Arriving arm in arm for the New York City premiere of Focker-in-Law at the Beacon Theatre on Wednesday evening, Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez made their red carpet debut as a couple.
The Grammy-winning songstress wore an off-white and gray tartan-patterned ballgown with a shorter hairstyle in her signature sleek ponytail, while Alvarez opted for a black blazer and cuffed jeans. Universal Pictures hosted the world premiere for the comedy film, which is written and directed by John Hamburg and features an ensemble cast including Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robert De Niro, and Blythe Danner.
What to Know About The Debut
- Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez made their official red carpet debut at the Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- The appearance follows Grande’s announcement in August that she would step back from public-facing work following her tour.
- The couple originally dated in 2015 after Alvarez worked as a background dancer on the Honeymoon Tour before rekindling their romance earlier this year.
The Premiere Appearance at the Beacon Theatre
Photographers captured the couple packing on the PDA at the Universal Pictures event, with Alvarez wrapping his arms around Grande and the pair gazing lovingly at one another. Grande accessorized her tartan gown with simple earrings and soft pink makeup glam, while Alvarez completed his outfit with brown shoes and a classic belt, as Page Six reported.
The red carpet gathering brought together the principal cast of the fourth installment in the Fockers franchise, including Teri Polo, Skyler Gisondo, Beanie Feldstein, and Eduardo Franco. Kristina Bumphrey captured the arrivals for Deadline, documenting appearances by Robert De Niro alongside Tiffany Chen, as well as Blythe Danner and Ben Stiller.
Rekindling a 2015 Romance
The couple’s history dates back over a decade. Grande and Álvarez’s love story began in 2015 after he joined the pop star on her Honeymoon Tour as a background dancer, E! News noted. “We’re happy,” Grande told Billboard of her romance with Álvarez in a May 2016 interview, before the pair called it quits that July.
The relationship resumed during a June 2026 group lunch at De Nada Cantina in Austin, followed by concert lyric changes and an Instagram soft launch on July 27. A source told Page Six in September that Grande is “in an amazing place” and “really happy.”
| Milestone | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Romance | 2015–2016 | Began on the Honeymoon Tour; ended in July 2016. |
| Relationship Restart | Summer 2026 | Rekindled in Austin; went Instagram official in July. |
| Tour Conclusion | September 1, 2026 | Conclusion of the Eternal Sunshine tour before a break from public work. |
| Red Carpet Debut | November 11, 2026 | First official red carpet appearance together at the Beacon Theatre. |
Stepping Back From Public Work
The premiere appearance follows a planned career pause for the singer. A representative for Grande announced in August that she would be stepping back from public-facing work following the September 1 conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour to focus on her personal life.
“She’s spending a lot of time with her family, friends and Ricky,” a source exclusively told Page Six in August, noting that touring schedules had previously kept the couple apart. Grande subsequently stepped away from a planned West End production of Sundays in the Park with George alongside Jonathan Bailey.
Grande Moves on with Alvarez After Splitting from Slater
The romance follows Grande and Wicked co-star Ethan Slater parting ways after three years of dating. “Ariana and Ethan broke up several months ago but they’ve remained friends since then and have nothing but respect and admiration for one another,” a source told Page Six in June, adding that the decision was not taken lightly.
Since going public over the summer, Grande and Alvarez have been spotted with matching love tattoos. During a September concert, Grande altered the lyrics to her 2018 hit thank u, next, singing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I’m tryna make him my last.”
