Is it just us? Or is everyone into PDA again?

Having a boyfriend might not be so embarrassing anymore. While 2025 had people asking if dating was bad for your aura (or bad for your brand), summer 2026’s Love Island USA phenomenon revealed a shift in appetite. Season 8 quickly became Peacock’s number one reality series, generating more than 4 billion (with a B) social video views over six packed weeks of frog kissing, toe-licking, and outdoor shower make-outs that had even Cosmopolitan HQ asking, “Is this the horniest season ever?” But America seemed hungry to watch people fall hard for each other on camera, and the need for affection stretches way farther than Fiji.

PDA is back in a big way, and people seem to be yearning openly again. In Hollywood, hard-launches have gotten louder, with Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau going from months of relationship rumors to kissing on Instagram and a hand-holding, PDA-filled appearance at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. Gracie Abrams and Paul Mescal, who keep their relationship largely private, celebrated their red carpet debut together at the 2026 BAFTAs with a kiss, and Billie Eilish and Nat Wolff moved from fan speculation to an affectionate premiere appearance over the same summer.

Of course, celebrities have always been good at making a relationship look like a cultural event, but this renewed appetite for PDA seems to be showing up everywhere, and for once, the data supports it.

A new study reported in The Times surveyed adults in romantic relationships about how often they show affection in public and in private, and across three countries, the people who reported more PDA also reported greater relationship satisfaction.

Still, PDA is not one-size-fits-all. It can be culturally dependent, context-dependent, and—particularly for marginalized couples—not equally safe in every public space. For the lovebirds below, it can look like hand-holding, forehead kisses, intentionally visible hickeys, matching looks, laughs, and always having to be touching each other. Taken together, what emerges from their answers sure looks like a willingness to stop pretending that being in love is embarrassing.

Dylan Wrona, 24 + Kenzie Annis, 24

Occupation: Social media and reality TV stars, Love Island season 8

Social handles: @dylan_wrona + @kenzieannis

PDA is back because: Being in love is cute, idc!

How we met: Love Island dating show—not the most normal way to meet someone, lol.

How long we’ve been together: Since leaving the Villa!

Our love language: Physical touch and quality time with one another.

The most romantic thing about us: How safe and at home we feel with each other no matter where we are.

The moment we knew we had chemistry: Our first conversation when we talked about my boobs’ names, “Sugar and Spice,” and we couldn’t stop laughing. We also shared a steamy kiss that was amazing on both ends—I don’t have to teach him how to kiss. That is for sure.

Our favorite kind of PDA: Hand-holding, forehead kisses, always having to be touching somehow.

The worst place to make out: In front of our parents.

Kordell Beckham, 24 + Serena Page, 26

Occupation: Entertainers

Social handles: @korde1ll + @serenaapagee

How we met: We met on a TV show in Fiji!

How long we’ve been together: 2 years.

Our love language: Quality time, good food, a good show or movie, and bed rotting/cuddling.

The most romantic thing about us: You can watch our entire love story unfold on television.

The thing about our relationship we hope never changes: The whimsy, the fun, the laughter, being best friends.

The moment we knew we had chemistry: From the second we said our first words to each other.

Our favorite kind of PDA: Holding hands and a little smooch.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: Olivia Pope and the president on Scandal.

Savannah Hudson, 27 + Jonathon Ng, 30

Occupation: Musical artists

Social handles: @sav_hudson + @iameden

How we met: K1 Speed go-kart track.

How long we’ve been together: 3 years.

Our love language: Let’s go to bed.

The most romantic thing about us: Turning back to wave at each other after we’ve said goodbye.

The moment we knew we had chemistry: Long before we started dating.

Our favorite kind of PDA: Making out.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: Madonna and Guy Ritchie leaving a hotel together, carrying a clear bag with a strap-on.

Alfonso Campos, 50 + Tarina Tarantino, 50

Occupation: Cofounders of Tarina Tarantino and Fuchsia Revolution Productions
Social handles: @fonziecampos + @tarinatarantino

PDA is back because: It’s probably in response to social media and the digital world. PDA is analog. Physical, in-person expressions of affection can almost feel rebellious now.

How long we’ve been together: 34 years.

Our love language: Being creative together, in love and in work.

The thing we disagree about the most: Bedtime. One of us is a night owl and the other is an early bird—it’s always been a point of contention but something we’ve just had to compromise on.

The worst place to make out: In a restaurant. Just…no.

Is posting your partner on Instagram a form of PDA? Yes, but it can also be cringe, so it’s something we’re careful about. Some things are even more romantic if they’re kept private.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: That scene in the 1991 Krzysztof Kieślowski film The Double Life of Veronique, where she bumps into her boyfriend unexpectedly in the rain, and they start making out passionately. It’s not only hot but incredibly gorgeous—one of our favorite films.

Jairo Garcia, 31 + Salem Mitchell, 28

Occupation: Founder of Salem Goods, model + designer, founder of Badfriend

Social handles: @salemmitchell + @jairo.936

How we met: At a mutual friend’s barbecue a few years back.

How long we’ve been together: 1 sweet year.

Our love language: No time spent is ever enough.

