The Great British Sex Report 2026

Before we look to the future, we wanted to discover how people feel about their sex lives now, seeing if there are any key differences across genders and generations.

Firstly, we wanted to understand if people are satisfied with their sex lives. The majority of people said they weren’t satisfied with the frequency of their sexual activity, with only 22% of women and 26% of men saying they were ‘always’ satisfied with the amount of sex they were having. According to our survey, Brits average 105 sexual encounters per year (about 2 times a week). However, their ideal frequency was 144 times a year on average (about 3 times a week). While both genders agree here, men were more likely to want to have sex 2-3 times a week, with almost 40% saying that was their ideal frequency.

The report also finds that 24% of Brits are always satisfied with their libido. Men again have a slightly better experience here, with 60% answering that they are ‘always’ or ‘often’ satisfied, compared to 52% of women. Taking a look at age range data, we also found that libido satisfaction peaks at 35-44, with 26% saying they’re always satisfied.

In fact, only 1 in 3 Brits reported that they always orgasm during sex with their partner. When we look at gender differences here, men again come out on top. Men are almost twice as likely to orgasm during sex than women, with almost half (48%) always experiencing orgasm during partnered sex, versus just under a quarter of women (24%). The pleasure gap closes slightly when we look at solo play, with 37% of women and 46% of men reporting that they always orgasm during masturbation.

But is this gap affecting our sex lives? Well, it could be impacting the way we connect with our partners.

When asked if they’ve ever pretended to enjoy a sexual experience or “faked it” to spare someone’s feelings, 58% of women said they had, compared to just 34% of men. 59% of women said they’d done the same to end an experience faster, versus just 32% of men. These stats show that the pleasure gap could be affecting our relationships, getting in the way of authenticity and genuine connection.

So, now we know the reality of Britain’s sex lives, what do Brits want to see more of in the bedroom?

What are the top sex positions of 2026?

Doggy style is the UK’s go-to position, with nearly half of Brits (47%) saying it’s their favourite. And it’s not just popular — it’s powerful, with 1 in 5 men (21%) and nearly one in six (14%) women saying it makes them orgasm the fastest. The appeal lies in its intensity and physical stimulation, but a small group (around 9%) admit they’re bored of it.

Woman-on-top is everyone’s second-favourite position (46% overall), with 38% of women and 56% of men saying it was their favourite. It was also voted as one of the most orgasm-friendly positions for both genders, with 19% of men and 16% of women saying it got them to the big O the fastest. It was only outranked by doggy style for men (making 21% orgasm the fastest) and receiving oral by women (making 17% orgasm the fastest).

Missionary came in third, with 45% saying it was their favourite, probably due to its intimacy and potential for eye contact and connection. Interestingly, just 13% said it made them orgasm the fastest, and 16% said they were bored of it, with older adults (55+) being the most bored.

We also asked people which sex positions they’d want to try in 2026, with the lotus position coming in first place (18%), followed by standing face to face (12%) and reverse cowgirl and squatting on top tied for third place (11%).

As well as their favourite sex positions, we asked our respondents what their top turn-ons and turn-offs are. Good kissing was voted the top turn-on across the board (56%). This was followed by slow sex (39%), nipple play (38%), dirty talk (35%) and someone taking the lead (32%). Good rhythm, eye contact and using sex toys just missed out on the top 5, all getting between 30-32% of the vote.

Men and women agreed that good kissing is their favourite turn on, but while slow sex is still in second place for men, women find nipple play to be a bigger turn on. 4th place is also up for debate, with women preferring someone taking the lead and men voting for nipple play. The least popular turn-on across both genders was foot play, getting just 8% of the overall vote.

In terms of top turn-offs, poor personal hygiene was voted the worst turn-off (61%). This was followed by strong smells (48%), someone using their phone during sex (45%), being distracted (40%) and a messy environment (32%). Unlike for the top turn-ons, men and women agree on the top 5 worst. Interestingly though, while talking too much comes in 6th place for women, it’s faking orgasms that occupies this spot for men.

But what about different generations? Well, everyone agrees that good kissing is the top turn on, but younger generations (18-34) put dirty talk in 3rd place. 34-44 and 45-54 year olds are also the only age groups to rank nipple play higher than slow sex. When we look at turn-offs, the top three are the same across all age groups, apart from 18-24 year olds, who rank someone using their phone during sex as a bigger turn-off than an unpleasant smell.

Technology is evolving every day and impacting all areas of our lives - including what we do behind closed doors. We wanted to understand the impact of tech and AI on people’s sex lives. So, we asked our respondents how they felt about certain digital sex trends.

Sexting is the backbone of digital intimacy. 4 in 10 Brits engaged in it over the past year, with younger adults (18–34) pushing participation close to half. And the trend is growing, with 16% saying they want to do more in 2026 and 13% saying they want to send more nudes.

Phone sex is also making a comeback, with about a quarter of Brits giving it a go in the past year, and it was most popular among 25–34 year olds (34%), 15% want to do it more in 2026, showing a revival of “old school” intimacy in a digital age. Still, more than half of adults say they’ve never tried it, suggesting that while phone sex is resurging, it’s still a bit niche.

