Experts make shocking prediction for dating trends in 2026 and some may surprise you

Dating experts have revealed what they believe 2026 will hold for singletons, and ultimately, how the approach and green flags are changing.

Thanks to advancements in technology, dating apps are pretty normal and plentiful if you are hoping to find a match. Now, while successes may vary person to person, at the bare minimum it has given companies a lot of data and an ability to understand what people are going for.

Tinder has spoken out about what it expects the dating trends of 2026 will be, as 2025 comes to a close in just under a month. The dating app company stated people are ‘heading into 2026 more open, honest, and emotionally fluent than ever’ and that will ultimately make 2026 the year of ‘no mixed signals’

Chief Marketing Officer at Tinder Melissa Hobley said: “We’ve all got enough going on and dating shouldn’t feel like another deadline.

People in 2026 will be 'clear-coding' when it comes to dating (Getty Stock Image)

“Singles are looking for a connection that feels easy, honest and a little bit fun. They’re done overthinking every message and overanalyzing every match. Dating should add a spark, not more stress.

“You can already see that energy in what’s shaping 2026 - singles are saying exactly what they want, standing for what they believe in, and leading with honesty and openness. Being emotionally available doesn’t make you cringe, it makes you interesting.”

In a wider press release, Tinder revealed more data regarding what they expect for the coming year. Asking a bunch of singles in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia between October and November this year, they got a clearer picture of what people want.

Sixty-four percent of 4,000 young singles (18-25) surveyed told Tinder that emotional honesty is 'what dating needs most', while 60 percent are calling for clearer communication around intentions. Tinder went on to call this ‘clear-coding’, clearly explaining what you want and are looking for in a partner.

Daters will wanting emotional clarity and optimism going forward, according to Tinder (Getty Stock Image)

They added on top of this, they expect Emotional Vibe coding to be big in 2026, something Hobley touched on.

In their press release, Tinder stated: “Daters in 2026 will be balancing talking and feeling, showing they want meaningful chemistry without emotional over-complication. 56 percent say honest conversations matter most, 45 percent want more empathy after rejection and ‘hopeful’ was the top word to describe dating in 2026. In short, hope is hot, and singles aren’t afraid to show it!"

So, all of us hoping to meet their match in the next year, best of luck.