Top Dating Trends for 2026: Andrea McGinty from 33000Dates.com and Other Global Dating Experts Reveal What Singles Want in the New Year
NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A panel of the world's leading love experts, representing 100+ combined years of experience, thousands of marriages, and clients across USA, Europe, and Asia reveal Top Dating Trends for 2026.
From boomers reinventing love in midlife to the return of in-person dating and a rise in globalized relationships, these experts agree: 2026 will be the year singles date smarter, intentionally, and more authentically than before.
The insights begin with Andrea McGinty, widely known as the Godmother of Modern Dating, who brings 35 years of experience, 10,000+ marriages, and pioneering status as the founder of It's Just Lunch, built 110 locations and sold to private equity. Today she runs 33000dates.com, guiding successful clients ages 45–65 through their second-act love stories.
1. Baby Boomers and Generation X Are Leading a New Dating Revolution: "Gray Dating" Goes Mainstream
McGinty reports a 23% spike in these age groups joining online dating since 2022. In contrast to singles in their 20s and 30s who are using dating apps less and less, Singles 45–65 are increasingly relying on dating apps and are the most active demographic she works with.
What Baby Boomer and Gen X want in 2026:
- Ages 45–55: Most remain open to marriage
- Ages 55+: prefer L.T.R.M. — Increasingly, older Americans seek Long-Term Relationship, Marriage-Free
- 85% of singles 45–65 report interest in active, healthy sex lives
"This generation is nothing like their parents," McGinty says. "They're healthier, younger-minded, and realize they will live longer than their parents did and thus, redefine partnership on their own terms. They now expect to live to be 85-95 and want to share the last 3rd of their lives with a partner."
2. Inter-Ethnic Pairing Becomes the New Norm
by Anisa Hassan, CEO of Date High Flyers International
With global mobility at an all-time high and digital nomad culture booming, Hassan sees a sharp rise in inter-ethnic relationships.
"Singles today reject the old idea of 'stick to your race,'" she says. "They value emotional compatibility over cultural sameness," says Singapore-based matchmaker Anisa Hassan. "Families are also softening around what is 'acceptable' in marriage."
3. Multiple Citizenship Becomes a Dating Flex
by Lisa Purdum, Founder & CEO of E3 Matchmaking
In a globally mobile world, "passport privilege" becomes a surprising compatibility marker.
Clients find multi-citizenship appealing because it:
- Signals worldliness
- Offers lifestyle flexibility
- Opens pathways to living abroad
- Provides safety during political shifts
"A dual-citizen couple is the new power couple," Purdum explains.
4. Parallel Lives Dating — Love Without Lifestyle Merging
by Anisa Hassan
For high-achieving singles with established careers, kids, and routines, 2026 will normalize relationships where partners live in different cities or countries.
"These singles want emotional safety — but not co-dependency," Hassan explains. "They're choosing love without major lifestyle disruption or merging households."
5. The Return to Real Life: In-Person Dating Makes a Comeback
by Dr. Frankie Bashan, CEO of Little Gay Book & Little Black Book
After years of app fatigue and digital overwhelm, Dr. Frankie predicts a strong resurgence of in-person dating.
"People are exhausted by virtual connection," she says. "They're craving real eye contact, chemistry, and real-world energy again."
She also forecasts:
- A rise in casual encounters
- Expanded acceptance of non-monogamy
- Growing interest in age-gap relationships
6. Intelligent Dating: Matchmakers Become New Personal Trainers
by Jill Vandor, Founder of Allure Matchmaking
High achievers are treating their love lives like an investment.
- "These clients already have executive coaches, trainers, strategists," Vandor says. "Matchmaking fits naturally into that ecosystem."
She also identifies two major shifts:
- "Swipe Hangovers" — singles are burned out on apps
- A push toward real human vetting over AI-driven conversations
7. Authenticity Beats AI — "Messy Is the New Sexy"
by Jill Vandor
Singles are turned off by polished, bot-written messages.
"People can spot AI charm a mile away," she says. "In 2026, the flex is realness, even if there's a typo."
8 LinkedIn Quietly Becomes a Dating Tool
by Lisa Purdum
With workplace romance declining, LinkedIn is the new vetting tool.
"Singles trust LinkedIn profiles more than social media and dating profiles. They'll begin meeting through DMs, mutual connections, and professional circles." Purdum predicted. "LinkedIn will give them a sense of trust in who they are meeting as they look at their career steps and how they interact professionally."
9. Therapy-Literate Dating Becomes the Gold Standard
by Jill Vandor
Singles now want partners with:
- Emotional intelligence
- Accountability
- Nervous-system regulation
- Conflict-repair skills
"Singles with self-awareness are in high demand," she says. "Drama is out. Repair is in."
10. The Rise of Next-Gen Social Clubs
by Lisa Purdum
As fewer people meet at work, singles are joining curated clubs to expand their social worlds.
This includes:
- Semi-exclusive activity clubs
- Special-interest social memberships
- High-rises with built-in social programming
- Residential hubs with bars, events, concierge services
More about:
Andrea McGinty — Founder, 33000Dates.com & It's Just Lunch
Andrea McGinty is one of the most recognized dating strategists in the U.S., known for founding It's Just Lunch and later launching 33000Dates.com, where she has personally coached over 33,000 singles. With three decades of industry leadership, she specializes in modern dating strategy, online dating coaching, profile makeovers, and personalized matchmaking guidance for high-achieving professionals in their 2nd Acts.
Website: https://33000dates.com
Jill Vandor — Founder, Allure Matchmaking
Jill Vandor is the founder of Allure Matchmaking, a boutique agency specializing in personalized, high-touch introduction services for discerning professionals. With over 25 years of experience, she is the go-to matchmaker for high net-worth singles. Jill is known for her intuitive matching style, deep client vetting, and results-driven approach to intentional dating.
Website: https://www.allurematchmaking.com
Anisa Hassan — Founder, Date High Flyers International
Anisa Hassan is Southeast Asia's leading luxury matchmaker and CEO of Date High Flyers International, a premier agency serving affluent professionals across Singapore, Dubai, and global hubs. Known for her "Black Label" VIP service, she has been featured as a top expert in elite relationship matching.
Website: https://datehighflyers.com
Black Label: https://datehighflyers.com/black-label/
Lisa Purdum — Founder & CEO, E3 Matchmaking
Lisa Purdum is the founder and CEO of E3 Matchmaking. With 25 years of matchmaking experience and a background in performance coaching and business strategy, her E3 methodology - Expanded, Elevated and Effortless - has attracted a national clientele seeking a new way to meet aligned matches by creating expansion while staying elevated in who they meet.
Website: https://www.e3matchmaking.com
Dr. Frankie Bashan — Founder, Little Gay Book & Little Black Book Matchmaking
Dr. Frankie Bashan is a clinical psychologist and founder of two leading matchmaking brands: Little Gay Book, a premier LGBTQ+ matchmaking service, and Little Black Book Matchmaking, serving high-end heterosexual clients. She is also known for her YouTube advice channel covering modern dating, relationships, and compatibility science.
Websites:
• https://www.littlegaybook.com
•https://www.littleblackbookmatchmaking.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drfrankiebashan
Media Contact:
Kat Fleischman
3054905911
SOURCE 33000Dates.com
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