It is 2026, and somehow we are still talking about them. You know the ones. The tall Australian actor who seems to breathe in "moody cinematic lighting" and the YouTuber who survived the most public college admissions scandal in history. Jacob Elordi and Olivia Jade Giannulli are basically the human equivalent of a "to be continued" screen.
Just when everyone—including their own inner circles, apparently—thought they were "fully over" in late 2025, they popped up in New York City this January. It's the classic move. You see them leaving a hotel, hopping into a black SUV, and suddenly the "just friends" narrative starts looking a little thin.
Honestly, trying to track this relationship is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube that keeps changing colors while you're holding it.
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The January 2026 Reunion: Back on the Rollercoaster
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the internet did a collective double-take. Photos hit social media showing Jacob and Olivia in NYC, looking very much like a couple that isn't quite ready to say goodbye. Jacob was spotted doing that protective hand-behind-the-back thing as he helped her into a car. Small gesture? Sure. But in the world of celebrity sleuthing, it’s basically a wedding announcement.
They weren't just grabbing coffee, either. Later that day, Olivia was seen at the screening of his new movie, Frankenstein. She wasn't just a guest; she was reportedly there with his parents. If you're having dinner with the parents after a "final" breakup, things are clearly complicated.
Insiders told Us Weekly that the two "never really stopped talking." They text. They check in. Basically, they have this gravity that keeps pulling them back together whenever they’re in the same zip code. But here is the kicker: they aren't putting a "label" on it.
Labels are scary. Especially when you've broken up and reconciled more times than most people change their oil.
Why Jacob Elordi and Olivia Jade Keep Breaking Up
Distance is the big one. It's always the distance. Jacob is a massive star now—between Euphoria, Saltburn, and now Frankenstein, he’s constantly on a plane to a set or a premiere. Meanwhile, Olivia has been carving out a new life. She moved to Paris for a while in 2025 and has since set up a home base in New York.
When he's in Australia or on location and she's in NYC, things fall apart.
Then there is the family stuff. 2025 was a brutal year for Olivia. Her parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, announced they were splitting after nearly three decades of marriage. That kind of thing wrecks you. Sources say she leaned on Jacob heavily during that time. He was her "rock," even when they weren't technically together.
It’s easy to judge from the outside, but these are real people dealing with messy life transitions. Sometimes you just need the person who knows you best, even if the timing is garbage.
A Timeline of the "On-Again, Off-Again" Saga
If you’re confused about how we got here, join the club. It started way back in December 2021. Jacob had just split from Kaia Gerber, and Olivia was navigating the aftermath of her family’s legal drama. They were spotted in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, grabbing coffee and walking Jacob’s dog, Layla.
- The Early Days (2022): They were "casually dating" until they weren't. Reports in August 2022 said they called it quits because Jacob wasn't looking for anything serious.
- The Italian Summer (2023): This was the peak. Photos of them on a moped in Italy. Sun-drenched yacht days with her parents in Idaho. It looked like the real deal.
- The 2024 Glitch: Rumors swirled in January that they split, but then she showed up at his Saturday Night Live after-party.
- The 2025 Crash: This was the "for good" split. People magazine reported in October 2025 that it was "fully over."
And yet, here we are in 2026. Still watching them walk into hotels together.
The "Circular Relationship" Phenomenon
Psychologists actually have a name for this: circular relationships. It happens when two people have high chemistry but low compatibility in their day-to-day lives. You can't live with them, but the silence when they’re gone is too loud.
For Jacob and Olivia, the "strong feelings" are clearly there. He’s described as being very supportive of her through her family's "new normal" following her parents' separation. That creates a bond that’s hard to just "delete" because a publicist says it's over.
What This Means for 2026
So, are they back together?
Sorta. Kinda. Not really?
They are in that "no labels" gray zone. It’s a comfortable place to be when you’re 28 and 26 and the whole world is watching your every move. It allows them to enjoy the NYC winter without the pressure of an official "Instagram launch" or a red carpet debut—something they have famously avoided for four years.
Jacob is staying busy with Wuthering Heights and the continued buzz around Frankenstein. Olivia is focusing on her reset in New York and her YouTube content.
If you want to keep up with them, look for the dog. Layla, Jacob's golden retriever, is usually the biggest clue. If Layla is in the background of a vlog or on a walk in Soho, you can bet Jacob and Olivia are in the same room.
To understand where they're going next, keep an eye on these indicators:
- The "Parent" Metric: If they continue to be seen with each other's families, the relationship is moving toward stability despite the "no label" claims.
- The Travel Schedule: Jacob's filming locations for late 2026 will determine if they can bridge the gap or if another "summer split" is inevitable.
- Social Media Subtlety: Look for the "soft tags" or shared locations on Instagram stories; it’s the only way they ever confirm anything.
The story of Jacob Elordi and Olivia Jade isn't a straight line. It’s a loop. And honestly? In a town where relationships last about as long as a TikTok trend, there’s something almost impressive about two people who just can’t seem to quit each other.