tantan Gets Hearts Racing Across Asia Pacific, Turning Shared Workouts into Real World Connections
- Written by Telegraph Magazine
Following strong turnouts in Malaysia and Taiwan, tantan brings its fitness-led community experiences to Bangkok and Taichung in the coming months
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 September 2026 – tantan, one of APAC's largest dating platforms, is taking its fitness, fun and dating offline across the region with its community fitness initiative, bringing singles together through running, workouts and lifestyle experiences designed to spark genuine connections beyond the screen.Since launching its fitness and lifestyle event series in Q3 2025, tantan has seen consistent demand for offline experiences. Across recent events, including its Singapore Halloween activation and the fitness gatherings that followed, approximately 80 per cent of available spots were filled within the first two days of registration, with the latest events reaching capacity within a day. Turnout has also remained high, with close to 90 per cent of registered participants attending.
The events have drawn a broad mix of participants, with recent registrations comprising approximately 60 per cent men and 40 per cent women. Female participation continues to climb, with female app sign-ups rising by around five per cent in the seven days following each offline event.
"We have always believed that meaningful connections can start online, but what we are seeing now is that offline can be a powerful driver of community growth. Our events are not only attracting strong participation, they are bringing new people into the tantan community, with female app sign-ups rising after each event. For us, the numbers show that giving people a reason to meet in real life can create momentum that lasts beyond the event itself. Offline is becoming an important part of how we build our communities, not simply an extension of what happens on the app," said Willynn Ng, Regional Head of International Markets at tantan.
The growing appetite for interest-led social experiences also reflects a wider shift in how people are looking to meet. According to Eventbrite data, experiences using "meet-cute" language grew by 117 per cent in the first half of 2026, while hobby-based events centred around meeting people, going solo and finding a community are gaining momentum across wellness, nature, crafting and other lifestyle categories.
For tantan, the appeal of offline fitness lies in giving people a natural reason to connect. Rather than meeting with the sole intention of dating, participants bond over a shared activity, challenge or interest, making interactions feel more organic and less transactional.
Bringing the Initiative to More Communities across APAC
tantan is adapting the format to local communities and interests as it rolls out across the region.
In Malaysia, tantan hosted Run & Mingle on 6 September in collaboration with RSS Run Club, a Malaysian community-driven running and fitness group, bringing together 43 participants. Women made up 80 per cent of attendees, while around 80 per cent of participants were single. The strong female turnout is particularly notable given that female participation has traditionally been harder to drive at offline dating events, highlighting the growing appeal of fitness-led social experiences as a more approachable way to meet.
In Thailand, tantan will be the Official Dating App Partner of the BREW Vertical Fun Run on 20 September at ICONSIAM in Bangkok, held as part of the Iconic Coffee Festival. Organised with ICONSIAM and Brew Run Club, the event transforms the destination into a vertical running experience across seven levels, with each floor offering a different coffee, pastry, brand or social moment. Around 300 participants are expected to take part, with games and challenges planned at the end of the run to create natural opportunities to interact.
In Taiwan, tantan is taking its fitness community beyond Taipeiwith Taichung's first ever "Bar Run" from 23 to 24 October. Organised in collaboration with a local pub 龍蛇酒雜 (LONG SER 9 ZA), the event is expected to attract approximately 3,000 to 3,500 participants, combining fitness, socialising and nightlife in a city-wide experience. Participants can roam the neighbourhood, visit partner bars for exclusive drinks, collect stamps and play games, turning the city into a social playground to explore, connect and have fun.
Across these markets, tantan's approach is simple: fitness creates the common ground, while connections happen naturally along the way.
With more fitness and lifestyle experiences planned across APAC, tantan aims to build a community where digital discovery and real-world experiences work together, turning shared interests into shared experiences and, ultimately, more opportunities for meaningful connections offline.
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https://thetantanapp.com/
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tantan
Reintroducing itself to Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian market, tantan comes refreshed with a new brand identity and the 'Date Different' vision. Headquartered in Singapore, tantan serves young, socially active and culturally curious singles across key markets including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as the United States and Canada. The platform is committed to fostering genuine connections through community first experiences, inclusive values and ongoing product innovation. Tantan International operates independently across Asia Pacific and North America.
For more information, please visit thetantanapp.com
https://www.instagram.com/tantanapp/
