This new year, people who are online dating are seeking to protect their time, energy, and emotional bandwidth. Finding the one is no longer just about swiping right till something catches their eye. For
many people who have had to jump over the obstacles like ghosting, benching, roster dating and more, they want 2026 to be the year when they stop wondering “where things are going” and start making purpose-driven romantic decisions.
The dating app QuackQuack recently conducted a survey among 7583 active users from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities between the ages of 22 and 35. Participants were selected from different professional and educational backgrounds for a comprehensive look at the upcoming trends.
Here’s a look at the 4 situations that will be trending this year:
The Sunset Clause
No more endless scrolling. Daters from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities shared that they are setting a clear timeline for their dating app usage, the most common being 6 months and 1 year, with some going for the “until I meet the right one.”
The sunset clause is trending in 2026 because dating is no longer just a background activity. Singles from across the country are looking for more outcome-based app usage instead of doomscrolling every day. Mindful exit plans are leading to faster and more meaningful matches, reported almost 28% of the survey participants.
Anjali (27) from Pune said, “This year I have decided to try out online dating for six months; I think it will give me a sense of purpose, and the deadline would be good for someone like me who doomscrolls even on dating apps.”
Ambition Matching
Love matters, but so do lifestyle and career choices. Over 41% of daters in 2026 prioritise career rhythm, ambition matching, and work-life balance while looking for a partner.
Vihaan, a 28-year-old CA, said, “Career matching isn’t about finding a partner in the same field; rather, it is about the same career goals, pace, and priorities. Say I am starting a business; I’d want a partner who understands the unpredictability that comes with it. In my case, I really want someone who understands how hectic my work can get, with long hours and working overtime. These things can eventually create issues in relationships.”
Retro Compatibility
Millennials above 30 are looking for their future in the past. 3 in 5 millennial daters from Tier 1 and 2 cities are seen matching based on shared nostalgia: 90s and early 2000s music, pop culture, movies, similar childhood rituals, and having lived through almost similar phases of life growing up.
Ankita (32) from Delhi, joked, “I bonded with a match over discussions on pre-social media dating while chatting on a dating app. Also, it felt great that he got all my references without having to look them up.”
Connection Reviews
18% of women and 11% of men between 25 and 35 revealed that they borrowed a workplace habit and turned it into a dating practice: intentional check-ins on ongoing matches every few weeks. They check for communication gaps, connection ruts, expectation vs reality, and emotional satisfaction.
Ashish (29), working in Bangalore, said, “It’s better than dragging a dead connection or silently wondering if things are going to go the way I want them to be. I do an internal review in my mind, and I have even looped in my matches sometimes, asking them what they feel about the connection. Trust me, it has saved me a lot of time and energy on the wrong people.”
