New Zealand’s Dulux Colour and Design Specialist Davina Harper, shares the 2026 Colour Forecast from the Dulux Colour team. The annual Dulux Colour Forecast is grounded in extensive, year-round research into global and local trends set to shape Kiwi interior design and the way we live. Since its inception in 1999, the forecast has become a trusted guide for designers, architects and homeowners alike. The three 2026 palettes are about a sense of tenderness and connection through colour.

Modern living room with a mustard sectional sofa, red accents, and large window with curtains

Evoke Palette

Dulux Evoke is an optimistic, bold and expressive palette that channels individuality, reminiscence and emotional warmth.

This palette celebrates the resurgence of maximalism and individual style, a desire for change and support for local and global designers. Rooted in vintage aesthetics it embraces imperfection and cherishes treasures, blending elements of the past and future to create a fresh and eclectic style.

The colours in Dulux Evoke lean into rich, comforting tones instead of brights. This creates depth, character and warmth. Clay pinks like Dulux Benhar, muted oranges such as Dulux Ligar Bay and warm mustard golds like Dulux Desert Road form a versatile base, while dramatic shades, including Dulux Warkworth, Dulux Red Jacks, Dulux Wink and Dulux Deep Aqua, add contrast and a cultured edge.

modern living room with brown sofa, neutral walls, and large glass windows

The Elemental Palette

Dulux Elemental offers a calm, grounded counterbalance to the overwhelm of modern life.

This palette is a tonal, grounded and built around warm whites and neutrals such as Dulux Whale Bay and Dulux Duvauchelle. Elemental is enriched with golden brown hues such as Dulux Kingsland and Dulux Herald Island. Subtle layers of warm grey, including Dulux Godley Head and Dulux Boulder Beach, bring stillness and structure, while darker charcoal tones add depth and dimension.

soft pastel modern living room

The Ethereal Palette

Dulux Ethereal invites a soft form of escapism, creating playful and whimsical spaces filled with serenity, tenderness, and a dreamlike sense of calm.

This palette features a delicate pastel-like blend of soft and mid-tone hues, gentle greens, mauves, and blush pinks that evoke a sense of serenity and joy. With romantic tones like Dulux Snowdon Forest, Dulux Different Pink and Dulux Mask, alongside subtle pastels such as Dulux Wainui Beach, Dulux Lake Camp and Dulux Waitiki Landing, this palette feels playful, uplifting, and quietly luxurious.

soft pink modern dining room

Behind the scenes with the Dulux Colour Forecast Team

The Dulux Colour Team closely collaborates with international brands, attends design shows and seminars, runway presentations and global events such as Milan Design Week. They also draw from customised trend research and insights accessed through Dulux’s global network across the UK, Europe and Asia-Pacific. As members of the Color Marketing Group (CMG), they analyse key reports from CMG as well as forecasting firms such as Color Hive-Mix Magazine and LS:N Global to ensure the forecasting reflects what’s ahead.