues™ to the coil and extrusion coatings market, with a trio of upbeat and versatile colors that are calming, connecting and creative. 

The Colors of the Year 2026 Rhythm of Blues family comprises three eye-catching indigo shades: a light blue Mellow Flow™, a dark blue Slow Swing™ and the vibrant Free Groove™ – three different rhythms that offer endless scope for the construction and domestic appliances market segments.

“Over the last decade, the popularity of warm natural tones has been continually rising, complemented recently with growing interest in palettes of versatile blues. Our Rhythm of Blues collection brings these trends together with a harmonious mix of vibrant colors that enable different moods to be expressed, while supporting on-trend color choices in both the home and the built environment,” explains Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center.

“With everything that’s happening in the world, we see that people are reacting in various ways,” explains Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center. “They’re either slowing down and recharging their batteries, wanting to feel in tune with others and celebrate kinship. Or they’re choosing to be bold, have fun and feel carefree.”

Rhythm of Blues is the result of extensive research into the color, design, cultural, economic and social trends that shape our society. The colors, textures and special effects that take center stage in the collection have been designed to strike a chord in the residential applications and domestic appliances (DA) markets, ultimately making their way through into the commercial and industrial construction markets.

“Our Rhythm of Blues family provides inspiration for architects, designers, fabricators and coaters to create stylish color combinations that reflect customer tastes. They enable us to personalize our environments to fit the times we live in, while bringing calm, comfort and vibrancy to projects and products,” says Henri Bijsterbosch, Color Product Marketing Manager for AkzoNobel’s Industrial Coatings business. 

AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center has been translating trends into desirable colors for more than 30 years. Its annual ColourFutures trend forecast meeting brings together in-house experts, international architects, designers and journalists to share insights into how our reactions to the world around us impact our color choices. 

AkzoNobel’s high-quality coil and extrusion products, such as TRINAR®, CERAM-A-STAR®, POLYDURE® in North America and Asia Pacific, and our latest solution for the construction segment in EMEA, FIDURA™, and FLEXTEC™ for domestic appliances, are widely specified and used for their excellent performance, durability, and superior color and gloss retention. “The company’s in-house global color and technical experts make sure these colors are available in the right products for different jobs. They can also help customers find close-matching and complementary colors from a standard assortment. Our color experts are here to assist you,” adds Bijsterbosch.

For more information about our Colors of the Year 2026, visit https://www.akzonobel.com/en/about-us/initiatives/color-of-the-year-2026. You can also follow #COTY26 #AkzoNobelABlueForYou! #BelieveInblue and #RhythmOfBlues on social media.