Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez cozy up during romantic Central Park stroll

Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez cozy up during romantic Central Park stroll

Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez were photographed walking arm-in-arm through New York City’s Central Park on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The pair, who previously dated from 2015 to 2016, appeared close during the outing, with Grande's arm wrapped around Alvarez's waist and Alvarez's arm draped over her shoulder. They were accompanied by a dog that resembled the singer's pet, Toulouse.

Grande, 33, wore an all-black outfit with a nude-colored headband and her hair in a messy bun. Alvarez, 35, wore camo pants, a sleeveless black T-shirt, and a blue New York Knicks hat.

The public appearance follows several weeks of sightings and lyrical hints suggesting a reconciliation. In late June, the two were seen at a restaurant in Austin, Texas, for Grande's birthday. During the Fourth of July weekend, they were photographed together at a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida, the singer's hometown.

The reunion comes after Grande's split from Ethan Slater, whom she had dated for three years. While sources confirmed the reconciliation in July 2026, they indicated the couple is taking things slowly. An insider told Page Six that Grande is not rushing back into the relationship as she remains busy with her tour schedule. According to the same source, Grande appreciates that Alvarez has remained close with her family over the years and has made an effort to support her during her tour.

Another source told People that Grande has always considered Alvarez a friend and feels she can be herself around him, citing his dependability and a shared smart, dry sense of humor. This source added that while they are not jumping into anything serious immediately, Grande is happy to have him back in her life.

The rekindled romance was teased through a series of lyric changes to Grande's 2018 hit Thank U, Next during her Eternal Sunshine tour. The original song features the line, Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh. However, Grande altered the lyrics during recent performances:

• On June 24, she sang: Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still kinda slap.
• On her birthday, June 26, she sang: Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he still got my back.
• On July 13, during a show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, she sang: Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.

Grande and Alvarez first met in 2014 when Alvarez joined the Honeymoon Tour as a backup dancer. They began dating around April 2015, sparking rumors after kissing onstage at a New York City Pride concert in June 2015. Their early relationship included a widely publicized incident at Wolfee Donuts in Lake Elsinore, California, where they dared each other to lick donuts from a counter. Grande later released an apology video regarding the incident.

The couple made their public debut at the Spotify Creators Party in Los Angeles on February 13, 2016. However, sources confirmed their breakup on July 26, 2016. At the time, Grande shared tweets stating that change is f---king fantastic and that she was feelin free.

After the 2018 release of Thank U, Next, Alvarez responded to the lyric about him on Instagram Stories, writing, Nothing but gratitude and noting the songs were fire. Grande reshared the post, apologizing that he got the worst line but stating it was meant v lovingly.

A representative for Grande did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the current status of the relationship.