Get Ready To Make A Statement In One Of The Boldest Trending Colors Of Summer 2026

Everyone loves color for summer, but the exact shade of the season changes from year to year. Yellow has been a 2020s summer staple (even Kate Middleton jumped on the butter yellow trend in 2025), and early reports touted purple as the color of summer 2026, but a new challenger has emerged: aqua blue. 

"Aqua blue is having a moment right now," Jeannie Stith, CEO of Color Guru, exclusively confirmed for Women.com. "After years of playing it safe with neutrals, this shade feels fresh without being intimidating. It has the calming quality we associate with water and the sky, but it's warmer, brighter, and more playful than more traditional blues." It's the perfect balance between visual clutter and putting you to sleep.

Another point in aqua's favor: while it's more daring than your basic beiges, it does have a neutral quality in that it can look good on anyone. "Aqua works on so many people," Stith elaborates. "It's not just one color—there are softer sea-glass versions, vibrant turquoise versions, and everything in between. That makes it a trend that's actually wearable."

When it comes to working aqua into your summer 2026 looks, the most important consideration is tone. The same color theory you use to tailor your makeup to your skin tone can be used to select a shade of aqua. "The key is choosing the one that complements your natural coloring and wearing that one close to your face," Jeannie Stith exclusively revealed to Women.com. That means, if your skin tone is more golden than pink, try a warmer, greener aqua. On the cool side? Choose a chillier blue.

In terms of pairing, the sky is the limit, but there are a few fundamentals to keep in mind depending on the vibe you're going for. "Since aqua isn't a neutral, pairing it with light classic neutrals like white, cream, light grey, or beige is an easy way to create a soothing outfit with a pop of color," Stith continues. "If you're going for a brighter overall look, it can work well with soft coral, lavender, and petal pink as well."

The biggest rule, however, is to have fun. It's truly hard to go wrong with this shade. "Aqua instantly gives outfits a relaxed, tropical feel while still looking polished, which makes it perfect for summer," Stith declared. "People are ready for color again."