Who Is Jenna Ortega Dating in 2026? Boyfriend Rumors Explained

Who is Jenna Ortega dating in 2026? It’s the question that dominates celebrity gossip columns every time the 23-year-old actress steps onto a red carpet, attends an industry event, or posts anything remotely personal on social media. Despite being one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young stars — thanks to the global phenomenon that is Wednesday, her scene-stealing turn in Scream VI, and a critically praised role in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — Jenna Ortega has kept her romantic life almost entirely out of the public eye. In an era where celebrity relationships are dissected in real time, Ortega’s commitment to privacy is both refreshing and endlessly fascinating to fans who want to know more.

In this deep dive, we break down every rumor, every denial, and every telling interview quote so you can finally get the full picture of Jenna Ortega’s love life — or deliberate lack thereof — heading into mid-2026.

Who Is Jenna Ortega Dating Right Now in 2026?

As of May 2026, Jenna Ortega does not appear to be in a publicly confirmed relationship. No boyfriend, no girlfriend, no “soft launch” on Instagram. The actress has been laser-focused on a relentless work schedule that includes the highly anticipated Wednesday Season 2 for Netflix, press tours for multiple film projects, and brand partnerships with major fashion houses.

Whenever interviewers bring up the topic — and they always do — Ortega redirects the conversation back to her craft. In a February 2026 interview with Vanity Fair, she reportedly said, “I’m at a point in my career where everything is happening so fast. I don’t want to split my attention.” That quote has since been interpreted by fans as confirmation that the Jenna Ortega boyfriend 2026 situation is simple: there isn’t one.

Her close friends and collaborators have echoed the sentiment. Director Tim Burton, who worked with Ortega on both Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, has described her as “the most driven young person I’ve ever worked with.” Coming from the man who’s directed Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, that says something.

Jenna Ortega’s Dating History: A Complete Timeline

To understand the current state of Jenna Ortega’s love life, it helps to look back at her dating history — though “history” might be generous, given how little there is on the public record.

Asher Angel (2018–2019, rumored): The earliest dating rumor attached to Ortega involved Disney Channel star Asher Angel. The two were spotted together at multiple events and even attended a Halloween party as a duo. Neither ever confirmed a relationship, but fan accounts ran with the pairing for months. By early 2019, the buzz faded as both focused on separate projects.

Jacob Sartorius (2019, brief rumor): Social media sleuths briefly linked Ortega to singer and TikTok personality Jacob Sartorius after some flirty comment exchanges. This rumor lasted about as long as a trending TikTok sound — a few weeks at most — and neither party acknowledged it publicly.

No confirmed relationships since: From 2020 through the present, Jenna Ortega has not been publicly linked to any romantic partner in a confirmed capacity. Every rumor that has surfaced — and there have been many — has been denied or simply ignored by the actress herself. The Jenna Ortega dating history is remarkably clean by Hollywood standards, and that appears to be entirely by design.

The Wednesday Co-Star Rumors: What Really Happened

No discussion of who is Jenna Ortega dating would be complete without addressing the co-star rumors that exploded after Wednesday Season 1 became Netflix’s most-watched English-language series at the time of its release.

Percy Hynes White: Ortega’s on-screen chemistry with Hynes White, who played Xavier Thorpe, led to immediate shipping from fans. Tabloids published “body language analysis” articles. Fan edits flooded TikTok. But Ortega shut it down early, telling Entertainment Weekly, “Percy is a great scene partner and a friend. That’s it.” Hynes White later departed the show amid unrelated personal controversies, and the rumor died.

Hunter Doohan: Fans of the show also paired Ortega with Doohan, who played Tyler Galpin. Again, the chemistry was confined to the screen. Doohan is openly married to his husband, Fielder Jewett, and the pairing was always a non-starter in reality — though fan fiction writers didn’t let that stop them.

The pattern is clear: on-screen chemistry gets mistaken for off-screen romance, and Ortega has to swat down rumors every single time. It’s a cycle she’s handled with grace but also visible frustration, noting in one interview, “Just because two people are good at pretending to like each other on camera doesn’t mean there’s anything happening when the cameras stop.”

