The 3 Sex Positions of 2026 That Will Bring Us Closer Together

When it comes to talking about sex, affectionate touch sounds obvious, right? But in reality, it’s often the first thing to disappear.

Performative sex can take us out of the moment, making us goal-oriented; focused on orgasm, and often on getting there as quickly as possible. That’s true whether we’re with a partner, or solo, especially with the rise of very effective clitoral suction toys that promise fast results. Pleasure becomes efficient, but not always connective.

What gets lost along the way is the slower stuff: the lingering kiss, the long glance, the skin-on-skin contact that makes your whole body feel involved. So for 2026, I see a clear return to slow sex; more intentional touch, more presence, and more affection woven through our intimate lives.

Not in a starved-for-human-touch, post-pandemic way, but in a sex-is-meant-to-make-you-smile, laugh, and feel good together kind of way. Let’s make sex more fun.

These are the three sex positions I think will define that shift.

1. The bear hug.

Off the back of these shifts toward slower, more intentional connection, the bear hug is a popular sex position for couples wanting to lean into romance and closeness.

It’s all about a full-body embrace and pulling each other in as close as possible. Standing face to face, you’re wrapped around one another in a proper hug, with as much skin-to-skin torso contact as you can get. It’s intimate, grounding, and deeply connective; the kind of closeness that feels needy in the best possible way, before you’ve even made it to the bed.

If penetration is part of the picture, the receiving partner can wrap a leg around the other to naturally deepen the embrace. But what really defines the bear hug isn’t mechanics; it’s the eye contact, the kissing, and the sense of being completely held.

This position prioritizes affection and often deepens pleasure because of it.

Product recommendation:

To complement the closeness of the bear hug, The Firefighter clitoral vibrator is an easy addition. Its slim design is perfect for sliding in between bodies without disrupting the embrace, allowing pleasure to build while keeping full-body contact intact. It supports connection rather than pulling focus away from it — exactly what this position is all about.

2. Mutual masturbation.

For 2026, I see mutual masturbation fully stepping into the spotlight as a legitimate, intentional sex position. Mutual masturbation takes performance off the table. There’s no pressure to move a certain way or reach a specific outcome. Instead, it centres shared presence, curiosity, and communication. You’re experiencing pleasure together, without needing to merge bodies in any particular way.

It’s also one of the most honest forms of intimacy. Watching your partner touch themselves,or letting them see how you do, shows rhythm, pressure, speed, and preference in a way words often can’t. It’s like drawing a map of your pleasure for each other.

This position is endlessly adaptable. You can lie side by side, sit opposite each other, be in different rooms, or even different countries, connected over the phone. It’s also a beautiful way to introduce sex toys together; seeing how your partner uses a vibrator on themselves can feel surprisingly sensual and deeply connective.

Mutual masturbation reminds us that sex doesn’t have to be about doing, it can simply be about sharing.

Product recommendation:

For mutual masturbation, The Artist works especially well. Its long handle means that when you’re sitting opposite each other, there’s space to clearly show what’s being stimulated — turning pleasure into a shared, visual experience. It also allows a partner to reach out and take control of the buttons or squeeze sensors, adding an extra layer of playfulness and connection.

3. Fingering.

Fingering is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated forms of partnered sex; and one that fits perfectly into the affectionate-touch renaissance.

Unlike penetration, fingering often invites slowness. It encourages attention to reaction, breath, and subtle changes in the body. It’s not about thrusting or performance; it’s about touch, presence, and responsiveness.

Hands are incredibly sensitive tools. They can explore, pause, tease, and respond in real time. Fingering also allows for eye contact, kissing, and conversation; all the things that help us stay connected rather than disappearing into a single goal.

In a culture that’s been focused on efficiency, fingering asks us to linger. To notice. To actually feel.. To let pleasure unfold rather than be chased. And for many people with vulvas, clitoral stimulation is one of the most reliable ways to experience pleasure. It’s simple, intimate, and profoundly effective.

Product recommendation:

When it comes to fingering, a good lubricant makes all the difference. Generous Gel, a water-based lube, helps decrease friction and makes everything feel more fluid, comfortable, and exciting. And if fingers start to tire, a bullet vibrator like The Surfer is a perfect finger upgrade — small, precise, and easy to incorporate without losing that hands-on intimacy.

Why try these positions?

Across all three positions, the common thread is affectionate touch. They bring us back into our bodies and back into connection with each other.

As more people step away from performative sex and question what pleasure actually means to them, these slower, more intentional forms of intimacy offer something powerful: closeness without pressure.

In 2026, sex isn’t about doing more; it’s about feeling more. And sometimes, the simplest positions are the ones that bring us closest of all.