Women favor a girls’ night in rather than going out, new survey reveals

Staying in is becoming all the rage, especially for girls’ night, according to a new survey.

The survey of 2,000 women who are 21+ found that women are officially more in favor of nights in with their gal pals (46%) than nights out (33%).

And the right vibe is essential, according to the findings, as women ruled that the “cozy factor” is important to them on a night in (86%), with 40% even saying it’s “very important.”

Leading up to Galentine’s Day, Talker Research conducted the study on behalf of Cabot Creamery to uncover women’s formula for the perfect night in, and the importance of the perfect food spread for bonding time with their girlfriends.

Girls’ nights are more important than ever, and a third of respondents (33%) even labeled them as “essential for their mental health and well-being.”

They also said having quality time with their best girlfriends is “the ultimate bonding experience” (28%) and when they feel most like themselves (24%).

Many (43%) make time for girls’ nights with their friends at least once a month, and one in 10 (10%) even get together at least once a week.

Per the results, casual outfits (56%) are most popular on a girls’ night in, and 35% even feel that pajamas are the most ideal and appropriate attire for quality time with their ladies at home.

And the most important factors for a successful and enjoyable girls’ night in? Quality conversation (32%) and good food and drinks (23%), according to the women polled.

Zooming into pairing preferences for the perfect women’s night in, cheese and crackers came out on top (55%), followed by cheese paired with meats (43%), fruit (40%), and wine (31%).

In fact, charcuterie and wine (23%) ranked in the top three best food and drink pairings, along with tacos and margaritas (40%) and baked goods and coffee (26%).

When it comes to the most popular specific beverages for a ladies’ night at home, soda was the clear winner in the findings (43%), and wine (38%), margaritas (32%), hot coffee/tea (22%), and hot chocolate (20%) were also popular in the results.

Women also feel that having the choice about whether or not to drink on a night in is key too, and most said it’s important that there are non-alcoholic beverage options at girls’ gatherings, in case they (78%) or others present (89%) might not want to drink.

Other top menu options include cheesy picks like pizza (60%) and pasta (30%), as well as tacos (40%) and snack spreads (34%).

If opting for a themed event, taco night (47%) and girl dinner night (41%) ranked as the top two most popular choices.

“Galentine’s Day is the official holiday of cozy vibes, best friends and snack boards, and we love that it falls on February 13, aka National Cheddar Day,” said Liz Suchy, VP of Marketing at Cabot Creamery. “It’s the perfect excuse to stay in with your favorite people and celebrate friendship the way it should be celebrated — with laughter, comfy clothes and a ridiculously good cheese spread.”

Women feel that celebrations of friendship and womanhood are more important than ever, and 41% even said that Galentine’s Day festivities are equally as meaningful to them as Valentine’s Day celebrations.

And for those planning to host or attend a girls’ day celebration this year, they anticipate some of the top activities will be cheese and wine tasting (32%), watching movies (45%), and bonding over games (40%).

A quarter (24%) also have special Galentine’s Day traditions they do with their girlfriends each year.

One respondent said their Galentines Day tradition with their gal pals is to “exchange gifts and reflect on our relationships,” while another said that with their group, they like “sharing what we love about each other and telling each person one attribute about themselves that they may not know,” spotlighting that women care deeply about making time for each other and carving out time for bonding.

“Valentine’s Day always reminds me to celebrate the people who make life brighter,” said Suchy. “My girlfriends are my biggest cheerleaders and the ones I can always count on, so this year I’m treating them to great‑tasting cheese, their favorite drinks, and a cozy night in that feels every bit as special as going out.”

Women’s Top 10 Cheese Pairings for Girls’ Night

1. Cheese and crackers (55%)
2. Cheese and meats (43%)
3. Cheese and fruit (40%)
4. Cheese and wine (31%)
5. Cheese and veggies (30%)

6. Cheese and bread (26%)
7. Cheese and nuts (23%)
8. Cheese and olives or pickles (22%)
9. Cheese and pretzels (21%)
10. Cheese and chocolate (17%)

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Women who are 21+ who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Cabot Creamery and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Jan. 8 and Jan. 12, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.