Handjobs have officially dethroned blowjobs as the sex trend of summer 2026, according to sex podcaster Dan Savage, who posted this week that getting handsy is now the hottest sex trend. A friend admitted to Savage that he prefers handjobs to blowjobs, and a subsequent reel of a man on a train echoed the sentiment, with the interviewer '100% agreed.' The male Reddit community has also voiced support, with one user writing: 'Handjob while kissing and touching her boobs is the best ever.'
Why Handjobs Are Gaining Popularity
Sexologist Jenn Mason penned a Substack post titled 'Why hand stuff is better than oral sex,' expressing distaste for watching a partner's enthusiasm disappear under the sheets. 'Hand stuff, though? I'm convinced anyone could survive a scene-by-scene breakdown of Lord of the Rings, provided there's delicate but insistent touch and the occasional teasing plunge,' she says. Mason also criticizes the act's 'immature' reputation, calling it 'oral sex's pimply younger sibling.'
Sexologist Becky Crepsley-Fox tells Metro that handjobs offer unique intimacy: 'During a handjob you're on eye level. You're side by side, face to face. You can kiss, stroke his neck, and watch each other.' She adds that it becomes a full-body experience, with one hand free for other areas. Men online agree, with one writing: 'Handjob all day, it's better when they get to talk to you and get their face close to yours, more intimate. Blowjobs are sexy, but handjobs are romantic.'
Practical Benefits and History
Becky notes that many men climax faster during oral, so manual stimulation allows for longer sessions. A hand can adjust pressure, speed, grip, rhythm, and angle in ways a mouth cannot, and maintain consistent rhythm through orgasm. Handjobs also carry lower STI risk than blowjobs, though skin-to-skin infections like herpes and HPV can still transmit. 'There's also no chance of an unfortunate encounter with someone's teeth,' she admits.
The handjob renaissance may be driven by mainstream porn representation and modern exhaustion. 'People are exhausted. Couples come to me describing sex as another item on the to-do list,' Becky says. 'Handjobs are having a genuine renaissance for exactly this reason – it's low-stakes, face to face, and can be twenty minutes on a Tuesday.' The trend is not new: handjobs appear in Egyptian erotic art from 1150 BCE and were preferred in Rome due to shame around oral sex. The last renaissance was in the 1920s with petting culture.
Blowjobs Still Have Their Fans
Despite the trend, a steadfast Reddit community insists blowjobs are superior, with some men complaining 'if I want a handjob I'll give myself one.' Becky explains that oral offers something men cannot do alone: 'Most men will tell you quite cheerfully that nobody masturbates them better than they do, and oral is the one thing they can't do alone.' Oral also avoids death grip syndrome and provides an intense moment of vulnerability. 'A lot of men describe oral as the moment they feel most wanted,' she says.
