It’s time to dance to the Rhythm of Blues™ and celebrate AkzoNobel’s Colors of the Year 2026 – an upbeat and versatile color family that’s calming, connecting and creative.
There’s a trio of shades for next year – the light blue Mellow Flow™, the dark blue Slow Swing™ and the vibrant Free Groove™ – so everyone can find a style that works for them. The harmonious collection of signature indigos is just what we need in our homes, according to the results of the company’s extensive annual trend research.
“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.”
She adds that the three color palettes will help create living environments that fit everyone’s individual decorative needs. “To reflect these various moods – and because we understand that color is emotion and therefore personal – we’ve chosen a family of colors for 2026. They’re centered around three different rhythms that offer endless scope for changing the pace of your space.”
The colors, textures and special effects that take center stage in the Rhythm of Blues collection have been designed to strike a chord in a wide range of markets. Along with decorative paints, inspirational palettes have also been created for the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, metal furniture, lighting, cabinetry, flooring, building products and architecture markets.
“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,” says Daniel Geiger Campos, Global Director of AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints business and member of the Executive Committee. “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.”
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.
