Dating Sunday is on the horizon. Nestled between the winter holiday festivities and Valentine’s Day, Dating Sunday—typically the first Sunday of the year—is a time when singles rush to dating applications. The phrase was coined in 2016 when platforms observed a rise in usage after the New Year. In 2020, Match’s leading dating expert Rachel DeAlto referred to it as the “Super Bowl of dating apps.”

When does Dating Sunday take place this year?

Given the excitement, expectations for Dating Sunday, which occurs on Jan. 4, 2026, can be substantial. As someone who has experience with both the occasion and dating apps, I advise that these aspirations may not come to fruition. You might not encounter your soulmate on Dating Sunday—and that’s perfectly fine.

To the apps’ credit, there are figures to back the enthusiasm: OkCupid frequently witnesses a 70 percent rise in user engagement on Dating Sunday. Tinder estimates that approximately 10 percent of all swipes in January take place on this date. The logic is sound. Individuals may take a break from dating during the holiday season to devote time to family, yet this time can amplify their feelings of being single; after all, December is “proposal season.” January is viewed as a “new beginning,” and those looking for partners may feel hopeful. With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s logical that swiping activity increases.

A single day—or even a month—of swiping won’t dictate the entire year.

Liubomyr Pivtorak, the chief product officer at Hily dating app, emphasizes that Dating Sunday is not solely about heightened app usage. “We notice a significant rise in matches and conversations, with users responding quicker and maintaining longer dialogues than usual,” states Pivtorak. “It’s the time when motivation levels are high and everyone is genuinely engaging in dating, just before that decline sets in.”

While I recognize the significance of Dating Sunday, I think beginning the year with it could be disheartening. If you don’t secure a match on Dating Sunday, you may interpret it as a precursor for the upcoming months, believing that 2026 will repeat past experiences.

This isn’t accurate. One day—or even a month—of swiping does not define the outcome of the entire year. The top dating platforms (such as Tinder and Bumble) host millions of users who remain active beyond Dating Sunday. Chances will arise after those first two Sundays of the year. Perhaps the days in between or the weeks and months that follow will also yield success!

The risk lies in treating it as a sprint when dating is essentially a marathon.

“If you’re not cautious, you might exhaust yourself before you’ve even begun,” advises Sylvia Linzalone, dating expert at the UK-based dating app Wisp. “The risk is in treating it like a sprint when dating should be viewed as a marathon.”

Dating Sunday isn’t about finding ‘the one’ in a single day,” Linzalone expresses. “It’s about entering the year with clarity. Utilize the energy of the day to establish healthier habits—be it messaging with more purpose, meeting up sooner, or being more explicit about your desires.”

Keep in mind: How Dating Sunday unfolds won’t forecast the entire year. Don’t feel obliged to participate; love can be discovered at another time. Those eager singles won’t vanish once Monday comes around.

You desire a potential match that invests effort, so you should reciprocate.

If you want to present your best self, go for it. On Dating Sunday, experts suggest refining your bio and uploading at least three pictures of yourself. You want a potential match that applies themselves, so you should do the same.

I’m sure I’m reiterating familiar advice regarding expectation management. Just bear in mind what Linzalone reminds us: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

This article was initially published in 2022 and republished in 2026.