Hoda Kotb Shares New Dating Update
Hoda Kotb has offered fans a rare glimpse into her current love life, revealing that she has recently been texting a man she first met by chance on a flight.
The former Today co-anchor discussed the unexpected connection during her Aug. 21 appearance on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle. Kotb explained that the encounter was unusually emotional, with both people crying as they talked.
Although she did not initially consider it a traditional romantic connection, the meeting clearly stayed with her.
The latest Hoda Kotb dating update comes more than four years after her split from Joel Schiffman. Kotb and Schiffman ended their engagement in January 2022 after more than eight years together. At the time, Kotb said they wanted to move forward as friends and parents.
How Hoda Kotb Met the Mystery Man
Kotb said the first meeting happened unexpectedly while she was travelling by plane.
According to her account, the conversation became emotional almost immediately. She described the connection as unusual because both of them were crying and felt an intense sense of understanding.
Still, Kotb was careful not to label the encounter as a romance.
The two eventually went their separate ways. However, their paths crossed again months later when Kotb travelled to Cannes with her company, Joy 101.
The man happened to be in the audience at the event.
Their second encounter was brief, and Kotb said the connection appeared to fade again. But the story did not end there.
The Two Recently Started Texting Again
Kotb revealed that she and the mystery man have recently resumed communication through text messages.
She also confirmed that he is single.
While speaking about him, Kotb described the man as attractive and said he is “very handsome”. She did not publicly identify him, leaving his identity private.
That detail is important because Kotb has generally kept her dating life away from the spotlight since her relationship with Schiffman ended.
Rather than announcing a new relationship, her comments suggest that she is simply exploring a connection and seeing where it leads.
Hoda Kotb’s Life After Joel Schiffman
Kotb’s latest dating update comes after a major personal and professional transition.
She and Schiffman began dating in 2013 and became engaged in 2019. They share two daughters, Haley and Hope. In January 2022, Kotb announced that they had decided to end their engagement.
At the time, she emphasised that the decision was not about a dramatic falling-out. Instead, she described them as being better suited to life as friends and parents.
Kotb has also continued to speak positively about the importance of relationships in her life.
In 2025, she discussed her relationship with Schiffman and described the continuing importance of their connection as co-parents.
That history provides useful context for her latest comments. Her new dating revelation does not indicate that she has entered a committed relationship. Instead, it shows that she appears open to meeting people and allowing new connections to develop naturally.
A New Chapter for the Former Today Anchor
Kotb’s personal life is not the only area that has changed in recent years.
She left Today in January 2025 after a long career with NBC. Her final day came on Jan. 10, 2025, although she has continued making occasional appearances connected to the programme.
Her August 2026 appearance marked another return to the Today family, this time joining Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones.
Meanwhile, Kotb has continued developing Joy 101, a wellness-focused venture, as well as her other media projects.
The changes in her career and personal life appear to have placed her in a different stage than the one she occupied during her years as a Today co-anchor.
What Hoda Kotb Has Said About Finding Love Again
Kotb has previously acknowledged that she remains open to finding love.
Following her split from Schiffman, she discussed the possibility of dating again and even entertained the idea of being introduced to someone through friends.
Her comments over the years have suggested that she values meaningful relationships rather than simply pursuing a romantic partnership for its own sake.
That perspective makes her latest story particularly interesting.
The mystery man was not someone she met through a conventional dating setup. Their connection began with an unexpected conversation on a plane, resurfaced in Cannes and has now developed into renewed texting.
For now, however, Kotb has not announced that the two are officially dating.
What We Know About Hoda Kotb’s Mystery Man
Very little is publicly known about the man.
Kotb has not revealed his name, occupation or other personal details. She has only shared that they met during a flight, later crossed paths in Cannes and recently began texting again.
She also said he is single and described him positively.
Until Kotb chooses to share more, speculation about his identity would go beyond the information she has provided.
For that reason, the most accurate description at this point is simply that he is a mystery man with whom Kotb has re-established contact.
Hoda Kotb’s Dating Life Remains Open-Ended
The latest Hoda Kotb dating update is less about confirming a new relationship and more about showing where the former television anchor appears to be emotionally.
She has experienced significant changes since her 2022 split from Schiffman, including leaving Today and expanding her work outside traditional morning television.
Now, an unexpected meeting on a flight has turned into a renewed connection.
Whether that connection becomes something more remains unknown.
For now, Kotb seems comfortable taking things one step at a time – and keeping the man’s identity private.