Ariana Grande and boyfriend Ricky Alvarez made their first official red carpet appearance as a couple on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the world premiere of Universal Pictures' comedy sequel Focker-in-Law. Hosted at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, the high-profile screening brought together newcomer Grande and returning franchise regulars—including Teri Polo, Ben Stiller, and Robert De Niro—ahead of the film's Thanksgiving theatrical rollout.

The evening marked a major public milestone for Grande, 33, and Alvarez, 35, who previously dated between 2015 and 2016 before rekindling their relationship earlier this year. Alongside the couple's debut, the premiere spotlighted Polo, 57, who unveiled a striking style transformation 26 years after originating her role as Pam Byrnes in the 2000 box office hit Meet the Parents.

Archival Fashion and a Rekindled Romance

Stepping onto the Beacon Theatre carpet, Grande leaned into archival fashion to celebrate her latest big-screen role. According to Vogue, stylist Law Roach dressed the singer and actress in a rare vintage 1990s Badgley Mischka gown.

The spaghetti-strapped design featured a pale silver-gray windowpane plaid pattern, a fitted bodice detailed with tiny beaded floral embellishments, and a voluminous, floor-length skirt. Roach reportedly acquired the archival gown months in advance, selecting the piece specifically for its visual ties to the late-1990s and early-2000s era of the original Meet the Parents film.

Grande completed the look with Swarovski Matrix hoop earrings and styled her dark hair into a sleek micro ponytail tied with an ivory ribbon. Roach's work with Grande continues a prominent archival streak for the stylist, who recently pulled 1990s Dolce & Gabbana and Paco Rabanne couture for Kim Kardashian's All's Fair press tour, as well as a spring 1997 Pierre Cardin design for Anya Taylor-Joy at the LACMA Art+Film Gala.

Alvarez, a dancer and photographer, contrasted Grande's formal couture with a relaxed ensemble consisting of a black blazer over an open-collar white shirt, dark indigo jeans with rolled cuffs, a leather belt, and brown dress shoes.

According to USA TODAY, the pair posed together for photographers, sharing a kiss and embracing on the carpet as Grande rested a hand on his chest. Following the screening, Alvarez shared a selfie with Grande on Instagram captioned simply "Fockers."

Media outlets framed the significance of the appearance with slight variations in context. While USA TODAY and People emphasized the evening as the couple's overall red carpet debut, Yahoo News UK and Hello! characterized the outing specifically as their first joint carpet appearance since rekindling their romance.

The pair first met when Alvarez performed as a backup dancer on Grande's 2015 Honeymoon Tour. After dating for roughly a year and parting ways in 2016, Alvarez was famously referenced in Grande's 2018 hit single "thank u, next" with the lyric, "Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh."

Rumors of a reconciliation surfaced over the summer when the two were spotted together in Austin, Texas, during Grande's Eternal Sunshine tour, followed by sightings in Florida and New York. By August, the couple confirmed their status on Instagram, and Grande debuted a "I do love you" tattoo. During her recent tour dates, Grande also altered the lyrics to "thank u, next" onstage, swapping the original second line for variations such as "We always find our way back."

The high-visibility premiere follows a busy period for Grande, who wrapped her Eternal Sunshine tour in September with a 10-night residency at London's O2 Arena.

In August, she announced plans to scale back public-facing appearances after the tour due to what her representative described as "endless, ongoing public scrutiny," a move that coincided with her decision to withdraw from a planned London revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.

Teri Polo Celebrates 26 Years in the Franchise

While Grande represented the franchise's new blood, original cast member Teri Polo drew widespread attention for a bold visual departure from her classic girl-next-door persona. Returning to the comedy series 26 years after the 2000 release of Meet the Parents, the 57-year-old actress walked the New York carpet in a tailored, figure-hugging black midi dress paired with a black-and-gold clutch and subtle statement rings, according to Yahoo Entertainment. The sleeveless silhouette also displayed her forearm tattoos.

Polo traded her signature blonde waves for a darker hair color cut into shaggy, rock-and-roll layers with wispy bangs.

She first previewed the haircut on Instagram three weeks prior to the premiere alongside her stylist, Yama. "Thanks for helping my hair and boosting my ego," Polo wrote in the social media post. "My forehead wrinkles are miraculously hidden. Who needs Botox! Switch up your hairstyle."

The premiere coincides with a period of personal renewal for the actress, who previously shared a son, Griffin (born in 2002), with first husband Anthony Moore, and a daughter, Bayley (born in 2007), with former long-term partner and Tears for Fears drummer Jamie Wollam. During a 2025 appearance on The Adam Carolla Show, Polo revealed she had entered a new relationship with a former Marine after matching on a dating app and flying to South Korea for their first date.

Inside 'Focker-in-Law' and Release Details

Focker-in-Law serves as the fourth installment in Universal's lucrative family comedy franchise. The plot follows Greg and Pam Focker, played by Stiller and Polo, as they navigate the comedic chaos surrounding their grown son Henry—portrayed by franchise newcomer Skyler Gisondo—as he prepares to get married.

Grande joins the ensemble alongside Gisondo, while veteran stars Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, and Blythe Danner reprise their established roles. The supporting cast also features Chris Redd, Eduardo Franco, and Beanie Feldstein, all of whom attended Wednesday's Beacon Theatre screening.

When does 'Focker-in-Law' open in theaters?

The movie is positioned as a major Thanksgiving week theatrical release, though industry listings show a slight one-day discrepancy regarding the exact debut. According to BroadwayWorld, Focker-in-Law is scheduled to open in United States theaters on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, while a promotional featurette listing from IGN lists the theatrical release date as Thursday, November 26.

Was this Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez's first public outing since reuniting?

While the Focker-in-Law premiere was their first official red carpet walk together as a couple, it was not their first public sighting since getting back together.

The pair were previously spotted by fans in Austin, Florida, and New York over the summer and confirmed their renewed relationship on Instagram in August 2026.

Sources