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If you’ve officially reached the “I can’t do another dating app conversation” stage of your life, let 2026 be the year that you do things a little differently.
Thursday, the global IRL (In Real Life) dating movement, which landed in Johannesburg late last year, has been shaking things up. The appeal is simple: show up, order a drink (or a coffee), and meet other single people, in real life, just like we used to do before apps turned dating into a full-time administrative job.
The concept isn’t speed dating, and it’s not awkward mixers either. Thursday events take over bars, cafés and unexpected venues around the city, creating relaxed social spaces where everyone there is single. No pressure or forced games, just a room full of people who’ve decided they’re done hiding behind their phones.
And yes, people actually talk to each other.
From cocktails to a ‘Running rave’
What makes Thursday feel different is that it’s less about “dating events” and more about shared experiences. One night might look like a packed cocktail bar with DJs and low lighting; another might be something completely left-field.
Case in point: on Saturday, 24 January, Thursday is hosting a Running Rave at Get Bird Coffee, a morning social run that swaps awkward small talk for movement, music and caffeine. Nothing like a little light cardio, good vibes, and post-run coffee chats with fellow singles who also thought, “Why not meet someone before 9 am for once?”
It’s part workout, part social experiment, and very Joburg-coded: wellness, community and a little bit of chaos before the day starts.
The next Thursday event takes place on 29 January at The Frog in Illovo, with doors opening for a night of cocktails and socialising from early evening. Tickets are already on sale, and with the state of the dating scene in Johannesburg, they won't stick around.
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Why it’s working in Joburg
In a city where social circles can feel surprisingly small, and dating apps somehow exhausting, Thursday taps into something Joburgers are craving: connection without the cringe. People arrive solo, with friends, dressed for a night out or a morning run, knowing that everyone else is in the same boat.
You’re not there to audition for marriage. You’re there to have a good time, and if you click with someone, great. If not, you’ve still had a solid night (or morning) out.
Also read: Boets and Babes: The new singles event shaking up the East Rand dating scene
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