TV Couples Goals We're Manifesting for Ourselves in 2026

Sarah and John B have certainly been through it over the course of Outer Banks. While the trauma, life threatening danger, and deep rooted conspiracies definitely aren't something we're manifesting for 2026, we've got to give it to these crazy kids for making it work.

Have they always been a perfect couple? Definitely not—they've both made a lot of mistakes. But they've made the best of a lot of terrible situations, and they matured and learned how to push through their issues together.

What makes us swoon most of all, however, is their shared love of adventure. The quiet life isn't for them, and whether it's starting an ill-fated business on the beach or darting off to search for treasure in Morocco, they dive head first into every challenge.

We hope that kind of spontaneous excitement finds us in love this year!

Chemistry isn't something you can create, but compromise is something you can always work on.

Joanne and Noah of Nobody Wants This couldn't be more different on the surface, but sparks flew when they first met. During several tough moments in their relationship, it seemed that they had personal obstacles that were insurmountable. However, even if they temporarily threw in the towel, the love they had for each other always brought them back together to work towards a future together.

When the divide between two people seems massive, the only thing you can do is take tiny steps toward the center. That's not always easy, especially when your differences are about things that are extremely important to you. But being willing to try to find ways to get on the same page is essential to a healthy and flourishing relationship.

For being a dark and gruesome horror science fiction show, Stranger Things really delivered on a swoon-worthy romance with Lucas and Max.

Typically, a lot of TV romances with really young characters come off as shallow and ephemeral. They're just kids, after all. But nothing about Lucas and Max's relationship ever felt like a high school fling.

As if it weren't difficult enough for them to overcome, you know, a racist step family that hated Lucas, they also had to traverse the trials of a supernatural psychic villain tormenting Max. Yet, it never seemed like either one of them ever doubted their choices—even when Max pushed Lucas away for the greater good.

Through violent step brothers, complicated grief, a two year coma, and impending apocalypse, they never lost faith in each other. Lucas returned to Max time and time again, believing she would find her way back. Max held Lucas close to her heart every moment she spent in her mental prison, ultimately using him as her link to the real world.

Excuse me while I tear up.

Heated Rivalry has been taking social media by storm—and for good reason!

Though the first season of this hit gay romance is only six episodes, the sexual chemistry between the leads is so steamy that the show was almost immediately renewed for a second season.

While we're certainly not crossing our fingers for a forbidden love affair and cultural disapproval, the passion between Ilya and Shane has us weak in the knees. A spark gets a “doomed” couple through a couple of months, but the absolute blaze burning between these two carried them across years and into something real and honest.

Sure, Bridgerton's most anticipated romance didn't always run a smooth course. Colin spent a long time acting like a fool, either by swanning around in self-absorption or letting his pride get in the way of his most important relationship. And yeah, Penelope certainly hasn't always been the most honest of partners from the get go.

But what made their relationship so addictive was that they had a long-standing friendship before they ever got together. In that friendship, they never hesitated to be the first in line to support the other.

They both helped each other gain confidence in themselves, whether it was Colin's purpose and identity outside of his family or Penelope's comfort in her body and status. Together, they are able to embrace bravery and wield their own voices.

While they've stumbled and made some mistakes, their deep bond has always guided them back on course. They're a shining example of the friends to lovers trope.

So, in 2026, we want a love that feels like coming home to our best friend.

We know that the Summer I Turned Pretty fandom is pretty divided, but sorry Bellyjeres, a love like Bonrad is on our 2026 wishlist.

From innocent and often humbling childhood adoration to angsty teenage heartbreak to open and honest adult love, Belly and Conrad have always been tied together. Not by fate, but by the relationship—complete with all the good and the bad—that they had forged together memory by memory.

While a failure to communicate and playing it safe are definitely things we're hoping to leave back in 2025, we are crossing every finger to have the kind of love these two earned by the series finale. Though they waded through years of agonizing drama and fear, they had the courage to let not only each other grow, but to let themselves grow.

Their romance felt impossible at points, but they saw it through to the other side instead of freezing in place.

With quotes like “I’ve changed everything about myself, and the one thing that never changes is that I love you,” from Conrad and, “If there are infinite worlds, every version of me chooses you in every one of them,” from Belly, there's no doubt that they are putting in the work to continue growing in the same direction.

There are few things more heart-wrenching than The Last of Us, yet, somehow, the show manages to cultivate one of the most tender and loving romances television has ever seen.

While Ellie and Dina's romance is ultimately tragic, chipped away at by Ellie's inability to let go of her quest for vengeance, the time they do share together is an oasis in a desert of horrors. While human atrocities and monstrous terrors wreak havoc around them, they find a slice of warmth and gentleness in each other.

And isn't that the point of love? To serve as each other's port in a storm—a light in the dark.

Sometimes the world we live in can feel apocalyptic as it is, so it'd be nice to have that dash of sweetness to brighten our days.

It's true, fans of 9-1-1 have taken a hard hit recently. We're all in mourning.

But let us remember the good times. Athena and Bobby had a lot of them.

Separately, Athena Grant and Bobby Nash are two incredibly strong individuals. They'd have to be, what with the important work they do in the emergency services. Together, they push each other to face their greatest fears and overcome their deepest old hurts.

They are a no nonsense, no drama couple. Every issue and trial they have come across, they have faced head on. Even when they felt like they didn't have the strength to push through, their partner assured them they did, either with a rousing pep talk or a knowing look.

There was never any question on if they would have someone to lean on when times got tough.

Featured image: Joanna Kosinska/Unsplash; Netflix; Accent Aigu Entertainment; Amazon Studios