C2 Paint Announces Its 2026 Color of the Year

As the Color of the Year picks continue to roll in, we’ve seen many paint companies lean into warm, earthy shades with their selections, like rich browns and calming greens. With its 2026 Color of the Year selection, C2 Paint is no exception to the trend.

This year, the brand has chosen C2 Epernay #639, a refined soft ochre that offers a sense of grounding. Named after the French village known for its rolling vineyards and limestone architecture, C2 Epernay channels the welcoming warmth of the countryside.

“C2 Epernay has long been tied to European influences and is now emerging in contemporary design for its classic, versatile ambiance. This historic hue helps us retell the wondrous stories woven through history via the inseparable threads of color, art, furnishings, and nature. It reminds us to appreciate the personal touches that make a home uniquely ours—and to live with reverence for the stories we’re creating every day,” said Philippa Radon, interior designer and C2 color specialist.

Historically, this pale, sophisticated yellow—a mix of delicate champagne hues and warm stone with a golden glow—was prominent in European interiors during the Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical periods. It was admired for its versatility, warmth, and connection to the natural world, according to C2. Today, it brings that same age-old elegance to modern spaces, including kitchen cabinets and living room walls.

In addition to the Color of the Year, C2 Paint also designed an entire color palette around the selection. The En Terre palette for 2026—which includes Epernay, Parador 922 (a rich taupe), Spearmint 700 (a mint green), Potato Leek 914 (a velvety beige), Snow Sky BD15 (a blue-grey), and Blueberry BD26 (a purple-blue)—harkens back to the “lived-in tones of generational gardens, weathered facades, and natural fibers warmed by sunlight,” according to the brand.