Developed through AkzoNobel’s annual trend research, the palette is designed to capture shifting societal moods and can be applied across industries ranging from interiors to automotive and aerospace.
The international paints and coatings supplier AkzoNobel has announced its Colours of the Year for 2026, unveiling an upbeat and versatile family of shades under the theme Rhythm of Blues™. The trio – the light blue Mellow Flow™, the dark blue Slow Swing™ and the vibrant Free Groove™ – is described as calming, connecting and creative.
“With everything that’s happening in the world, we see that people are reacting in various ways. 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. To reflect these various moods – and because we understand that colour is emotion and therefore personal – we’ve chosen a family of colours for 2026. They’re centred around three different rhythms that offer endless scope for changing the pace of your space,” has stated Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre.
The Rhythm of Blues™ collection features colours, textures and special effects intended to resonate across multiple industries. As well as decorative paints, AkzoNobel has developed inspirational palettes for markets including aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, metal furniture, lighting, cabinetry, flooring, building products and architecture.
“We pride ourselves on setting the tone together with architects, interior designers, trend specialists and product developers – who all make important contributions to our in-depth research. Our Rhythm of Blues family is perfectly in tune with evolving trends in various industries and will help us deliver market-specific solutions to customers so they can more confidently apply their own style to their projects,” has added Daniel Geiger Campos, Global Director of AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints business and member of the Executive Committee.
AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre has been translating trends into colour for more than 30 years. Its annual ColourFutures forecast brings together in-house experts, architects, designers and journalists to explore how global events and social shifts influence colour choices.