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Dating upgrade
The Free Press Journal - Mumbai
|January 04, 2026
Explore why modern love in 2026 values communication, personality-driven attraction, and honest relationship expectations
If you thought dating had already shown you every red flag, mixed signal, and “What are we?” conversation possible, then 2026 is here to prove there’s more.
And no, it’s not all doomscrolling and ghosting anymore. The next wave of dating trends is surprisingly thoughtful, intentional, and, dare we say... hopeful. From clarity-first connections to slow-burn attraction, relationships are getting upgraded in the coming year, and here's everything you need to know about it. Following Dating trends set to rule love lives in 2026:
Curveball-Crushing
This is what happens when your "type" suddenly stops mattering. People are finding themselves attracted to someone completely outside the usual checklist, with a different personality, a different vibe, and sometimes even a different lifestyle. Instead of panicking, daters are leaning into it. Curveball-crushing is about dropping rigid preferences and giving unexpected connections a real shot. Refreshing, right?
Love-Loreing
This story is from the January 04, 2026 edition of The Free Press Journal - Mumbai.
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