Introducing CMG's 2026+ Key Colors
Introducing our 2026+ Key Colors from Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
As part of the World Color Forecast™ presented at this week's CMG Summit Reveal, we announced the Key Colors for 2026. Four global regions, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America, each identified the Key Color from their 16 forecasted colors. The selection of the Key Color is based on the color direction of the Forecast, the importance of the color family to the Forecast, the significance of the specific color to the color direction and how the color best represents the Color Stories.
CMG 2026+ Asia Pacific Key Color - Cherish
Cherish, a soft, low-chroma, subdued, peachy orange that radiates a gentle, pink warmth full of affection found in cherished personal bonds. Its uncommon aesthetic expresses emotional shared connections, family ties held dear, and valued celebrations and traditions.
In the transient nature of modernity, Cherish offers solace in the familiarity of personal connections, where the rush of acquiring new things quickly fades in comparison to the timeless appeal of what is ageless.
Cherish holds a place for stories and memories long before humankind came to the planet. In the current fast-paced, digital world, it is a color to relive in the space where people once were, and have a little, secret spot to store away current experiences so they can be shared with coming generations. It’s a color inviting to slow down and yearn for tangible things that hold stories and memories.
Cherish releases a calming effect with the ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation while also uplifting the spirit and encouraging positive interactions. The nurturing aspects of pink with the invigorating energy of orange make Cherish suitable for interior spaces, paints, furniture, fashion and accessories.
CMG 2026+ Europe Key Color - Protopia
Protopia is a deep, low-chroma, red-cast purple carrying a profound significance to the narrative of sustainable transformation. This color embodies the critical moment of facing reality and questioning a flawed system. Its shadowiness is indicative of the unavoidable confrontation of the challenges we face. Its dimness mirrors the seriousness of modern predicament, acknowledging the nimbus clouds that signal an impending systemic collapse.
As a noun, Protopia is a state of incremental progress rather than unattainable perfection. As a color, it’s a prompt indicating we can no longer ignore the unsustainable path we have been on. It captures the essence of introspection and the sobering realization that change is imperative. Protopia is an intentional color, as it encourages a collective pause to rethink and reevaluate our practices, prompting us to find practical solutions to move forward.
Protopia represents the courage needed to confront uncomfortable truths and the resilience to pursue a maintainable future. The low chroma quality of the color indicates a subdued, but powerful determination to seek out new beginnings despite the daunting challenges ahead.
More than just a color, Protopia is a symbol of a pivotal moment in our journey toward more sustainable design thinking. It blends realism with hope, urging us to face our realities with a clear-eyed view, and to embrace any necessary changes with thoughtful consideration.
Protopia is suitable for automotive, textile, and furniture applications. Its sophisticated and modern is appropriate for clothing, footwear, and personal items, offering a way to express a commitment to change.
CMG 2026+ Latin America Key Color - Mistério Complexo
Mistério Complexo is a low-chroma, profound and intense, green-cast blue capturing and mirroring the complexity of the mind. It personifies the paradox of the human psyche: the same mind that can conceive the unimaginable, envision an endless future, and simultaneously fear its own boldness and daring.
Mistério Complexo, Portuguese for "Complex Mystery" denotes a pivotal moment in our evolution as it represents the challenge humanity faces in ensuring our survival on Earth, navigating the delicate balance between progress and preservation.
By embracing the rich and multifaceted qualities of Mistério Complexo, we foster environments that are both thought-provoking and visually striking.
Mistério Complexo holds a hidden influence to generate comforting yet stimulating environment. Its association with complexity and depth makes it suitable for tech products, providing a sleek and modern aesthetic. It provides seriousness and sophistication to both residential and commercial spaces, and creates solemn statements in modern architecture. It is also foreseen for recreational vehicles as it infuses a sense of adventure and mystery, appealing to those who seek exploration and discovery. In fashion, it offers a bold and intriguing canvas for designs that stand out.
CMG 2026+ North America Key Color - Bio-Graphing
Bio-Graphing is a low-chroma, fragile and nonchalant, pale blue cast with a refreshing dash of natural green.
As a term, Bio-Graphing characterizes the process of re-designing biology and re-writing personal data imprints to then embark on a detoxifying bio-reset. This transformation enables the shift from exploitative production systems to regenerative processes that leverage the powerful capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, utilizing inspiration and examples from the natural world.
To achieve a harmonious balance between technology and human experiences, there is a heightened need for increased sensory feedback through design. This approach reawakens underutilized senses and fosters a unity between the digital and natural environments. By enhancing sensory experiences, a deeper connection is promoted between humans and their personal and social worlds.
Bio-Graphing, as a concept, offsets the clinical nature of technology with a safe, yet imaginative vibe, blending reliability with whimsy. With Bio-Graphing, the pictorial symbol is to move forward.
Bio-Graphing, the color, symbolizes a transferal towards sustainable and regenerative design practices that integrate advanced technology with nature. It balances scientific precision with imaginative design, making it ideal for various interior and exterior applications such as home décor and accessories, furniture, paints and fashion.
CMG's Key Color Selection Process
Four global regions, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America, each identify their Key Color from their 16 forecasted colors. The choice is made based on the color direction of the Forecast, the importance of the color family to the Forecast, the significance of the specific color to the color direction, and how the color best represents the Color Stories or the general mood of the stories.
Before the final choice is made, various colors are shortlisted by the Steering Committee. The shortlist is based on various parameters, which may include one or more of the following:
The number of times a color was submitted by participants during a ChromaZone®. Sometimes, it’s not the exact color that is submitted various times, but variations of it.
The color was selected as a ChromaZone Story Key Color or ChromaZone Key Color.
The most predominant color family in the Forecast. This is based on the number of colors within a color family.
The most unexpected color in the Forecast, but closely related and representative of the general mood of the Color Stories.
Shortlisted colors are discussed one by one with an explanation of what they signify and symbolize, and why they will be important to represent the forecast. Following discussions, the committee votes on the colors until one color ends up with the most votes.
