Kaitlyn Bristowe’s love life has become a little less mysterious in 2026, although the former Bachelorette star is still choosing to keep many details of her current relationship private.
Bristowe has been romantically linked to fellow Bachelor Nation alum Zac Clark since early 2024. Neither has made a traditional, full-scale public announcement about their relationship, but Bristowe’s recent comments have given fans considerably more insight into where things stand.
In July 2026, she opened up about the romance on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, even hinting that she hopes this relationship could eventually lead to her third engagement.
Who Is Zac?
Zac Clark became known to Bachelor Nation viewers when he appeared on Tayshia Adams’ season of The Bachelorette.
His relationship with Adams ended after the pair became engaged in 2020. They separated in 2021, before Clark eventually became linked to Bristowe.
Outside reality television, Clark is known for his work in addiction recovery and his nonprofit career. His background and Bristowe’s familiarity with the Bachelor franchise have made their connection especially interesting to longtime fans.
When It Started
Rumors surrounding Bristowe and Clark began gaining momentum after they were spotted together at Bristowe’s New Year’s Eve party in January 2024.
The speculation continued over the following months.
In May 2024, Bristowe attended a gala connected to Clark’s nonprofit, where the two were seen together. They were also spotted at other events, including Broadway outings.
Despite the growing attention, neither immediately confirmed that they were officially dating.
The Soft Launch
The pair’s increasingly obvious connection became harder for fans to ignore in 2025.
Bristowe posted a road-trip video showing her traveling with a mystery man. Although his face was not shown, fans quickly claimed they recognized Clark’s voice and even noticed similarities involving his watch.
The clip prompted plenty of “soft launch” speculation.
A similar situation unfolded in 2026 when Bristowe shared another playful video involving a mystery man.
Fans again identified the voice as Clark’s.
The Private Romance
Bristowe has now explained why she has been reluctant to make the relationship a major public story.
During her July 2026 podcast appearance, she described her instinct to keep the romance private as a “trauma response” stemming from her previous relationships being intensely scrutinized online.
She explained that when relationships become public, people can begin filling in gaps between social-media posts with their own assumptions.
For Bristowe, that experience created a desire to protect something important before allowing the public to become heavily involved.
Third Engagement?
The most revealing part of her recent comments came when Bristowe discussed the possibility of getting engaged again.
She referred to the current relationship as her “third possible engagement” and said she hopes this person will ultimately be the right one.
That wording naturally sent Bachelor Nation fans into speculation mode.
However, Bristowe did not announce an engagement to Clark. Her comments were about the possibility of one in the future, not confirmation that a proposal has already happened.
Their “Inside Treats”
One of the sweetest details Bristowe shared is a private tradition she and her boyfriend have developed.
Rather than posting every romantic moment online, they create what she described as “inside treats”—personal videos of themselves slow-dancing in different cities.
The important part is that these recordings are intended for the couple themselves.
They do not necessarily publish them for followers, giving them something that belongs to their relationship rather than their social-media audience.
That approach appears to fit perfectly with Bristowe’s current attitude toward romance.
Why She Holds Back
Bristowe’s previous relationships were extremely public.
She became engaged to Shawn Booth after choosing him on her season of The Bachelorette. Their engagement lasted from 2015 until their split in 2018.
She later began dating Jason Tartick, and the two eventually became engaged. Their relationship lasted several years before ending in 2023.
Bristowe has acknowledged that those experiences affected the way she approaches dating today.
Her concern is not simply about unwanted headlines. She has spoken about how social media can change the way people perceive a relationship and how outside opinions can affect something that was originally private.
A New Chapter
Bristowe appears to be taking a noticeably different approach this time.
Instead of documenting every stage of the relationship, she has allowed fans to see occasional glimpses while keeping the most meaningful moments for herself and her partner.
That became particularly clear in 2026.
She moved to New York City during the year, prompting additional speculation that the relocation could be connected to Clark, who is based in New York. Bachelor Nation reported that fans immediately wondered whether the move was related to their rumored relationship.
Bristowe has not publicly confirmed that her move was made for Clark.
Jason’s Engagement
There is another interesting twist in Bristowe’s romantic timeline.
Her former fiancé Jason Tartick became engaged to Kathryn Hurley in July 2026, following the couple’s public relationship. Tartick announced the engagement after a coastal proposal, sharing the news on Instagram with Hurley.
That development came shortly after Bristowe discussed her own relationship and potential future engagement.
Both former partners are therefore entering new chapters at roughly the same time.
As of August 2026, Bristowe and Clark have not publicly announced an engagement.
What has changed is the amount Bristowe is willing to say.
After more than two years of speculation, she has acknowledged that she is in a meaningful private relationship and expressed hope that it could become her next engagement.
For now, however, she seems comfortable keeping the most personal parts of the romance away from the cameras.
And perhaps that’s exactly what makes this relationship different for her.
After two highly public engagements, Kaitlyn Bristowe appears determined to experience this one on her own terms—one private “inside treat,” one city and one step at a time.
