Survey: Clean Slates, Midnight Kisses & 12 Grapes: How Young Daters Are Welcoming 2026

A new year always brings a little bit of magic. Fresh intentions, fresh energy and for many daters, a fresh start in their love lives. Whether it’s setting new boundaries, manifesting love with tarot cards or hoping for one last text from your ex (we see you), January has become one of the biggest reset moments in modern dating. 

To understand how Gen Z and Millennial Americans are approaching their 2026 romantic resolutions, Hily surveyed 3,000 daters. Here’s what they shared about reinvention, rituals and promises they hope to keep—at least through January.

Before we dive in, some key findings from our survey:

• 71% of Gen Z and Millennial Americans see the new year as a chance to reinvent their dating lives, and 72% say they’re entering 2026 with a “clean slate.”
• 42% of Gen Z and 38% of Millennial Americans plan to set dating resolutions for 2026, even though nearly half already know they’ll break at least one before January ends.
• 63% and 60% of Gen Z and Millennial Americans, respectively, want to go on more dates and meet new people next year.
• 35% of young American daters are planning a midnight kiss specifically to “set the tone” for their 2026 love life.
• And many are leaning into manifestation: 24% of Gen Z and Millennial daters will use something spiritual, like crystals, tarot, or astrology, to attract love, while 35% of Gen Z and 31% of Millennials plan to wear red or pink on New Year’s Eve for good romantic luck.

A New Year, A New You (But Like, for Real This Time)

A fresh calendar feels like permission to test a fresh personality. Of those surveyed, 71% of young American daters say the new year gives them a chance to reinvent their dating life. From bolder first dates to stronger boundaries to finally addressing their situationship’s “what are we?” energy, January isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s also an emotional rebrand.

Surprisingly, only about one in three Gen Z and Millennial daters have made a formal dating resolution before. For many, New Year’s intentions focus on wellness or career movement, but now, love is also joining the list. 

Among those who have set romantic resolutions before, their goals reveal exactly what they’re craving (or wanting to leave behind) as we enter the new year.

• 47% promised to go on more first dates and meet new people
• 46% aimed to be more emotionally open
• 26% swore they’d finally cut ties with an ex

And as the year wraps up, daters are open to stepping out of their comfort zone to meet someone new before the calendar flips. Maybe 2026 is the year of transparency, and feelings are finally getting the hard launch.

We all set goals with good intentions, but here’s where optimism meets reality. Only 27% of Gen Z and 31% of Millennials kept their resolutions all year long. The rest? Let’s just say those dating resolutions are laying with the unused gym membership they purchased.

The 2026 Resolution Report Card

And yet, hope springs eternal: 42% of Gen Z and 38% of Millennials are still planning to set new dating resolutions for 2026. Even if they know their track record with keeping resolutions, they’re not shying away from a new beginning, and isn’t that the spirit of New Year’s? 

For those entering 2026 with a refreshed dating game plan, going on more dates and meeting new people was the top goal (63% of Gen Z, 60% of Millennials). More than half (53%) of Gen Z and 43% of Millennials are setting goals to be more open about their feelings, while others (30% of Gen Z, 27% of Millennials) simply want to be more active on dating apps and not let an opportunity pass them by.

This generation isn’t just chasing romance, they’re looking for emotional clarity, consistency and effort. 

Let’s be honest, just like the change of a calendar is predictable, so is the dropping of resolutions before we enter the second month. Half of Gen Z and 44% of Millennials expect to break at least one resolution before January ends. Hey, at least they’re self-aware.

Rituals, Clean Slates and Midnight Wishes

The biggest theme for 2026? Wiping the slate clean. 

Across the board, 72% of Gen Z and Millennial daters say they’re entering the new year with no exes, situationships or mixed signals—only clarity. Or at least, the intention of clarity; it’s a clean slate, not a clean sweep (some people are still hoping for that midnight text).

But … the heart is messy, regardless of our resolutions.

While the new year encourages moving forward, 23% of Gen Z and 18% of Millennials still secretly hope for a “Happy New Year” text from an ex. The clock striking midnight is the perfect time to leave their ex behind in 2025, because nothing says ‘I’ve actually moved on’ like choosing the ball drop over refreshing your notifications.

Sometimes, being more active on the apps isn’t enough. Crystals, tarot cards, vision boards—24% of Gen Z and Millennial daters are turning to something spiritual to manifest love in 2026. Manifestation isn’t a trend: it’s a dating strategy. 

Symbolic gestures still matter. Midnight kisses are back, and so is the annual scramble to find one. Single or situationship, 35% of daters are planning a midnight kiss purely to “set the tone” for their 2026 romantic storyline. New Year’s Eve: the night of one kiss, or the night you kiss “the one.” 

Color magic is in.

This year, 35% of Gen Z and 31% of Millennials say they’ll wear red or pink to attract romance in 2026. Whether it works or not, it’s giving intentional, flirty, main-character energy. And they’ll look great while doing it. 

And when it comes to traditions, nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z daters and 1 in 4 Millennials plan to do the 12 grapes ritual; making a wish for new love with each grape at midnight. It’s equal parts superstition, symbolism and “might as well try everything.” Fruit and a fling in your future? Sounds sweet. 

2026 = Hopeful, Delusional and Ready for Love

Gen Z and Millennial daters are stepping into 2026 with a mix of idealism and realism—resolutions that might expire in a week, feelings they might finally express and exes they’re still secretly curious about.

But above all, daters are walking into the new year with intention. Whether through rituals, resolutions, manifestation or simply choosing to start with a clean slate, young Americans are redefining what a romantic reset looks like.

Because if there’s one universal truth about resolutions, it’s this: Everyone wants to start the year hopeful … even if they break their own rules by February. 

The methodology

Hily’s research team surveyed 3,000 Gen Z and Millennial Americans to understand how young daters are approaching their romantic lives heading into 2026. The study examined their New Year’s resolutions, emotional priorities, dating rituals, manifestation habits, and expectations for starting the year with a clean slate.

About Hily

Hily (pronounced like ‘highly’) is a dating app designed to connect singles with new people while supporting them in remaining authentic. Short for “Hey, I Like You,” it invites users to have fun and not look for a perfect match.

By encouraging everyone to date as they are, Hily is breaking one of the biggest curses of online dating—feeling pressured to hide your true self. Praising self-exploration, self-acceptance, open-mindedness, and inclusivity, the app helps people put real connections first and keep competition at bay by unlocking their unique, fabulous selves. With features like icebreakers, compatibility checks, messaging, Major Crush, and zodiac synastry, Hily helps users express who they really are and connect in genuine ways.

Launched in 2017, Hily has become one of the top 10 dating apps in US app stores, with over 39 million users worldwide.