Ditch The 12 Grapes And Follow Advice From These Real Life Couples To Find Love In 2026

There is a viral trend going around on social media of people eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s under a table to manifest love. While this has become viral this year, this is an actual Spanish tradition that people follow in many countries. Each grape is supposed to represent a month of the upcoming year. If you are someone who doesn’t want to find your happily ever after through manifestation, you can follow advice from real-life couples. While finding love in the modern era feels exhausting, with this thoughtful advice, you can get closer to your goal! So let’s dive into how you can ditch the 12 grapes and follow the advice from real-life couples to find love in 2026 here!

Advice From These Real-Life Couples To Find Love In 2026

We have seen enough reels of people complaining on social media about how the grapes they ate last year still haven't worked their magic. So, we decided to save all single people the trouble of finding a partner and helping them out. We spoke with 12 real- life couples, and they have given their best advice for single people to find love in 2026. Let’s dive in to see how you can find the one for you!

1. Let Cupid Take the Lead

“Firstly, try not to ‘find’ love – let love find you. This may sound cheesy, but the truth is love happens when you least expect it. So, my first advice is to be open to love. Never close your heart, fearing heartbreak or thinking, 'What if he’s not the one?' Take the plunge. The younger generation in today’s time is scared to let go. They fear commitment. So this is the first thing that needs to be taken care of. Secondly, too many options (thanks to dating apps) these days ruin the real connection. So my next advice would be – date the old school way! If you connect with someone, give that person a chance – don’t hop from one person to another. Try to have patience, because love needs patience. Rest, let Cupid do the magic!” 

- Shruti Das, 29

2. The Wait is Not Wasted

"If you have ever felt that all the time you spent waiting to find your partner is wasted, you're wrong. You need to live your life, and here is some advice that will help you in doing so! “You need to be patient, love has its own timing. Focus on living your life fully, chasing your passions, and becoming the best version of yourself. The right person will show up when you least expect it.”

- Amit Diwan, 27

ALSO READ- Gen Z VS Millennial Dating: Generational Shifts In Love And Connection

3. Stop Auditioning, Start Connecting

"Don’t just go on dates after dates as a roaster to find the one; focus on forming genuine connections with people. “Don’t treat dating like a performance or a deadline. Be patient, love often finds you when the timing is right. Unnecessary desperation rarely helps a relationship. Don’t chase love on dating apps alone. Real connections often grow in real moments. Besides, the irony is that you very rarely find love on a dating app. And when you do meet someone or go on a date, focus on creating a genuine connection. Connection grows faster when you stop auditioning and start showing up as yourself.”

- Shreya Mishra, 22

4. Wild Adventures And Wiser Choices

“Go wild, flirt, travel, explore, live your main character era, but do it with wise men. They should be emotionally mature, intentional, and grounded. Fun is cute, but wisdom and stability are what really matter in a partner.”

5. Your Love Life Doesn’t Need A Deadline, Trust The Process

“One simple piece of advice: it will happen when it's supposed to happen. There's no point anticipating it. Focus on yourself and trust in God's plan. To quote Phil Dunphy from the 'Modern Family': "The best things that have happened to a human being can happen to you as well if you just lower your expectations"

- Dhawal Khare, 22

6. Growing In Love 

“I’m very old school when it comes to relationships, and honestly, sometimes things are best when they are old school. I think people should understand that dating/loving someone comes with a lot of unlearning, and especially at times, tolerating your partner. 

And you need to tolerate them to love them wholeheartedly. You need to understand that nobody is actually perfect, and when you love someone, you guys actually grow together, which means shedding your old habits and building new ones together. So stop waiting for the perfect partner because they don’t exist, and genuinely be patient because love will find you the moment you stop finding it.”

- Ipsitaa Bhaskar, 21

7. Your Person Is Out There

“Find someone who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. A partner shouldn't be a cage; they should be the wind beneath your wings (LITERALLY). I always dreamt of someone who would never dim my light, someone who listens to my stories, makes sure I’m taking care of myself, and loves the little girl inside me just as much as the woman I am today. 

True love found me when I found a friendship first. There might be days when you can handle life without a lover, but you can’t go a single day without your best friend. Most importantly, look for deep respect, the kind that lasts longer than any honeymoon phase.

To any girl seeking love in 2026: I hope you find that beautiful balance, a partner who fits into your life in every shape and form, because no matter what the cruel world tells you, there is a prince charming for you, and he will find you.”

- Tanya Srivastava, 26

ALSO READ- Top Dating Trends of 2025 and Relationship Predictions for 2026 You Need to Know

8. Love Is Built Over Time

“In 2026, my advice is simple: stop chasing perfection. Love is not something you find ready-made; it’s something you build together. It grows when two people choose each other every day, make small adjustments, and focus on the bigger picture rather than small imperfections. If someone feels right 70–80% of the time, that’s your sign….go for it. Don’t lose the 80% by overthinking the remaining 20%. Real relationships grow through effort, understanding, and the willingness to grow together.”

- Himanshu Mishra, 34

9. Slow Down, Love Will Not Pass You By

"Patience is a virtue that becomes important in various aspects of our lives, including our love life. While you might get tired of waiting and run low on patience, trust that what is meant for you will always find you. Patience ensures that you aren't rushing into something fake or temporary. By slowing down, you understand the true character and are able to see if your vibes align or not.”

- Nitisha Sharma, 26 

10. Forget The Checklist And Let Love Surprise You

“I think love is really, really subjective, but one thing that I tell all my single friends is that all the ‘checklists’ that you've made are not going to come in handy when you find ‘love’. The right person is going to check important boxes, but that could just be 70% of your checklist, and they could still be fitting 100% in your puzzle. So stop looking for perfection. Height, weight, looks, brands, what they wear, how they eat, what they eat - it's ALL secondary. Look for love, care, compassion, passion, thoughts, kindness - discuss all things that matter to you. Forget the checklist and let love surprise you!”

- Ria Kapoor, 28 

11. Live, Love, And Break A Little

“My partner is not just my romantic partner; he is also my best friend and my favourite person. I feel the first piece of advice I would give is to fall in love and truly feel all the emotions. As Javed Akhtar once said, if you haven’t fallen in love, had your heart broken, and felt the pain, then you have not lived your life. I sincerely believe that, as a human being, you should fall in love and experience all the emotions wholeheartedly. I also believe that when choosing a partner, you should always look at how they treat others. Pay attention to how he or she behaves with people in general, because the 'princess treatment' may only last for a while; eventually, the way they treat the rest of the world will be the way they treat you. A person who is kind in general will always be kind and soft-spoken to you, and these characteristics alone can eliminate many issues in a relationship.”

- Sameeksha Sharma, 27

12. Know The Difference Between Real Love 

“To build a long-lasting connection, you must learn to go with the flow, rather than trying to force a specific timeline. At its core, compromise and trust are the key for relationships. It is also important to look at your partner’s heart. You should prioritise their character, kindness, and intentions over any surface-level traits. Finally, always differentiate between the reel and the real world. Always remember that social media highlights are not a standard for reality, and true intimacy happens in the quiet, everyday moments of your daily life.”

- Navasha Khanna, 29 

As we welcome the new year, let’s be more open to love. Follow these advices to find love in 2026. Till the time you are searching for the one, remember to live your life to the fullest, make new memories, collect stories and never let anyone dim your light!

Image Credit: Freepik

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