The singer and her former boyfriend reunited for their first red-carpet appearance as a couple in New York City, nearly a decade after their original romance ended.
Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez made their first official red-carpet appearance as a couple on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the world premiere of Focker-in-Law in New York City. The singer and actress attended the event at the Beacon Theatre alongside the cast of her new comedy, marking another public milestone in a relationship that resumed earlier this year.
Grande, 33, and Alvarez, 35, posed together for photographers, with Alvarez wrapping an arm around her waist as she smiled at him. Their affectionate appearance attracted attention because the two originally dated from 2015 to 2016 but had never previously attended a red-carpet event together as a couple.
Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez Make Their Romance Red-Carpet Official
Grande wore a vintage Badgley Mischka gown featuring a white-and-gray plaid pattern, delicate spaghetti straps and floral embellishments. The dress featured a full skirt that gave her appearance a classic Hollywood style while drawing inspiration from the fashion of the 1990s.
Alvarez chose a more relaxed outfit, pairing a black sport coat and white collared shirt with dark jeans and brown boots. The contrast between their outfits stood out as they posed together and greeted photographers outside the theater.
Grande also brought back one of her most recognizable hairstyles for the occasion. Although she recently shared photographs of a shorter bob haircut, she gathered her hair into a ponytail and completed the look with a white satin bow.
According to Billboard’s coverage of the premiere, the couple waved to fans and posed for photographs both separately and together. Their appearance followed months of speculation and increasingly public signs that their former relationship had turned romantic again.
The evening also reunited Grande with several members of the Focker-in-Law cast, including Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson and Skyler Gisondo. The premiere celebrated her first appearance in the comedy franchise that began more than 25 years ago.
A Relationship That Began Nearly a Decade Earlier
Grande and Alvarez first became romantically involved in 2015 after meeting through her music career. Alvarez worked as a dancer on her Honeymoon Tour, and their professional connection eventually developed into a relationship.
They separated in 2016 but remained on friendly terms afterward. Alvarez later became one of the former boyfriends referenced in Grande’s 2018 hit Thank U, Next, a song reflecting on her previous relationships.
Their reunion began attracting attention in June 2026 when Alvarez appeared at several performances during Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour. The pair were also photographed spending time together away from the stage, raising questions about whether their friendship had developed into something more.
Grande added to that speculation by changing lyrics in Thank U, Next during performances. At one concert, she sang a variation suggesting that she and Alvarez continued finding their way back to each other.
In July, reports confirmed that the former couple had renewed their romantic relationship. People reported that they were taking things slowly rather than rushing into major commitments, with a source describing Alvarez as someone Grande trusted and felt comfortable around.
The relationship became more public on August 12 when Grande shared photographs featuring Alvarez on Instagram. The pictures included affectionate moments between the pair, and she tagged his account without making a lengthy announcement about their reconciliation.
Their appearance at the Focker-in-Law premiere represented a more visible step. Rather than limiting their relationship to social media photographs or private outings, Grande and Alvarez appeared together at a major Hollywood promotional event.
Grande Joins the Meet the Parents Franchise
The premiere also marked an important moment in Grande’s acting career as she prepared to introduce audiences to her character in Focker-in-Law. The movie is the fourth installment in the comedy series that began with Meet the Parents in 2000.
Grande plays Olivia Jones, a former FBI hostage negotiator and life coach who is dating Henry Focker, portrayed by Skyler Gisondo. Henry is the adult son of Greg Focker, played by Ben Stiller, and Pam Focker, played by Teri Polo.
The story follows Henry as he brings Olivia home to meet his family during a gathering celebrating Jack Byrnes’ 80th birthday. Jack, portrayed by Robert De Niro, quickly warms to Olivia despite his reputation for being suspicious and difficult to impress.
Greg, however, becomes increasingly worried about his son’s relationship and begins questioning Olivia’s background and intentions. His behavior creates a reversal of the original film, in which Greg struggled to win the approval of his own intimidating future father-in-law.
John Hamburg wrote and directed the new film after helping write the three earlier installments. The returning cast includes De Niro, Stiller, Wilson, Polo and Blythe Danner, while newcomers include Grande, Gisondo, Beanie Feldstein and Eduardo Franco.
Grande previously discussed her excitement about joining the franchise during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She described being surprised that she had the opportunity to work with a cast of established actors and comedians in a series she admired.
The movie follows her recent success in the Wicked films, which brought renewed attention to her acting alongside her established music career. Her role in Focker-in-Law gives her an opportunity to explore a different style of performance through a major studio comedy.
A Public Appearance Ahead of the Thanksgiving Release
The November 11 premiere came after Grande completed her Eternal Sunshine Tour in September. She had previously discussed plans to reduce her public appearances after the tour while continuing to fulfill certain professional commitments.
Attending the premiere allowed Grande to promote one of her major film projects while making a rare public appearance with Alvarez. The couple has generally kept the details of their renewed relationship private despite sharing occasional photographs and appearing together in public.
Universal Pictures has scheduled Focker-in-Law for theatrical release on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, immediately before Thanksgiving. The film is rated PG-13 and runs approximately 105 minutes.
The premiere gave audiences an early look at the return of the Focker family while placing Grande and Alvarez’s relationship in the spotlight. Their first red-carpet appearance together came nearly ten years after their initial breakup and two weeks before Grande’s new comedy reaches theaters.
IMAGE: Ariana Grande Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/shankbone/4568646137/in/set-72157623906854858/ Author David Shankbone CC2