Seems like Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez have found their way back to each other and fans can’t get enough of the adorable couple. Over a decade after the two reportedly decided to call it quits following a nearly yearlong relationship, they have teased a rekindled romance in an Instagram post now circulating online.
Just a few days back, Grande posted a few pictures on social media where they deliberately chose to hide their identity. Interestingly, the singer tagged Alvarez in the post, thereby fuelling the buzz around their reconciliation. As the couple continues to gain attention for their alleged love affair, let’s take a look at who Ricky Alvarez is, their relationship timeline, and their career so far.
Who Is Ricky Alvarez? Meet Ariana Grande’s Boyfriend
Ricky Alvarez is a dancer and photographer who first became associated with Ariana Grande through her touring team. According to Cosmopolitan’s timeline, Alvarez joined Grande as a backup dancer in 2014 and later performed with her during her Honeymoon Tour.
His connection with Grande eventually became personal. The two began dating in 2015, after Alvarez had already become part of her professional circle.
Although Alvarez has generally maintained a lower profile than Grande, he has continued working creatively over the years. He also worked as a photographer and videographer and remained connected to Grande’s professional and personal world even after their relationship ended. Cosmopolitan notes that he joined Grande’s Sweetener World Tour in 2019 as a photographer and videographer.
When Did Ariana Grande And Ricky Alvarez First Start Dating?
Grande and Alvarez’s first romance began in 2015. Their relationship came into public focus after they were reportedly seen kissing during Grande’s performance at New York City Pride that June.
The relationship lasted roughly a year. By July 2016, reports indicated that the pair had split, with sources at the time saying they had found it difficult to make the relationship work. The two, however, did not appear to remain on bad terms. In fact, their friendship continued long after their breakup.
Why Is Ricky Alvarez Famous? His Connection To Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’
One of the biggest reasons Ricky Alvarez remains familiar to Ariana’s fans is his mention in her 2018 hit Thank U, Next. Grande famously sang about her former relationships in the song, including the line about Alvarez. Following the song’s release, he even appeared to take the reference in good humour by sharing himself singing along to it.
During her Eternal Sunshine Tour in 2026, Grande began changing the lyrics mentioning Ricky. According to Cosmopolitan, she initially altered the line and later sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.”
The lyric change became one of the biggest clues that the former couple could be reconnecting.
When Did Ariana Grande And Ricky Alvarez Get Back Together?
Rumours about Ariana and Ricky getting back together began circulating in June 2026 after they were spotted together in Austin, Texas. They were later seen together in Florida around the Fourth of July, including spending time with Grande’s family.
Their appearances continued, and Grande’s changing Thank U, Next lyrics only added fuel to the speculation.
By July, PEOPLE and TMZ reported that the former couple had rekindled their romance. However, sources stressed that they were “taking things very slowly” and were not rushing into anything serious.
A source cited by PEOPLE described Alvarez as dependable, trustworthy and supportive, adding that Grande felt she could be herself around him.
Ariana Grande And Ricky Alvarez Make Their Relationship Instagram-Official
On August 12, Grande shared a series of personal photographs that included affectionate moments with Alvarez and tagged him in the post. PEOPLE described the move as the couple going Instagram-official after rekindling their romance.
Page Six similarly reported that Grande and Alvarez had confirmed their renewed relationship through the social media post, which included a mirror selfie and a photo of the pair embracing.
Alvarez also shared some of the photographs, further signalling that their relationship has moved beyond mere speculation.
