Aussie singles are prioritising falling in love over finances, health and career in 2026
New research from dating app Coffee Meets Bagel has found that over half (55%) of Gen Z and Millennial Australians rank finding true love as their top priority for 2026 — ahead of financial stability (50%), health (46%) and career advancement (33%).
Nearly 6 in 10 Australians (59%) say they are dating to marry.
91% say modern dating apps are challenging, with ghosting, burnout and endless swiping driving frustration.
SYDNEY, Monday 2 February 2026: In a notable cultural shift, young Australian professionals are prioritising their hearts over their wallets. New research from Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB), the dating app for intentional daters, shows that finding true love has become the top life goal for Gen Z and Millennials heading into 2026.
Despite a long-term decline in national marriage rates, 2026 marks the year that single, young professional Aussies are set to switch gears. Moving away from the apathy of casual swiping, 59% of Aussie daters now report they are "dating to marry."
However, the path to connection is fraught; 40% of daters now find it harder to commit to a long-term partner than a professional job, which is quite the hurdle based on the fact that Australia continues to suffer from a tight job market.
Dating frustrations
While the desire for connection is at an all-time high, the mechanics of modern dating are failing. A shocking 91% of daters find current dating apps challenging, citing three primary pain points:
Ghosting (41%): The prevalence of disappearing acts.
Mental fatigue (38%): The toll of endless, low-reward swiping.
Shallow profiles (33%): The difficulty of gauging genuine human connection.
This commitment crisis has led to a rise in "passive participation," with 82% of users admitting to swiping with no intention of starting a conversation or meeting up.
The rise of the AI wingman
To combat dating friction, Aussie daters are turning to technology. The study found that 87% are open to AI assistance in their love lives. Interestingly, 42% already use AI to craft messages, and 40% use it to polish their profiles to bypass the awkwardness of first impressions.
Coffee Meets Bagel: A solution for swipe culture
CMB tackles swipe fatigue head-on through features that prioritise quality over quantity:
Noon push: Users receive a curated selection of up to 22 "Bagels" (profiles) each day at noon, depending on user location.
Anti-ghosting features: Inactive chats expire after seven days to encourage momentum and real-world dates.
Intentional dating: By liking a specific photo or responding to a particular prompt (as opposed to liking the entire profile), it makes the first move feel more human and helps conversations flow naturally from the start.
Dr Lurve, Australia’s leading Relationship Expert says: “Australians aren’t struggling to commit because they don’t want relationships — the data shows they want them more than ever. The problem is that modern dating has normalised ambiguity. Ghosting and endless choice make emotional investment feel like a high-risk gamble.
In 2026, we’re seeing people look for ways to reduce that friction. Some turn to AI to bypass the awkwardness of a first message, while others seek apps that limit daily options. The goal isn’t more matches — it’s clearer signals and the reassurance that the other person is just as serious about connecting.”
Shn Juay, Coffee Meets Bagel CEO says: “Dating in Australia has become exhausting for singles who are serious about finding a long-term partner. At Coffee Meets Bagel, we want dating to feel active, intentional, and human – not passive scrolling like on social media. By slowing down the process with intentional app features like noon push, we help singles focus on meaningful, lasting relationships.”
For a complete breakdown of the research and trends, you can access the full report here.
Coffee Meets Bagel unique features that encourage intentional dating behaviour:
Limited daily matches ("bagels"): Users receive a small, curated batch of potential matches each day at noon (noon push) -, which forces them to review and consider each profile carefully rather than engaging in endless, mindless swiping.
Time-bound chat window (7 Days): A fixed time limit on conversations encourages users to move the connection forward quickly—either by exchanging contact information or arranging a date—preventing conversations from stalling and matches from "ghosting."
Intentional first moves: Through ‘bagel notes’, the app encourages users to initiate the conversation by commenting on a specific photo or profile prompt when sending a "like", making the first interaction personal and providing a natural icebreaker.
Detailed profile prompts: CMB requires more comprehensive profile information than many other apps, focusing on values, goals, and relationship intent. This helps daters find high-quality matches based on deep compatibility.
Activity reports: This transparency tool shows a match's engagement statistics (e.g., response rate, percentage of times they send the first message), holding users accountable for their behaviour and helping others avoid time-wasters.
About the Report
CMB Dating Realness Report 2025 is CMB’s flagship thought-leadership platform that explores the most current and real conversations around dating - daters’ concerns, aspirations, shifting norms amid changing environments across the key markets that we operate in. The survey wave was conducted in partnership with YouGov in November 2025 with N=1063 AU respondents aged 21-35, comprising working professionals who are either actively looking for a relationship or not actively searching but open to one.
About Coffee Meets Bagel
Launched in 2012, Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) is a globally loved dating app for those seeking serious relationships. Continuing on its mission of giving everyone a chance at love, CMB has facilitated over 250 million matches to date and counting. Over 91% of the CMB community is looking for a committed relationship. CMB has been named Best for Real Dates by Mashable, and over half of CMB daters say their first dates often lead to second dates. CMB is available for free download on the App Store and Google Play Store.
