The former Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev has a curious liaison history with in-screen romance with Ian Somerhalder and an extremely high profile engagement with Olympic snowboarder Shaun White. A list of the complete history of the love life of Nina Dobrev, including the latest information about her dating life is presented below.
Who is Nina Dobrev Dating Now? (2026 Updates)
By the end of early 2026, Nina Dobrev is technically single, at least in relation to earthly men.
After separating with Shaun White, Dobrev has been caught living the life of the single. In January 2026, she was reportedly flirting hard with an unidentified man at a Sundance Film Festival party. Sources have reported that she was spotted swapping numbers with a man who was said to have a mustache and beanie on.
But in February 2026 Dobrev jokingly declared herself single, introducing her new boyfriend (a Doberman named Winston) on Instagram. She joked, “Officially single. Sorry boys,” indicating that she is in a playful, healing state of mind after a breakup.
Recent Rumors: Glen Powell & New Year’s 2026
When Dobrev spent her New Year in St. Barts with her former boyfriend Glen Powell (and his alleged girlfriend, Michelle Randolph), the fans buzzed. The three friends did not seem to have any romantic entanglements, even though they have a history, and they enjoyed pickleball and parties without any love stories.
The Complete Relationship Timeline
Nina does not want to publicize her personal life, but the following is the verified chronology of her most significant relationships.
Rob Mayes (circa 2009)
Prior to the popularity of The Vampire Diaries, Nina was dating a fellow actor, Rob Mayes. In a talk about the show, Nina revealed that they were secretly in a relationship when she auditioned to take the part of Elena Gilbert. Interestingly, Mayes attempted to portray the role of Damon Salvatore (assigned to Ian Somerhalder) as well. He was not offered the position and they divorced shortly.
Ian Somerhalder (2010 – 2013)
It is the romance TVD that will never be forgotten by the fans. Nina and Ian Somerhalder were the Elena and Damon on the screen, and in real life, their relationship was as good as it was on the screen.
- The Relationship: In 2010, they started dating. Nina acknowledged that she attempted to resist the attraction in order to make it a professional relationship, yet, she stated that sometimes you just cannot help who you feel an attraction towards.
- The Split: They separated in 2013 after three years of cohabitation. They were however professional even after the embarrassment of having to work together. The kiss was famous as they even kissed on stage during the 2014 People’s Choice Awards when they won the category of Best Chemistry.
Derek Hough (2013)
Nina had a short-lived relationship with professional dancer Derek Hough after she broke up with Ian. The affair would not last long- not beyond six weeks- allegedly due to the difficulties of a long distance affair.
Liam Hemsworth (2014)
At the beginning of 2014, Nina and Liam Hemsworth were said to date. The Hunger Games was being shot when she was shooting TVD when they were caught kissing in a hurry at a bar in Atlanta. The relationship was, however, not confirmed by either of them, and soon exploded like a balloon.
Austin Stowell (2015 – 2016)
Nina was dating Austin Stowell who is an actor and they spent time together about seven months. They were spotted and seen to be extremely in love as they spent their vacation in Saint-Tropez (jet skiing and kissing), and they even appeared on the red carpet with each other as the Bridge of Spies premiered. Their hectic timetables were cited as the cause of the break up.
Glen Powell (2017)
Glen Powell was associated with Nina long before Anyone But You. The rumors were ignited in January 2017 when they attended a Golden Globe party together and he appeared at her xXx premiere.
- The Status: They were just friends, but they created gossip with sexy photo booth shots at the wedding of Julianne Hough. In November 2017, they reportedly had taken a time-out together because of conflicting schedules.
- Current Status: They are still good friends as at 2026.
Grant Mellon (2019)
Nina maintained a very low profile of her relationship with screenwriter Grant Mellon. They were initially caught kissing during the Super Bowl parties in 2019. During the period, they spent a couple of months together in PDA-filled vacations and courtside Lakers games, but the romance broke up in November of that same year.
Shaun White (2020 – 2025)
The longest and gravest relationship that Nina has had so far was with Olympic gold medalist Shaun White.
- How They Met: They both met during a Tony Robbins seminar in late 2019. They met at the beginning of 2020 through a trip to South Africa and notoriously spent their time quarantined together during the COVID-19 pandemic, speeding up the process of bonding.
- The Engagement: White proposed in October 2024 in NYC with a gorgeous 5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring. Nina used to joke at the moment, RIP boyfriend, hello fiancee.
- The Split: In September 2025, People reported that the couple had broken up their engagement. Sources said it was a mutual agreement made with love and a strong respect towards each other. No scandal or drama was involved, and they just grew apart.
Summary Table: Nina Dobrev’s Relationships
| Name | Year(s) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Mayes | 2009 | Dated during TVD auditions; he tried out for Damon. |
| Ian Somerhalder | 2010 – 2013 | Iconic TVD co-star romance. |
| Derek Hough | 2013 | Brief 6-week fling. |
| Liam Hemsworth | 2014 | Short-lived hookup rumors. |
| Austin Stowell | 2015 – 2016 | Vacation photos confirmed the relationship. |
| Glen Powell | 2017 | On-and-off rumors; now close friends. |
| Grant Mellon | 2019 | Private, low-key relationship. |
| Shaun White | 2020 – 2025 | Engaged; split mutually in Sept. 2025. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Did Nina Dobrev date her Vampire Diaries co-star?
Yes. She was in a relationship with Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore) and lasted three years. She also had a short time affair with another actor who was auditioning the show, Rob Mayes .
Why did Nina Dobrev and Shaun White break up?
Though both have not provided specifics, Us Weekly and People were informed that the divorce was amicable. They were not reported to be infidelity or disagreement over children, but an unavoidable separating after five years of living together.
Are Nina Dobrev and Glen Powell dating in 2026?
No. They spent their New Year holidays in St. Barts in 2026 but Powell was in the island with his alleged girlfriend, Michelle Randolph. Nina and Glen are strictly friends .
Who is Nina Dobrev’s “new man”?
She jokingly called her dog, a Doberman named Winston, the new man in her life as of February 2026.
