Honestly, if you’ve been anywhere near TikTok or a Spotify playlist lately, you know the obsession with Sabrina Carpenter isn't just about her "Short n' Sweet" vocals. It’s the lore. Everyone wants to know who is Sabrina Carpenter dating because, let’s be real, she writes about her love life with the kind of ruthless precision that makes you both wince and want to dance.
But as of January 2026, the short answer is: nobody. Or at least, nobody she’s willing to put a name on. After a whirlwind year that felt like a movie—literally, given she cast her then-boyfriend in a music video—the "Espresso" singer is currently leaning into her single era.
The Barry Keoghan Era: What Really Happened
You probably remember the Saltburn summer of 2024. It was impossible to miss. Sabrina and Irish actor Barry Keoghan were the "it" couple, making their red carpet debut at the Met Gala and looking basically inseparable. He was the "cute guy with the wide, blue eyes" she sang about in "Bed Chem." He even played the lead in her "Please Please Please" music video, playing a rough-around-the-edges criminal to her golden-girl persona.
It felt like they were going the distance. Then, December 2024 hit.
Multiple sources, including People and Entertainment Tonight, confirmed the two decided to "take a break." The official line was that they were both just too busy. She was touring the world; he was filming blockbusters. But fans think there’s more to the story. Sabrina’s recent social media activity has been... spicy. On New Year’s Day 2026, she reposted a TikTok trend about being relieved not to have gotten back with an ex. She also liked a video featuring her song "Busy Woman" with a caption about "convincing myself he was attractive."
Ouch.
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Why the "Manchild" Rumors Stuck
When Sabrina dropped her song "Manchild" in mid-2025, the internet basically exploded. She didn't name names, but she didn't really have to. The lyrics painted a picture of someone who couldn't quite grow up, and given the timing of her split from Keoghan, the "Carpenters" (her dedicated fanbase) did the math quickly.
Is it about Barry? She’s played it coy. In a Rolling Stone interview, she dodged the question by saying she's just "doing the 25-year-old thing."
"People underestimate how tricky it is to navigate being a young woman, having relationships, and then having a bunch of strangers have opinions on them," she told the magazine.
Basically, she’s over the microscope.
The Mystery Man and the "Hot Girl Summer"
Last summer, specifically around July 2025, rumors started swirling again. Someone spotted Sabrina in Italy dining at La Giostra in Florence. She was with her family, but there was a "tall, blonde mystery man" with a man-bun in the mix. Later, she was seen at Soho Farmhouse in England with the same guy.
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Was it a rebound? A secret romance? Or just a friend of her sister's boyfriend?
We never got a confirmation. Since those sightings, the "mystery man" has vanished from the paparazzi radar. It seems like if there was a spark there, it was a summer fling that stayed in Europe.
A Look Back: The Love Triangle That Defined a Year
You can't talk about who Sabrina is dating without mentioning the 2020 chaos. It’s the "drivers license" of it all. Her brief relationship with Joshua Bassett—which followed his split from Olivia Rodrigo—basically became the blueprint for the modern pop-star breakup.
While that drama felt like it would last forever, 2025 actually brought some closure. A video of Sabrina and Olivia hugging at the Grammys went viral, proving that the "beef" is finally, mercifully, over. They’ve both moved on to much bigger things.
The Shawn Mendes Blip
In early 2023, there was the Shawn Mendes chapter. They were spotted walking around Los Angeles and leaving Miley Cyrus's album release party together. It was low-key and honestly seemed pretty sweet. But Shawn eventually told a Dutch TV show that they were "not dating."
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Fans still think her song "Taste" might be a nod to that time, especially the parts about an ex being hung up on their previous partner. It’s a recurring theme in her writing: the messy, complicated middle ground of dating in your early twenties.
What’s Next for Sabrina’s Love Life?
Right now, Sabrina is focused on her career, and it’s paying off. Her Short n' Sweet tour was a massive success, and she’s already teasing new music for 2026.
If you're looking for actionable ways to keep up with the latest, here is the best approach:
- Watch the lyrics: Sabrina almost always reveals her status through her songwriting before she ever gives a formal interview.
- Check the TikTok reposts: As we saw with the Barry Keoghan situation, her "likes" and "reposts" are often more honest than her PR team.
- Follow the tour schedule: She rarely dates anyone seriously while she’s on a heavy global touring cycle.
She’s currently "publicly single," and honestly? She seems to be enjoying the peace. No more "acting like a stand-up guy" required for now.