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Time Out, the global brand dedicated to inspiring and enabling people to experience the best of the city, today launches Time In, a new thought leadership report exploring how Americans are rethinking the way they spend their social time – and why the boundaries between staying in and going out are becoming increasingly blurred.
For decades, a great social life was largely defined by going somewhere: a restaurant, bar, club, concert or event. Time Out’s new research suggests that this is changing. Staying in isn’t replacing going out – instead, it has become a bigger and more intentional part of how people socialize.
The report finds that 91% of Time Out’s U.S. community say time at home helps them recharge socially, with consumers becoming more selective about the experiences they choose to spend their time, energy and money on. At the same time, home is increasingly becoming a social destination itself: 68% regularly host people at home, rising to 73% among younger Millennials and Gen Z and 90% among people living with roommates.
Rather than simply “having people over,” Americans are also putting more thought into creating an experience. Food and drinks are the number-one element that makes a night at home feel like an event, cited by 55%, while 83% say they feel proud of the atmosphere they create when hosting.
From watch parties and game nights to themed dinners, wine tastings, cookbook nights and pre-drinks, the report identifies a move toward social occasions that feel more considered, personal and purposeful.
And this doesn’t signal the death of the night out. Instead, Time In finds that the distinction between “in” and “out” is breaking down. A night might start in the group chat, continue around a kitchen island over drinks and end at a restaurant, bar or show – or the main event might happen entirely at home.
Time Out has seen the shift reflected in its own audience behavior. Content around streaming moments, shared viewing, recipes, books and at-home rituals generated more than 2.1 million U.S. pageviews between April 2025 and May 2026, alongside the brand’s established coverage of restaurants, bars, events and things to do.
Estee Cross, Managing Director, Time Out North America, said:
“Time Out has always been about helping people make the most of their free time, and what this research shows is that the way people do that is evolving. A great night doesn’t necessarily begin when you arrive at a restaurant, bar or event anymore – it can start hours earlier at home, or home can be the destination itself.”
“What I find particularly interesting is that Americans aren’t becoming less social. They’re becoming more intentional about how they socialize. They want experiences that feel worth their time, that reflect who they are and, above all, help them genuinely connect with other people.”
“For brands, that creates an exciting opportunity. Culture and connection are happening across the whole journey – from the group chat and the kitchen table to the restaurant, concert or night out. Understanding those moments gives brands new ways to add something meaningful to the experience rather than simply interrupt it.”
As consumers increasingly take on the role of host, curator and experience-maker, there are new opportunities for brands to become part of the occasion itself – whether through food and drink, entertainment, streaming, recipes, hosting inspiration or products and content that enhance the experience.
Time Out has already brought this approach to life through partnerships spanning entertainment, food and drink and home experiences, including campaigns with Netflix, TAZO and HelloFresh.
The Time In Report combines audience research conducted through Time Out Loud, Time Out’s interactive research community of 1,500 U.S. consumers, with interviews with hosts, creators and community builders and insights from Time Out editors across the country.
The full Time In Report is available here:
https://forms.timeout.com/time-in
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Notes to Editors
Media enquiries: Please contact pr@timeout.com for further information
Business and data enquiries: Please contact insights@timeout.com
About Time Out Group
Time Out Group is a global brand that inspires and enables people to experience the best of the city. Time Out launched in London in 1968 to help people discover the best of the city - today it is the only global brand dedicated to city life. Expert journalists curate and create content about the best things to Do, See and Eat across over 350 cities in over 50 countries and across a unique multi-platform model spanning both digital and physical channels.
Time Out Market is the world's first editorially curated food and cultural destination, bringing a city's best chefs, restaurateurs and unique cultural experiences together under one roof. There are currently Markets in 13 cities including Lisbon, New York and Dubai, with several new locations expected to open in 2026 and beyond, in addition to a pipeline of further locations in advanced discussions.
Time Out Group PLC, listed on AIM, is headquartered in London (UK).