London has just been bathed in golden tones, as the Pantone Color Institute unveils Yellow 25—a striking new art installation at Wembley Park. Created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Coldplay’s Yellow, the large-scale public artwork transforms the Spanish Steps into a glowing canvas where music and design converge. For fans, it is both a nod to the Coldplay Yellow release and a reminder of how profoundly sound and color can intertwine.
Pantone color translates music into a visual journey
The Spanish Steps, which connect Wembley Stadium with the OVO Arena, have been reimagined as a radiant Pantone color swatch. Each of the 58 steps has been matched to a distinct shade of yellow from the Pantone Matching System. Beginning with pale, muted tones and ascending into luminous golds, the gradient mirrors the emotional arc of the song itself.
According to Jane Boddy, creative director at the Pantone Color Institute, the project set out to capture the emotional resonance of Coldplay’s music in visual form. The collaboration suggests that color, like melody, is capable of telling a story—one that begins softly and builds toward brilliance.
Coldplay’s Yellow release: a song that defined an era
When Coldplay Yellow first hit the airwaves in June 2000, it became the band’s breakout anthem and one of their most enduring tracks. Two and a half decades later, Wembley Park and Pantone have transformed the memory of that release into something visitors can walk across, sit on, and fully immerse themselves in.
Claudio Giambrone, head of cultural programming at Wembley Park, has noted that the district is defined by music and shared experiences. For him, Yellow 25 reflects both the song’s cultural legacy and Wembley Park’s ongoing role as a hub for creativity and performance.
Music of the Spheres World Tour: a perfect backdrop
The timing of Yellow 25 is no accident. The installation coincides with Coldplay’s highly anticipated ten-night residency at Wembley Stadium, part of the Music of the Spheres world tour, which began in 2022 and culminates in London this September. Nearly a million fans are expected to pass through Wembley Park during the shows, turning the steps into a living intersection of art, music, and community.
With Yellow 25, Pantone has transformed a simple walkway into an emotional landscape, celebrating optimism, memory, and the universal language of creativity. Much like the original song, the installation feels timeless—an enduring reminder that music and art are most powerful when they work together.
Photography by BEN PIPE