Yesterday was probably one of the scariest Sundays of all time – the first Sunday of the year and the last before the holiday season FINALLY came to an end.
The whole day made me feel like I was spending the last, ungodly hours on the gateway to hell. And time? The only obstacle between the last holiday and the harsh reality of a Monday morning.
Interestingly, for most active dates, Sunday is literally the best day of the month, if not the week.
In the past decade of dating apps going mainstream, the year’s first Sunday has won itself a nickname: Dating Sunday. And data supports this by showing a significant rise in two things:
- Dating app downloads.
- Dating app activity.
In this context, Michael Kaye, the director of brand communications and marketing at OkCupid, told Cosmopolitan, “Since Dating Sunday was first identified, it’s become cemented as a cultural moment in modern dating. The first Sunday of January continues to deliver high engagement across dating platforms, driven by singles embracing fresh starts, renewed intentions, and a willingness to put themselves back out there.”
Moreover, Dating Sunday is not about going back to mindless swiping out of boredom. Rather, it is a moment of reflection across the globe – and not just that, it’s also about hitting the ‘reset’ button.
While we might be familiar with the toxic cycle of uninstalling and installing dating apps, Dating Sunday marks something opposite.
The start of the year marks a new chapter characterized by intention, optimism, and clarity. And isn’t that what we all want from our romantic relationships?
So, here I am ready to discuss how Dating Sundays are bringing back something positive in our lives. Stay tuned.
Top Dating Sunday Trends Of 2026: What We Expected?
Like I was saying, Dating Sunday is more about starting a new chapter, a new year with better intentions and positivity – the idea is to be more optimistic about finding love and happiness.
Interestingly, Michael Kaye had more to say to Cosmopolitan in this context, “The start of a new year is when people think about what’s worked, what didn’t, and what they want more of – and for many singles, that reflection naturally extends to their dating lives. Daters are ready to turn the page, put themselves back out there, and be more intentional about the connections they make.”
This is very true – Dating Sunday not just welcomes new daters into a vast dating pool, but rather sets an optimistic tone about the rest of the year. How?
It reflects the dating trends, goals of people, and the mindsets of everyone as well – all these things together set the foundation of how people are planning to look for love in the new year.
On that note, I have laid out the top dating trends of 2026 that dating experts across the globe expect to kick off in the first weekend of the year:
1. Intention And Effort:
The brand marketing director of OkCupid does agree with us on this one! There is a clear and significant shift towards intentional dating.
Someone who is single is now approaching relationships with a certain amount of intention, much like you would do for your career – the same levels of purpose and thoughtfulness.
The point? To prioritize emotional compatibility, alignment, and depth over surface-level parameters.
In this context, Logan Ury, the Lead Relationship Scientist at Hinge, told Cosmopolitan, “People are looking for someone who is intentional and puts in effort, a match who makes a plan and follows through.”
To add to this fact, Hinge’s data highlights how 72% of women on the dating app have picked ‘effrot’ as the main parameter they are searching for in their potential connections. It reflects a wider niche of daters looking for relationships that are emotionally engaging, consistent, and intentional.
2. Clarity:
There is no doubt about this one. All my peers who are actively using dating apps are united about this one, and data support it as well.
More and more active dating app users are being honest about what they are seeking.
In fact, Hinge has a feature called ‘Intention’ – you can set your goals and even communicate about the same to your potential matches on the app.
In this context, Ury told Cosmopolitan, “According to our research, daters are craving more meaningful connections. That’s why we’re seeing a move toward clearer communication and visible effort. Daters want to know where someone stands and build something that actually goes somewhere.”
3. Connect More, Pressurize Less:
But while most active daters are seeking intention and clarity, that does not mean they are looking for a high-stress experience.
According to most relationship experts, younger singles are leaning towards dating experiences with less stress and low pressure.
Instead of pursuing high-cost or high-effort dating experiences, these singles are making connection a priority instead of performance.
And in the process, these individuals are gravitating towards low-stress ways of meeting someone for the first time – no wonder coffee dates are making a comeback. The whole point is to hang out casually and connect, instead of committing too much too soon.
That way, you are giving yourself, your potential partner, and the entire experience a fair shot at authenticity and chemistry.
Additionally, this soft is not about lowering your standards. Instead, it is about changing them – your self-awareness, intentionality, and thoughtfulness make you attractive. So, why not stick to connecting instead of worrying about the end goal?
4. Emotional Intimacy:
Across popular and underrated dating apps, we see an increasing need to move beyond impulsive decision-making based only on pictures and a bio. Instead, the idea is to move towards a holistic experience – to explore someone’s authentic side for real.
It is completely understandable – we are finally embracing our authentic selves and prioritizing what matters over surface-level. Of course, this shift is especially seen in Gen Z.
Also, there’s this whole desire that seems to be growing amongst active daters – a need for something deeper and more genuine. Interestingly, this highlights how the new year is going to be a year that is less about surface-level engagement and more about emotional intimacy.
So, if you want to prioritize your love life and make it a part of your resolutions, then it’s time you install a dating app and get control of your life back – happy swiping!
Dating Sunday: 5 Tips To Remember
Before you download that app, here are 5 tips to check out about Dating Sunday:
1. Update Your Dating App Profile:
Before you are ready to face singles on any popular dating app, it is best to update your dating app profile – and ensure everything is accurate and current. For example, you cannot use pictures from three years ago – instead, you need a recent photograph.
Also, you can share insights about your life. For instance, “I am grateful for 2025. In the new year, here’s what I want to work on:”
2. Keep Things Short And Sweet:
Your profile on a dating app is not supposed to look like an abridged version of Twilight. Instead, keep it simple, short, and somewhat sweet – nobody wants to read an encyclopedia.
For instance, you can just say “Hello, it’s 2026, and I am looking for something special this year, while I’m grateful for 2025. If this is something that you have been looking for too, then we can get to know each other.”
3. Highlight What You Are Seeking:
You will not visit a supermarket specifically looking for ready-to-eat pasta, yet tell people there you are looking for noodles – you wouldn’t, right?
Just like that, it is best to highlight your needs and values, and give potential connections clarity on what you are seeking on the dating app.
This can include what kind of relationship you are seeking, since users on dating apps might be looking for so many different things – from marriage to casual sex.
4. Don’t Put Pressure On Being Funny:
Here’s an important thing about having a good sense of humor: you can’t really force it – and most importantly, it doesn’t come across as a good thing in many situations.
So, sometimes, you can ditch the ‘pressure’ to be funny and just opt for conversation starters – humor will organically follow during the conversation.
5. Have Fun:
While having a good sense of humor is not always possible, it is good to have some fun in the process.
Moreover, when you are having fun, remember it’s not just about being interesting – it’s also about being interested.
Ask your potential matches questions – and get to know them better. The best part? Even if you don’t form a connection, atleast you can take a conscious decision after getting to know someone better.
