Pistachio green has been crowned the trendiest colour of 2026, according to a survey of 2,000 adults. The soft green hue beat rivals such as sage green, chocolate brown and butter yellow to top the list of shades that best reflect the mood of the year so far.
More than six in 10 (62%) said they had noticed the popular shade appearing more frequently in their daily lives, from food and drink to fashion, interiors and social media posts. The trend is particularly strong among younger generations, with 89% of Gen Z and 77% of Millennials noticing the colour more often in 2026.
Colour Influences Taste and Memory
The research, commissioned by Samsung to coincide with the launch of the Galaxy S26 FE, found that colour trends also influence taste and behaviour. Some 66% of Gen Z and 55% of Millennials said they have found themselves liking a shade more after seeing it repeatedly in fashion.
Colours can also act as a trigger for memories, with 46% saying certain hues transport them back to a specific stage in their lives. The study found 28% associate a particular colour with their childhood, 23% with their teenage years, and 50% say shades bring back memories of a particular decade.
Technology and Personal Style
Annika Bizon, from Samsung UK & Ireland, said: “Colour has an incredible ability to capture a moment. We remember the shades of the clothes we wore, the interiors we loved and even the technology we carried, and together they become part of how we picture an era.”
The importance of colour is especially clear in technology, as 61% believe an unusual colour makes a tech product stand out, while 52% think the right colour can make technology feel more fashionable and 51% said it can make a tech product feel more personal. Younger adults are more likely to see device colour as part of their identity, with 61% of Gen Z and 57% of Millennials viewing it as part of their personal style, compared with just 20% of over 60s.
Top 10 Colours of 2026
Some shades have become so synonymous with their moment that they risk instantly dating whatever they appear on, according to 63%. Avocado green was named the colour most likely to make something look like it belongs to another era, followed by mustard yellow, chocolate brown and burnt orange.
The top 10 colours that represent the mood of 2026 are: pistachio green, sage green, chocolate brown, beige/cream, butter yellow, cobalt blue, burgundy, cherry/tomato red, jade green and orange.
Bizon added: “Pistachio feels particularly right for 2026 because we're seeing this fresh, expressive shade move beyond one trend or category and into so many different parts of culture, from food and fashion to interiors and design. Technology is increasingly an extension of personal style too. We carry our phones everywhere, so people understandably want a device that doesn't just perform brilliantly but feels personal to them.”
