Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson: Relationship Timeline

Last updated: October 10, 2026

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Are Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson dating in 2026? Fans of the beloved 1990s drama Dawson’s Creek have asked this question for years — and in 2026, with the pair reuniting on screen for the first time in over two decades, the question has never felt more alive. The short answer: no, they are not a couple today. They are old friends, former teenage sweethearts, and — as of this year — professional collaborators. But the story of how Pacey Witter and Joey Potter found their way back into each other’s orbit is one of Hollywood’s sweetest long arcs, and it is worth telling properly.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson are not dating and not married. They dated briefly in 1998 while filming the first season of Dawson’s Creek, split amicably, and remained close friends for nearly three decades. In 2026 they reunited professionally on Happy Hours, a romantic trilogy written and directed by Holmes that co-stars Jackson. As of late 2026, Holmes has been linked to artist Jason Bard Yarmosky, while Jackson’s divorce from actress Jodie Turner-Smith was finalized in 2025. Viral social media claims of a secret 2026 wedding between Holmes and Jackson are false — no reputable outlet has reported any such ceremony, and the two remain friends rather than partners.

Illustration for Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson

Who Are Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson?

Katie Holmes is an American actress, producer, and filmmaker who became a household name as Joey Potter on Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003). Her film work spans blockbusters like Batman Begins and indies like Pieces of April, and in recent years she has stepped behind the camera, writing and directing her own projects, including All We Had (2016) and Alone Together (2022). Her six-year marriage to Tom Cruise (2006–2012) and their daughter Suri made her one of the most photographed women of the 2000s, but she has spent the last decade carefully rebuilding her image as a serious New York filmmaker.

Joshua Jackson is a Canadian actor who played Pacey Witter — the wisecracking best friend who stole Joey’s heart — on Dawson’s Creek. He went on to lead roles in Fringe, The Affair, and Dr. Death, earning a reputation as one of television’s most dependable dramatic actors. In 2019 he married British actress Jodie Turner-Smith; the couple welcomed a daughter, Juno, in 2020, before divorcing in 2025. Jackson has spoken warmly about his Dawson’s Creek years as the defining, formative chapter of his youth.

Relationship Timeline

  • 1998 — First love on set: Holmes and Jackson meet on the set of Dawson’s Creek, which premieres in January 1998. The chemistry between their characters, Joey Potter and Pacey Witter, bleeds into real life, and the two date briefly during the show’s first season while still teenagers. Both have acknowledged the relationship in later interviews; it ends amicably within the year and settles into a lasting friendship.
  • 2003 — The show ends: Dawson’s Creek concludes its six-season run. Both actors move into adult careers — and other relationships — while remaining friendly.
  • 2006–2012 — Holmes’s Cruise years: Holmes marries Tom Cruise in 2006; the couple’s daughter Suri is born that year. The pair divorces in 2012. Jackson, meanwhile, maintains a long relationship with actress Diane Kruger from 2006 to 2016.
  • 2019 — Jackson marries: Jackson marries British actress Jodie Turner-Smith, and the couple welcomes daughter Juno in 2020.
  • 2023–2025 — Jackson’s divorce: Turner-Smith files for divorce in 2023; the split is finalized in 2025. Holmes, meanwhile, is photographed with artist Jason Bard Yarmosky beginning in mid-2026 — she goes Instagram-official with the relationship in August 2026, and the pair is seen together at New York and Paris fashion weeks that fall.
  • September 2025 — The class reunion: The Dawson’s Creek cast reunites publicly at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, and photos of Holmes and Jackson holding hands and looking emotional on stage set the internet ablaze. Both describe each other simply as very close, lifelong friends.
  • 2025–2026 — Happy Hours: Holmes writes and directs Happy Hours, a romantic trilogy about two former sweethearts reconnecting later in life — and casts Jackson as her co-star alongside Mary-Louise Parker and Constance Wu. Filming begins in Manhattan in 2025 and brings them together on a set for the first time in decades.
  • February 2026 — Losing a friend: Co-star James Van Der Beek dies at 48 after battling colorectal cancer. Holmes posts a handwritten tribute on Instagram; Jackson speaks about the loss publicly in a March Today show appearance, where he also calls Holmes “a lifelong friend.”
  • April 2026 — Red carpet reunion: The pair appears together at Lincoln Center for a film screening — their first public appearance together since Van Der Beek’s passing — sparking fresh fan chatter about a real-life romance.
  • June 2026 — Tribeca premiere: Happy Hours premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival, and Holmes and Jackson walk the red carpet together, praising their “precious” and “sacred” friendship in interviews.

Latest Updates

As of late 2026, the Holmes–Jackson story remains a friendship, not a romance. The most talked-about development of the year is unquestionably Happy Hours, which premiered at Tribeca on June 6, 2026, and marks Holmes’s continued evolution into a filmmaker directing her own stories. Jackson’s March 2026 Today appearance reflected on his Dawson’s Creek years with genuine nostalgia — and his description of Holmes as “a lifelong friend” leaves no room for a hidden relationship.

The other persistent story of 2026 has been rumor control. Viral TikTok and YouTube videos claiming Holmes and Jackson married in a “low-key ceremony” spread widely this summer, but no major news outlet has reported any wedding, marriage license, or engagement. The claim appears to have grown out of the reunion photos and the Tribeca red carpet appearances. Both stars’ actual love lives point elsewhere: Holmes went Instagram-official with artist Jason Bard Yarmosky in August 2026 after the two were first linked in mid-July, and Jackson, a year out from his divorce, co-parents daughter Juno with Jodie Turner-Smith.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson dating?
No. Despite reuniting professionally on Happy Hours in 2026 and years of fan speculation, the pair are close friends, not a couple. They dated briefly in 1998 and have remained friends ever since.

Are Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson married?
No. Viral social media claims of a secret 2026 wedding are false. Holmes’s only marriage was to Tom Cruise (2006–2012); Jackson’s only marriage was to Jodie Turner-Smith (2019–2025).

Did Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson ever break up?
Yes — their brief 1998 romance ended within the year, long before they were famous as adults. The parting was amicable, and the two have stayed close friends through every chapter of their lives since.

What is Happy Hours, the movie with Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson?
Happy Hours is a romantic trilogy written and directed by Katie Holmes, co-starring Joshua Jackson. It follows two former sweethearts who reconnect later in life, and it premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival — reuniting the Dawson’s Creek stars on screen for the first time in over two decades.

Faizi is a content writer at AllAboutFacts (hotteamnames.com), covering vocabulary, language tips, and everyday explainers.

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