We asked a licensed relationship therapist to share her predictions for trends she expects to see in the coming new year
BY SOFIE ROOS, IMAGE BY DEAN DROBOT/CANVA
Are you curious about how we will date in 2026? I’m Sofie Roos, a licensed sexologist and relationship therapist, as well as author at the Swedish sex and relationship magazine Passionerad. Here are my top eight predictions.
Quality over quantity
People are sick of dating for the sake of just dating. It would be safe to presume many will be more restrictive with who they put time and effort into seeing. With that said, when they choose someone, they’ll do it extra full-heartedly.
Waiting longer before having sex
Many queer women and non-binary people are longing to build up something stronger emotionally before getting tangled between the sheets. Therefore, we’ll see more sapphics date with a focus on getting to know each other and building up an emotional connection before taking each other’s clothes off.
Less apps, more IRL flirting
Yeah, folks are tired of those apps. While some people meet their person through their dating apps, many do not have the same experience. There’s evidently a longing for real connections and to flirt with the people we meet. So, buckle up and get ready to be approached while going about your day-to-day.
Dating for fun without pressure
Many people have dated because it feels thrown upon them to find someone. The consequence of dating due to expectations means that it loses a bit of the fun of meeting someone new. I predict we’ll see more sapphics dating with a relaxed approach where they want it to be fun and stimulating instead of forced.
Finding dates through community events
There’s been a boom of lesbian, sapphic and queer IRL community events. It’s been steadily on the rise since the lockdowns of the pandemic came to an end. More and more people will continue to show up and try to find someone to flirt with at these events. So, if you want to date, you can expect signing up for queer pub nights or runners’ clubs to be a good place to start.
Online dating will get more personalised
While many sapphics will be saying goodbye to the apps and looking to move their dating lives offline, there will still be many trying out online dating. I hope we see more apps and websites will evolve to be more based on who their users are, their preferences and will give them more tailored matches based on these. This will hopefully lead to a highter frequency of good connections via online platforms.
Dating without a relationship label
This goes hand in hand with more sapphics wanting to have a fun time when dating. I believe we’ll see an increase in “situationships”, which eventually can lead to an even more confusing dating landscape. So, with this in mind, it’ll become even more important to communicate your intentions and what you’re feeling.
Activity-based dates early on
Instead of taking a coffee or grabbing a few drinks, I think sapphics will show bigger interest in doing activities on the first dates, such as going to an art gallery, attending a concert or stand-up club, taking a walk or cooking together. Doing more active things is a great way of dating since it helps us relax better, and focus on having a fun time where we (hopefully) bond easier than if sitting down face to face over a table.
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