Dove Cameron is engaged. Yeah, you read that right.
It happened right at the start of 2026, and honestly, if you haven’t been keeping tabs on the boyfriend of dove cameron, you’ve missed one of the most chaotic, stylish, and surprisingly sweet rock-and-roll romances of the decade. His name is Damiano David. He’s the lead singer of the Italian rock band Måneskin. If he looks familiar, it’s probably because you remember him from Eurovision or those viral photos of him wearing leather and eyeliner on stage.
But for Dove, he isn't just a rock star. She calls him her "angel" and a "1950s gentleman." It’s a wild contrast to the gritty, edgy image he projects with the band.
The Engagement Everyone Saw Coming (Sort Of)
On January 3, 2026, Dove basically broke the internet when she posted a series of photos on Instagram. The caption? "my favourite part of being alive 💍 happy new year." In the shots, she’s showing off a massive cushion-cut diamond ring while posing in Tuscany with Damiano.
They’ve been together for about two years now. They actually celebrated their second anniversary in October 2025. Dove even wrote this super emotional tribute back then, saying she cries at least once a week because her life has become so beautiful with him. It’s a lot. But after some of her past high-profile breakups, fans are mostly just relieved to see her this happy.
The rumors of an engagement had been swirling since late 2025. Paparazzi caught them in Sydney, Australia, and everyone with a zoom lens noticed the sparkler on her finger. They didn't confirm it then, probably wanting to keep the moment for themselves.
Who Is Damiano David Anyway?
If you aren't a "Maneskin" stan, here’s the quick breakdown. Damiano is 27 (born January 8, 1999). He’s from Rome. He started the band with his high school friends Victoria De Angelis and Thomas Raggi back in 2015. They went from busking on the streets of Italy to winning Eurovision 2021 and becoming a global phenomenon.
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He’s known for a very specific type of androgynous, glam-rock style.
- He loves sheer fabrics and mesh.
- He’s covered in tattoos.
- He has this deep, raspy voice that sounds like he’s been drinking whiskey for fifty years.
But Dove swears that's all just the "performance." In a 2024 interview with Cosmopolitan, she mentioned that the first time she really sat down with him, they talked for eight hours. She described it as a "slow, cautious, interview-type" first date. She wanted to make sure he was a good person, not just a "cool" person.
Apparently, he passed the test.
A Timeline of the Dove and Damiano Romance
They didn't exactly hit it off immediately. In fact, they met at the 2022 VMAs and barely even spoke. Dove was coming off a massive year with "Breakfast" and "Boyfriend," and Damiano was in the middle of a world tour. They were just two ships passing in the night.
Fast forward to September 2023. Dove was spotted at a Måneskin concert at Madison Square Garden. Then, they were seen in Brazil. Then, they were caught kissing on a beach in Sydney. It was like a world tour of PDA.
By February 2024, they decided to stop hiding. They made their red carpet debut at Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Gala. It was iconic. Damiano was carrying Dove’s heels in one of the photos she posted later. That’s when the internet officially decided he was "the one."
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Major Milestones Together
- May 2024: Their first Met Gala as a couple. They both wore Diesel. Dove looked like a floral dream; Damiano wore a sheer suit.
- March 2025: They showed up at the Tom Ford show in Paris looking like a power couple from a 90s movie.
- January 2026: The engagement announcement that solidified everything.
What Happened to Dove’s Past Boyfriends?
You can’t talk about the current boyfriend of dove cameron without acknowledging why this feels so different for her. Dove has had two very long, very public relationships before Damiano.
First, there was Ryan McCartan. They met on Liv and Maddie, formed a band called The Girl and the Dreamcatcher, and got engaged in 2016. Six months later, it was over. Ryan tweeted that "Dove has decided this relationship isn't what she wants." It got messy later, with some accusations flying back and forth, but they’ve both moved on.
Then came Thomas Doherty. They met on the set of Descendants 2. They were together for nearly four years. People thought they were going to get married. But in October 2020, they split. Dove later said that she still loves him but they just weren't meant to be "together" together.
Coming out of those relationships, Dove was pretty private for a while. She’s been open about her struggles with depression and finding her own identity. She told Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast that she had some "horrendous" moments in past relationships that led her to a dark place.
Meeting Damiano seems to have been her "reset." She says he helped her lose the "shame" she felt about herself.
Why This Relationship Actually Works
It’s easy to look at a Disney star and a rock singer and think it’s just a PR stunt. But the way they talk about each other feels different. Damiano told PEOPLE in 2025 that he’s "so in love" and that they play each other’s music constantly.
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There’s a level of mutual respect there. They are both musicians who understand the grind of touring and the weirdness of fame. Dove has mentioned that they had to have a "talk" early on about how public they wanted to be. Damiano was the one who pointed out that if a nurse or a lawyer can post photos of their partner, why shouldn't they?
It’s a surprisingly grounded perspective for someone who spends his nights screaming into a microphone in front of 20,000 people.
The Ring and the Wedding
The ring is a stunner. It’s a cushion-cut diamond with a "deeply meaningful inscription" inside, according to insiders. While they haven't set a date yet, Dove’s mom is already celebrating. She posted on Instagram that she couldn't imagine a more perfect partner for her daughter. When the mom approves, you know it's serious.
Takeaways for the Fans
If you're following Dove's journey, there are a few things to keep in mind about why this matters.
- Healing takes time. Dove took years between her last major relationship and this one to figure herself out.
- Look past the image. Damiano might look "scary" to some, but to Dove, he’s a "teddy bear."
- Privacy is a choice. Even though they are public now, they still keep the "deeply meaningful" stuff—like that ring inscription—mostly to themselves.
The next step for these two? Likely a wedding in Italy. Given Damiano's roots and the fact that they spent New Year's 2026 in Tuscany, an Italian wedding feels like a given. For now, we can just expect more high-fashion red carpet appearances and sweet Instagram carousels.
Check out Dove’s latest music if you want to hear the influence of this relationship—she’s been hinting that her newer songs are heavily inspired by the "safety" she feels with Damiano. It's a far cry from the heartbreak anthems of her past.