Lonely and tired of dating apps, young adults are reinventing what "partying" looks like

"In 2026, quitting smoking and joining a gym are no longer enough for a new year's resolution. Young adults, addicted to their phones and exhausted with dating apps, are resolving to seek meaning and connection IRL in ways that don't include a hangover. And there are dozens of startups capitalizing on their quests for a deeper purpose. Welcome to the year of soft partying."

"Last year, friendship apps and meetup groups were on the rise. People were vibing at afternoon clubbing events in cafes, coffee-and-cold-plunge sessions, group dance classes, run clubs, and Zillennial-branded churches. Some embraced the idea that being offline is the new luxury. "The hunger and the need for a deeper meaning and deeper connections is there," says Andrew Roth, founder of Offline, a platform that helps people find in-person communities and connect with brands to co-host or be part of in-person events."

"Those who want to get out and meet new people are seeking new ways to do so beyond late nights at bars. Mike Vosters, founder of Matinee Social Club, which hosts early start and end dance parties for people 30 and older at iconic New York clubs like Joyface and Mr. Purple, says one of the problems with traditional clubbing is that "nightlife in general is marketed in a very shallow way." Long lines, late nights, bottle service, and the need to have the right look create an air of exclusivity, but also intimidate people. For the over 30 crowd, knowing that they can buy a ticket and dance among their peers and be home early is a shift that makes it more inclusive, and Matinee now hosts about three events each weekend in the city. "Nightlife's not dead at all," Vosters says. "I just think that nightlife needs to change.""

Young adults in 2026 are shifting toward sober, daytime or early-night social experiences that emphasize meaningful, offline connection rather than late-night clubbing and dating apps. Startups and platforms are enabling in-person communities through friendship apps, meetup groups, early dance parties, coffee-and-cold-plunge sessions, run clubs, and Zillennial-branded churches. Organizers design events to be more inclusive—age-targeted, queer- and trans-friendly, and ticketed to reduce exclusivity and intimidation. Soft partying removes late-night barriers, offers earlier end times, and focuses on connection without hangovers. Entrepreneurs view this trend as an evolution of nightlife rather than its demise.

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