Why Jenna Ortega Keeps Her Love Life So Private

Ortega grew up in the spotlight. Born on September 27, 2002, in Coachella Valley, California, she began acting professionally at age nine. By the time most kids are navigating middle school, Ortega was navigating network television and learning the hard lesson that public attention is a double-edged sword.

In multiple interviews, she’s spoken about the toll that constant scrutiny takes on personal relationships — not just romantic ones. “When you grow up in this industry, you learn pretty quickly that anything personal you share will be used, twisted, or turned into a headline,” she told Cosmopolitan in late 2025. “I’d rather protect the people I care about by keeping them out of that.”

This approach mirrors other private-by-choice celebrities like Zendaya (before her relationship with Tom Holland became public knowledge) and Florence Pugh, who has also navigated intense public interest in her romantic life. Ortega seems to have studied the playbook and decided the safest move is to say nothing at all.

There’s also a generational element at play. Gen Z stars like Ortega are more aware than ever of how parasocial relationships work. They understand that fans feel entitled to information that celebrities are under no obligation to share. Ortega has drawn a firm boundary, and she’s stuck to it consistently.

Jenna Ortega’s Career in 2026: Wednesday, Scream, and Beyond

If Jenna Ortega isn’t dating anyone, it might simply be because she doesn’t have the time. Her schedule in 2026 alone is staggering:

• Wednesday Season 2 (Netflix): Filming wrapped in early 2026, and the show is expected to premiere in the fall. Ortega returns as the titular Wednesday Addams, with the new season reportedly expanding the supernatural mythology and featuring several high-profile guest stars. The celebrity world has been buzzing about possible new cast additions.
• Scream franchise: Following the massive success of Scream VI, Ortega’s Tara Carpenter has become a franchise cornerstone. Discussions about a seventh installment are ongoing, with Ortega reportedly attached.
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel, which opened to over $100 million domestically, cemented Ortega’s big-screen bankability. She held her own opposite Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder — a feat for any actor, let alone one in her early twenties.
• Fashion and brand deals: Ortega has become a front-row fixture at major fashion weeks and has landed campaigns with Adidas and Dior. These commitments alone require months of travel and appearances.

When your calendar looks like that, the “married to my career” explanation isn’t just a deflection — it’s a logistical reality. Similar dynamics play out for other young stars; Timothée Chalamet has also struggled to balance a high-profile love life with a relentless filming schedule.

What Jenna Ortega Has Said About Love and Relationships

While Ortega rarely discusses specific romantic interests, she has offered broader thoughts on love and relationships that give fans some insight into her mindset.

In a 2024 Vogue interview, she said: “I think love is really beautiful, and I think when it happens, it happens. But I’m not going to force something just because the internet wants me to have a boyfriend. That’s not how real life works.”

She’s also pushed back against the assumption that being single is somehow a deficit. “There’s this weird narrative that if you’re a young woman in Hollywood and you’re not dating someone famous, something must be wrong,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. “But what if you’re just… happy? What if you’re thriving on your own terms?”

These quotes paint a picture of someone who is self-assured, intentional, and unwilling to perform a relationship for public consumption. Whether Jenna Ortega is secretly dating someone and keeping it completely off the radar, or whether she’s genuinely single by choice, the result is the same: she’s in total control of her narrative.

Will Jenna Ortega Go Public With a Relationship?

The million-dollar question. Based on everything Ortega has said and done, it seems unlikely that she’ll publicly confirm a relationship anytime soon — even if one exists. She’s seen what happens when high-profile couples like Zendaya and Tom Holland go public, and while their love story has been largely celebrated, it also comes with a level of scrutiny that Ortega has explicitly said she wants to avoid.

The more likely scenario? If Jenna Ortega does find herself in a serious relationship, fans will probably find out about it long after the fact — perhaps through a casual mention in an interview years down the line, or a paparazzi shot that can’t be denied. Until then, expect the Jenna Ortega boyfriend 2026 search to keep trending with the same answer: she’s single, focused, and thriving.

For more celebrity dating news and relationship updates, explore our Celebrities coverage on USA Celebs.