The most romantic thing about us: Our ability to make the simplest activities feel as special as our grandiose activities.

The thing about our relationship we hope never changes: Our humility and our connection.

The worst place to make out: Anywhere around family.

Is posting your partner on Instagram a form of PDA? Yes.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: Sidny Lopes Cabral running directly into the stands after scoring a World Cup goal to hug his partner.

Sara Hiromi, 33 + Danny Bowien, 44

Occupation: Experiential designer + chef

 

Social handles: @sara_hiromi + @danny_bowien

How we met: Walking the Eckhaus Latta show—we were next to each other in the lineup.

How long we’ve been together: 8 years.

Our love language: Live, laugh, love.

The thing about our relationship we hope never changes: That Danny will always let me steal all his stuff.

The thing we disagree about the most: What’s for dinner.

Our favorite kind of PDA: Visible hickeys.

The best place to make out: The elevator.

The worst place to make out: In front of our cats.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton wearing a vial of each other’s blood on a red carpet.

Brandon Veloria, 40 + Collin James, 42

Occupation: Owners of James Veloria

Social handle: @jamesveloria

PDA is back because: Why not?

How we met: Naked in a hot tub.

How long we’ve been together: 17 years.

Our love language: Hugging, kissing, cuddling, holding hands.

The most romantic thing about us: How we can speak to each other without words.

The thing we disagree about the most: What time to go to sleep. We have to go together, but one is a night owl and the other is an early bird.

The best place to make out: Our fitting rooms.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: Daniel Day-Lewis and Gordon Warnecke in My Beautiful Laundrette.

Emmy Hartman, 27, + Amiyah Breeding, 25

Occupation: Content creator, esthetician, singer + acquisition manager

Social handles: @emmyhartman + @amiyahbreeding_

PDA is back because: There’s no shame in loving out loud.

How long we’ve been together: 9 months.

Our love language: Intense but also gentle.

The most romantic thing about us: Our souls are intertwined, and she truly is my other half.

The thing about our relationship we hope never changes: The patience we have with each other.

The thing we disagree about the most: Who is driving.

The moment we knew we had chemistry: When our first date lasted 11 hours.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: Anything gay.

Joe Apollonio, 35 + Bianca Leigh

Occupation: Actors

Social handles: @joeapollonio + @bianca_leigh2000

PDA is back because: Without it, the world will end. The current climate is defined by so much division and hatred. We need love.

How we met: Interior designer Cole Escola introduced us!

How long we’ve been together: 2 years.

The most romantic thing about us: We both had pretty much given up on love. And then we met. :)

The thing we disagree about the most: What’s funny. We should never in a million years be in a writers’ room together (hire us).

The moment we knew we had chemistry: When we cracked up laughing while having sex.

The best place to make out: A movie theater.

The worst place to make out: The DMV. No one needs to see that shit. And you could miss your number being called.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: CEO Andy Byron got caught kissing his mistress on the jumbotron at a Coldplay concert last year. It’s not really hot, but it’s very funny. Which makes it hot.

Presley Oldham, 31 + Tyler Paige, 34

Occupation: Jewelry designer + technology director/professor

Social handles: @presley.oldham + @typo.page

PDA is back because: You’re looking right at us.

How long we’ve been together: 5.5 years.

Our love language: Making chirps, trills, and noises at each other in passing throughout the day.

The most romantic thing about us: Never the same, always in tune. Growing together and individually but never apart. It’s like how the sound of a wave is really the sound of 1,000 drops falling.

The moment we knew we had chemistry: When Tyler smiled on our first date. When I realized how much I was laughing.

Our favorite kind of PDA: Hand massages and back cracking.

The best place to make out: At the top of a mountain.

The worst place to make out is: At the bottom of a mountain—the view was better up there!

Is posting your partner on Instagram a form of PDA? Yes.

Alex Ashton, 28 + Junia Lin, 27

Occupation: Businessman + creative director

Social handles: @alex.ashton + @junialin

PDA is back: Yearning is back.

How we met: Laufey and Alex knew each other, and she introduced us as friends when Junia was moving to NYC, and then life just happened.

How long we’ve been together: 10 months.

The thing we disagree about the most: The saxophone and martinis.

The best place to make out: A photo booth.

The worst place to make out: A Laufey concert.

Is posting your partner on Instagram a form of PDA? Yes.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: The final scene of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days on the Manhattan Bridge.

Telsha Anderson-Boone, 33 + Justin Boone, 32

Occupation: Creative consultant and content creator + creative consultant, content creator, and costume designer

Social handles: @telshaanderson + @justinb00ne

How long we’ve been together: 6 years together and 5 years married.

The most romantic thing about us: We pray together.

The thing we disagree about the most: Who changes more diapers.

The moment we knew we had chemistry: The first time we met. We kissed in the parking lot of a post office.

The best place to make out: On the street, mid-walk!

The worst place to make out: A restaurant!

Is posting your partner on Instagram a form of PDA? We do it often, but no.

The hottest PDA moment in movie, TV, or celebrity history: On A Different World, when Dwayne Wayne ruined Whitley Gilbert’s wedding and screamed out loud, “Baby, Please!” in front of all their friends and family.