Every year , New York Fashion Week sets the tone for fashion, design, and beauty trends. The Pantone colors released for Spring/Summer 2026 showcase an exciting blend of tranquility, optimism, and creative expression—perfect for bringing to our nails!

At emmi®NAIL, we interpret the season's colors in a modern, wearable way – with high-quality gels and nail art products that turn your nails into true fashion statements.

An overview of the Pantone color trends for 2026

The color palette for summer 2026 is all about natural lightness and fresh energy . Pantone showcases combinations of:

• Soft neutral and beige tones such as sand, latte and mocha

• Warm earth tones and bronze accents create elegance with depth.

• Delicate pastels – from rosé to sky blue

• Strong signal colors like red and coral pink

The foundation consists of neutral tones that can be easily combined with other colors:

This diversity also opens up new possibilities in nail design – from minimalist French looks to striking metallic highlights.

Here's how to implement the trend colors of 2026 with emmi®NAIL

To bring Pantone inspiration to your nails, we recommend our emmi®NAIL color gels , which fit perfectly into the trend palette.

💅 Tip: Use Sealing Glitter Silver as a topcoat to create the glittering accents of the catwalks – subtle, elegant and long-lasting.

Nail design inspiration: step-by-step

1. Preparation: File nails, degrease them and prepare with base gel.

2. Color application: Use a soft tone (e.g., Sandy Beige) as a base.

3. Add an accent: Highlight one or two nails with a colored gel of your choice.

4. Glitter & Sealing: Finish with Top Sealing Glitter Silver to reflect the light of the Pantone trend colors.

5. Finish: Allow to cure for 60 seconds under the LED lamp – and the NYFW 2026 look is complete.

Why trendy colors are important in nail design

Fashion, beauty, and design are increasingly converging. Those who adopt current Pantone trend colors early position themselves as innovative nail artists or studio owners .
For end customers, this creates the feeling of being "on the pulse of the times" – for studios, it means differentiation and a professional brand image.

Conclusion – Pantone colors 2026 as inspiration for modern nail art

The 2026 season is all about soft natural tones, sparkling accents and vibrant energy .
With emmi®NAIL color gels, you can bring the look of New York Fashion Week directly into the studio – elegant, modern and always an eye-catcher.

✨ Discover now: View color gels at emmi®NAIL

✨ Discover now: Shellac trend colors 2026

And for those who want to know more about the Pantone Color of the Year, here is some additional information:

What is the Pantone Color of the Year?

Every year, the Pantone Color Institute selects a color that reflects the zeitgeist, the mood, and global design trends: the Pantone Color of the Year . It serves as inspiration for fashion, interior design, graphic design, and beauty trends —and, of course, for modern nail designs .

For over 20 years, this decision has shaped which colors will dominate our clothing, accessories, and nails in the coming seasons. But how exactly is this famous color choice made?

How does Pantone choose the color of the year?

The Pantone team observes global trends in art, fashion, film, technology and society .
This involves analyzing influences from culture, the environment, architecture, travel, and social media . The goal is to find a color that symbolically expresses what people worldwide feel or seek – be it hope, peace, strength, or optimism.

The chosen color therefore stands not only for aesthetics, but also for emotion and zeitgeist .

Examples from recent years:

• 2024 – Peach Fuzz (Pantone 13-1023): a delicate peach tone for compassion and gentleness.

• 2023 – Viva Magenta (18-1750): a strong red tone, symbol of strength and courage.

• 2022 – Very Peri (17-3938): a vibrant blue-violet representing creativity and change.

Why is the Pantone Color of the Year so influential?

The Pantone Color of the Year is far more than just a trend – it provides creative inspiration in all areas of design.
Fashion labels, cosmetic brands and product designers often incorporate this color into their collections.
In the beauty world, she inspires new nail polish and color gel collections , make-up palettes and packaging designs.

At emmi®NAIL, we draw inspiration from the Pantone color each year to develop current color gels that perfectly capture the spirit of the times – ideal for nail salons that want to delight their customers with trendy looks.

Pantone and nail design – color as a statement

The Pantone Color of the Year is perfect for creating modern nail art looks :

• Solid color and elegant on all nails

• French design with accent color

• Color gradients (ombre) in combination with nude or metallic tones

• Glitter or chrome effects to create depth

This is how a trendy color becomes an individual style that perfectly suits the season – and every skin tone.

Conclusion – More than just a color

The Pantone Color of the Year is a symbol of how color connects emotions, trends, and lifestyle.
It inspires designers all over the world – and can also be wonderfully implemented in nail design .

Whether soft like Peach Fuzz , elegant like Mocha Mousse or bold like Viva Magenta – every color tells a story.
And with the appropriate emmi®NAIL color and effect gels, this story becomes visible on the nails.