The Colours That Will Define 2026
And How Banarasi Is Quietly Owning Them
Colour forecasting used to be about novelty. Today, it is about psychology. Editors at Business of Fashion and The Cut have repeatedly pointed out that luxury consumers are tired of loudness. They are gravitating toward colours that feel lived-in, intentional, and emotionally grounding.
For 2026, the palette is unmistakably muted. Ivory, antique white, blush, soft pistachio, oxidised gold, wine, clay, stone grey, and warm taupe are dominating runways and editorials. Harper’s Bazaar has described this as “luxury without performance.”
Banarasi fabric responds to these colours in a way very few textiles can. Because of zari interplay, muted shades appear layered rather than flat. Critics writing in The Indian Express have observed that muted Banarasi often looks richer than bright Banarasi because the weave, not the colour, takes centre stage.
Internationally, designers like Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino and Phoebe Philo have championed colour restraint as a marker of confidence. Indian luxury is mirroring this philosophy, and Banarasi fits seamlessly into it.
Instagram editors and stylists are already styling ivory Banarasi with antique gold jewellery, wine Banarasi with barely-there makeup, and pastel Banarasi with architectural blouses. Pages like Diet Sabya frequently decode why these colour choices feel expensive even when silhouettes are simple.
In 2026, Banarasi will not shout colour. It will whisper it. And that whisper will be unmistakably luxurious.