Speaking of more niche practices, erotic voice notes are on the rise. Though only 18% sent or listened to them in the past year, nearly as many (14%) want to explore them more in 2026. They’re especially popular among 25–34 year-olds, who value the blend of tech and sensuality. AI-generated erotic content is another emerging trend. Only 9% tried it in the past year, but 10% want more in 2026 — especially younger men. For most, it’s uncharted territory, with over 70% saying they’ve never tried it. While erotic AI is a hot topic, and maybe even a controversial one, this curiosity signals a future where technology plays a bigger role in romance and fantasy.

So, we already have an idea of what people might want to try this year, but what are the top sex trends for 2026? Do people want to try new things, reconnect with their partners or experiment with their solo pleasure? Here are the top things our respondents said they’d like to try over the next 12 months:

The Exploration Hour

This trend is all about reconnecting with your partner and setting aside intentional time to get intimate with each other. 22% of couples said they’d like to schedule one hour purely for sensual experimentation each week - think playing with touch, sound, temperature, toys and fantasies. The goal here isn’t sex or reaching orgasm, but more trying new things and learning what you like.

Jet-Set Arousal

More Brits are planning trips with intimacy as the main attraction. From booking remote cabins for uninterrupted connection to choosing cities known for romance, sensual experiences or sexual wellness, 19% of people want to plan more intimacy-focused trips and secluded getaways.

Travel is becoming a way to reset routines, try new dynamics and explore desire in totally new settings. It’s not just a holiday anymore. By choosing romance-led destinations and sensual travel activities, it’s an intentional escape for better sex.

The Sensation Shuffle

Just like the Exploration Hour, this playful trend focuses on experimenting rather than reaching climax and taps into a desire to explore sensory play. With their partners and during solo play, 18% of people are using props like ice rollers, warm compresses, textured fabrics, scented oils, and soundscapes to keep the experience unpredictable. Think of them as “sensory plot twists”.

The 5-Minute Foreplay Fix

It’s easy to get in your head about sex and connecting with your partner. In fact, 42% of our respondents said they’ve struggled to communicate what they want during sex, showing it can be a bit of an overwhelming experience. 18% of people also said they want to create more space for teasing, flirty and build-ups in 2026.

Enter the 5-Minute Foreplay Fix. This trend focuses on mirco-moments of intimacy to take the pressure off. A 5-minute massage, a steamy shower kiss, or a quick mutual touch session are becoming a daily ritual to maintain connection and discover turn-ons without needing a “full session.”

The Soft Solo

1 in 10 people said they want to practice more mindful masturbation in 2026 and get creative in the bedroom without their partner. 12% of people also want more imaginative, sensory-led experiences, experimenting with digital innovations like erotic audios and voice notes from their partner. With all of this combined, The Soft Solo is all about using audio, fantasy building and mindful touch to explore desire on your own terms, getting more personal than performative.

We spoke to Gemma Nice, award winning Sex and Relationship coach, on the rising trends uncovered amongst Brits:

Alongside these trends, we predict a rise in the importance of sexual health awareness in 2026.

Everyone should regularly get tested for STIs - no matter if you’re single or have a long-term partner - and should practice safe sex. But how often are people actually testing?

Well, the majority of our survey respondents have never been tested for key STIs. In the UK, most STI tests screen for gonorrhoea and chlamydia, but 56% and 55% of our respondents said they’ve never been tested for either infection. You can also easily get tested for HPV or HIV, yet 57% and 55% said they’d never been tested for these conditions. This lack of testing becomes even more concerning when set against our previous STI Stigma Report, which found that 1 in 10 people admitted to concealing their STI status from a sexual partner.

Our survey also revealed that only 14% of Brits always use a condom when having sex. In fact, over 30% of singles never use a condom at all. While the pill and other forms of contraception can prevent pregnancy, condoms remain the only method that also protects against STIs. Despite this, 1 in 5 people say they’re too embarrassed to buy condoms — with 25–34-year-olds the most affected, as nearly 3 in 10 in this age group admit embarrassment stops them from buying protection.

On top of this, according to our survey, 1 in 3 Brits believe common myths about STI transmission. People believe you can get an STI from kissing (24%), toilet seats (15%), towels (12%), hot tubs (7%) and through air transmission like coughing and sneezing (5%). We also found that young adults - those aged 18-24 - are the most likely group to believe these myths about how to catch an STI. Thankfully, they are also the most proactive testers when it comes to tackling STIs showing that while there might be a knowledge gap, they do know the importance of testing for getting treatment and preventing the spread.

The combo of misconceptions, low testing and condom use means that people aren’t prioritising their sexual health, which could lead to the spread of STIs and even put a strain on people’s relationships as there’s a lack of understanding about where an infection could have come from.

Dr Babak Ashrafi, Clinical Lead at Superdrug Online Doctor, comments:

So, there you have it, our predictions of the sex trends of 2026!

Alongside a culture of sexual exploration and learning what you like, sexual health and practising safe sex is an important topic, especially if you’re engaging with new or different partners in 2026. Using condoms, openly communicating with your partner, regularly testing for STIs - and getting treatment if you do test positive - and making sure you understand the truths about STI transmission are all things you can do to look after your sexual health this year.

Ready to take control of your sexual wellness? Use trusted services, like Superdrug Online Doctor for testing and treatment, from at-home test kits to medications like doxycycline treatment for chlamydia. Prioritise your wellbeing today and set the foundations for a happy and healthy 2026 sex life.