Kit Connor dating update: what we know about his love life in 2026
Wondering where Kit Connor’s 2026 relationship status actually stands, and what the Heartstopper star has lined up on the film front?
Back in 2022, after a wave of online speculation around his private life, Kit Connor briefly addressed his sexuality on X and then pulled the shutters down. Since then, the Heartstopper star has kept his romantic world strictly off-limits — and as of mid-2026, he hasn’t publicly introduced a partner or confirmed he’s dating anyone.
As of mid-2026, Connor hasn’t publicly confirmed a relationship.
That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill. Over the past few years, fans have tried to connect the dots from paparazzi shots and social media posts, but nothing has stuck — and Connor hasn’t commented. Here’s where the most-circulated speculation stands:
- Maia Reficco — Connor’s co-star in A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. The chatter kicked off when they were photographed holding hands in Paris in 2022. Neither has ever confirmed a relationship.
- Joe Locke — His Heartstopper castmate. Their on-screen chemistry fueled off-screen theories, but both have described each other as close friends, and there’s been no credible evidence of anything more.
- Shayna Locatelli — The model was linked to Connor by fans in late 2025 after they were reportedly seen together. No reputable outlet substantiated it, and neither party addressed the rumors.
Connor has said the scrutiny made him more protective of his personal boundaries, and he’s preferred to keep the focus on his work rather than his dating history. That work, meanwhile, is getting bigger.
Big-screen next
Connor has joined the cast of Elden Ring, Alex Garland’s live-action take on the acclaimed fantasy RPG. The movie is in production with A24 partnering with Bandai Namco Entertainment on the adaptation.
He’s part of a stacked ensemble that also includes:
- Ben Whishaw
- Cailee Spaeny
- Tom Burke
- Havana Rose Liu
- Sonoya Mizuno
- Jonathan Pryce
- Ruby Cruz
- Nick Offerman
- John Hodgkinson
- Jefferson Hall
- Emma Laird
- Peter Serafinowicz
Garland has called the film a passion project and pursued it as a longtime fan of the game’s world and lore. The production is aiming for an IMAX rollout in 2028.