Ricky Alvarez and Ariana Grande appear to have rekindled their relationship almost 10 years after their initial romance. The two had a close friendship formed in Grande’s 2015 Honeymoon Tour and have been friends since their break up in 2016.
Grande seemed to officially make their relationship official again by posting photos with Alvarez on August 12, 2026. It was the time when their long-time relationship story went public.
2015: Romance Begins on the Honeymoon Tour
Alvarez and Grande met each other when he joined her dance crew in the Honeymoon Tour in 2015. The two were soon spotted kissing on stage at a concert in July, and their romance was quickly picked up.
Their bond was also added to Grande’s music history. During her international tour, this song “Moonlight” was connected to Alvarez, another layer to the relationship that developed.
2016: Grande Confirms They Were Happy
By May 2016, Grande had come to a comfortable place speaking about the relationship. During a Billboard interview, she said she was “happy” when talking about her love affair with Alvarez.
This relationship lasted a few months before ending in July 2016. Though they parted ways on the romantic front, the two remained friends for many years, which meant that Alvarez stayed in Grande’s circle of friends.
2018: Ricky Alvarez Appears in “Thank U, Next”
The relationship came to light in 2018 again when Grande released “Thank U, Next.” Alvarez is the subject of the song, which is known for referring to her and many of her previous partners.
When Alvarez was mentioned he laughed off the comment, indicating there was no bitterness between the two. The two, in turn, reiterated their friendship, insisting that the breakup had not spoiled their friendship.
2026: Reunion Rumors Begin
Rumors of romance once again broke out in June 2026 when Grande and Alvarez were spotted in Austin, Texas, during her Eternal Sunshine Tour. Later, they were photographed together during the Fourth of July weekend in Boca Raton, FL.
There was more speculation when Grande was said to have made some changes to ‘Thank U, Next’ during a few shows. Fans took the changes as potentially a nod to her resuming her relationship with Alvarez.
August 2026: Grande Makes Their Relationship Public
On August 12, 2026, Grande posted a series of photos on Instagram that are personal in nature. In one of the photos, Alvarez poses beside herself with her reflection in the photo, which led to a lot of fan comments.
It seemed to confirm what fans had been speculating about for months, Grande and Alvarez were no longer friends, but rather had rekindled their romance.
FAQs
In what year did Ariana Grande start dating Ricky Alvarez?
Meeting during her Honeymoon Tour, Grande and Alvarez started dating in 2015.
When did they split up?
In July 2016, the couple broke up their romance but maintained their friendship.
Has Ricky Alvarez been in “Thank U, Next”?
Yes. The opening verse of the song has one of the most memorable lyrical lines, with Grande mentioning Alvarez.
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