An experiment in trying to make friends as an adult.
Making new friends used to be ridiculously easy.
You went to school. You sat next to someone. You complained about homework together. Congratulations, you had a new friend.
Then university happened. Same thing, just with worse sleep.
And then adulthood arrived.
Suddenly, everyone has a job, a relationship, a commute, responsibilities and a calendar that needs three weeks notice to organize a coffee.
So we decided to test a simple question:
How do you actually meet new people in 2026?
We tried a few obvious answers, a few less obvious ones and ended up with six that are genuinely worth trying.
1. The gym
Yes, we know how ironic this sounds.
But the gym might actually be one of the best places for adults to meet new people.
The reason isn’t that you should walk up to someone between sets and ask for their Instagram. Please don’t.
It’s the routine.
If you go to the same gym at roughly the same time every day, you start recognizing the same faces. Eventually, strangers become familiar faces. Familiar faces become people you say hello to. And eventually, someone asks, “How many sets do you have left?”
It’s basically school again, except everyone is carrying protein powder.
Verdict: Surprisingly effective.
2. 1v1 video chat platforms
We didn’t expect this one to work as well as it did.
There are hundreds of video chat platforms out there, so we tried a bunch of the popular ones. Eventually, three names kept coming up in our experiment: 1v1Chat, Tumile and OmegleChat.me.
The appeal is pretty straightforward.
You don’t have to build a profile, collect followers or wait three days for someone to reply to a message. You can simply start a video conversation with another person instantly. And if you’re seeking human connection, there’s literally no better way.
We met the most interesting people on 1v1Chat, Tumile offered something a bit different, something more international and unexpected while Omeglechat.me takes the traditional random video chat approach that we’re all familiar with.
Is every conversation amazing? Absolutely not.
But that’s kind of the point. You never know who you’re going to meet and that makes it interesting.
Verdict: Probably the fastest way to talk to someone new.
3. Activity groups
This one is almost cheating because you’re technically paying someone to put you in a room with people who already have something in common with you.
Pottery. Painting. Trekking. Running clubs. Photography. Dance classes. Cooking.
There’s been a noticeable rise in these kinds of activity-based groups, and for good reason.
You don’t have to manufacture a conversation because the activity gives you one.
“Have you done this before?”
“Where did you get those shoes?”
“Are you coming on the next trek?”
And suddenly you’re talking to someone you’ve never met before.
The downside? You might have to try three or four groups before finding your people.
Verdict: Best option if you want friendships built around shared interests.
4. Become a regular somewhere
This was one of our favourite discoveries.
Pick a café. A bookstore. A park. A weekend market. Somewhere you actually enjoy being.
Then keep going.
Humans are surprisingly good at recognising familiar faces. Once you become a regular, conversations happen naturally. The barista knows your order. Someone starts sitting at the table next to you. You see the same dog every Saturday.
It sounds almost painfully old-fashioned.
Which might be exactly why it works.
Verdict: Slow, but probably the most natural.
5. Join a recreational sports group
Not everyone wants to join a hardcore sports club.
That’s fine.
Try badminton, football, frisbee, climbing, running or even casual cycling groups.
The great thing about recreational sport is that you’re doing something together, so there’s less pressure to “make conversation.”
You play. You laugh at the terrible shot you just made. Someone suggests getting food afterwards.
And there you go.
Verdict: Excellent for people who hate forced socialising.
6. Say yes a little more often
This might be the least exciting answer, but possibly the most important.
A colleague invites you for dinner.
Go.
Someone asks if you want to join their weekend plan.
Go.
An acquaintance invites you to a birthday party where you know approximately two people.
Go.
A lot of adult friendships don’t begin with some magical introduction. They happen because you kept showing up to things.
The problem isn’t always that there are no opportunities to meet people.
Sometimes we’re just too tired to take them.
Verdict: Free and surprisingly powerful.
So, what’s the best way to meet people in 2026?
There isn’t one.
If you want instant conversations, video chat is probably the quickest.
If you want shared interests, activity groups and sports are better.
If you prefer organic, low-pressure connections, becoming a regular somewhere might be your best bet.
And if you’re an adult wondering why making friends suddenly became so difficult, you’re definitely not the only one.
Maybe the answer isn’t finding more people online.
Maybe it’s simply finding more reasons to show up—and giving the people around you enough chances to become more than strangers.
