Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi’s rumoured romance, explained

Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi have somehow become the celebrity couple no one saw coming—and, naturally, everyone wants to know exactly when it started. The model and Australian actor have long moved in overlapping Hollywood circles, but in 2026, their friendship appeared to take a decidedly more romantic turn. 

From a whispered Coachella hookup to tropical escapes, Tokyo dinners, and low-key dates back in Elordi’s hometown, their relationship has unfolded with a discreet, globetrotting intrigue befitting a celebrity power couple. Neither star has publicly confirmed that they’re an item, but the sightings—and the steady stream of insider reports—have made the timeline increasingly difficult to ignore.

They first appeared to have moved from longtime acquaintances to one of Hollywood’s most closely watched rumoured couples in 2026, but their connection predates that—the pair have circulated in overlapping celebrity circles for years, with Elordi reportedly attending Jenner’s birthday celebration in 2022. By March 2026, they were photographed talking at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, although that interaction alone offered no evidence of a romantic relationship.

The speculation intensified in April during Coachella. Jenner and Elordi were seen at Justin Bieber’s after-party, where entertainment reports described them as affectionate. Around the same time, a source told People Magazine that the pair had been “hanging out and getting to know each other” for the previous couple of months, suggesting Coachella was more likely a public turning point than the beginning of their relationship.

By May, the evidence had become more substantial. Jenner and Elordi were photographed together in Kaua'i, Hawaii, including at Nourish Hanalei, after reportedly spending time at the North Shore Preserve. They were subsequently spotted in California, including on a reported double date with Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet and at a dinner in Montecito where sources described the pair as affectionate.

Their reported travels continued into June. The pair were photographed dining at restaurants in Tokyo, where restaurant posts provided unusually public glimpses of their time together. Later that month, they were spotted in Byron Bay, Australia, walking a dog and spending time together shortly before Elordi’s birthday. The Australian trip was particularly notable as their first outing on Elordi’s home soil.

In July, Jenner and Elordi continued their low-profile pattern. They were photographed boating in Idaho with members of the Kardashian-Jenner and Bieber circles, while a later report placed them together at a Chris Stapleton concert in Washington on July 24. Despite the increasingly consistent sightings, neither star has made an official relationship announcement or launched the kind of social-media “hard launch” often associated with celebrity couples. 

It’s a relationship timeline built largely from photographs and eyewitness accounts rather than direct confirmation from Jenner or Elordi. Reports have increasingly characterised the relationship as serious, while other coverage emphasises the pair’s apparent desire to keep their private lives away from the spotlight. As of August 2026, the most accurate description is that Jenner and Elordi are widely reported to be dating, but have not publicly confirmed their relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi reportedly start dating?

There is no confirmed start date, but reports in April 2026 indicated that Jenner and Elordi had already been spending time together for several months, meaning their relationship may have begun before they were publicly linked at Coachella. 

Are Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi officially dating in 2026?

No, not officially in the public sense: neither Jenner nor Elordi has confirmed their relationship, although multiple reports and repeated sightings have characterised them as a couple. 

Where have Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi been spotted together?

They have been spotted in several locations in 2026, including Los Angeles, Coachella, KauaÊ»i in Hawaii, Tokyo, Byron Bay in Australia and Idaho. 

Did Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi go to Hawaii together?

Yes. They were photographed together in Kaua'i in May 2026, including at Nourish Hanalei, amid growing reports that they were dating. 

Did Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi attend Coachella together?

Yes. They were seen together during the first weekend of Coachella in April 2026, with reports of affectionate behaviour at a Justin Bieber after-party significantly intensifying dating rumours.