Talking about sex can feel vulnerable, but asking for what you want is one of the healthiest skills you can build in intimacy. This piece explores how to communicate desire with warmth, clarity, and confidence so sex feels more connected, collaborative, and satisfying for everyone involved.

The 2026 State of Intimacy Report reveals a quiet but powerful shift in how couples are connecting. Rather than chasing extremes or obsessing over frequency, partners are prioritising emotional closeness, shared presence, and mutual responsibility. Intimacy is becoming less about performance and more about partnership. From the impact of emotional labor to the role of intentional novelty, this year’s data suggests we are not having less intimacy, we are redefining what meaningful connection actually looks like.