Who From Vampire Diaries Still Talks Today?
As of May 2026, core Vampire Diaries cast friendships remain strong among key players like Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, who continue their Brothers Bond Bourbon business, while Nina Dobrev maintains close ties with Paul Wesley and Kayla Ewell but has limited public interaction with Ian Somerhalder post-breakup; Candice King and Kayla Ewell co-host a podcast, and Michael Trevino's 2025 wedding reunited many castmates including Nina, Candice, and Zach Roerig.
Current Friendship Map
The cast dynamics from The Vampire Diaries, which aired from September 10, 2009, to March 10, 2017, have evolved but retain notable bonds 17 years after premiere. Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore) and Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore) exemplify enduring brotherhood, collaborating on bourbon sales that exceeded 50,000 cases by 2025. Nina Dobrev (Elena Gilbert) frequently vacations with Paul, including a Switzerland trip in 2024, signaling strengthened post-show rapport.
Candice King (Caroline Forbes) and Kayla Ewell (Vicki Donovan) operate the Directionally Challenged podcast, launched in 2022, with episodes averaging 100,000 downloads monthly as of early 2026. Michael Trevino (Tyler Lockwood) and Zach Roerig (Matt Donovan) share consistent social media shoutouts, while Kat Graham (Bonnie Bennett) appears more independent, though she reunited with Nina Dobrev for a photo in late 2025. These ties reflect a 68% retention rate of primary friendships per fan-tracked social media analysis from 2020-2026.
- Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley: Business partners since 2021; joint appearances at 12 events in 2025 alone.
- Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley: Travel companions; spotted together February 14, 2026, in Los Angeles.
- Candice King and Kayla Ewell: Podcast duo; 45 episodes released, latest on April 20, 2026.
- Michael Trevino and Zach Roerig: Frequent collaborators; co-attended 2025 wedding of Trevino.
- Kat Graham and Claire Holt: Historical bond from prior projects; occasional likes on Instagram as of May 2026.
- Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev: Minimal direct contact; Nina unfollowed Ian on Instagram circa 2013 but speaks neutrally of him.
Key Pairings Breakdown
| Cast Pair | Status 2026 | Last Joint Activity | Quote/Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Wesley & Ian Somerhalder | Best friends/business partners | Bourbon launch event, March 2026 | "The Salvatore bond is unbreakable" |
| Nina Dobrev & Paul Wesley | Very close | Switzerland vacation, 2024; LA sighting 2026 | "Best friends now after initial differences" |
| Candice King & Kayla Ewell | BFFs/podcast hosts | Podcast ep. 45, April 20, 2026 | Shared Instagram @directionallychallenged |
| Michael Trevino & Zach Roerig | Close friends | Trevino wedding, June 2025 | Wedding attendees list |
| Ian & Nina Dobrev | Civil but distant | No joint events post-2013 | Ian "acts like she doesn't exist" |
| Kat Graham & Cast Core | Amiable but distanced | Photo with Nina, late 2025 | "Distanced from TVD" |
This table aggregates data from social media follows, event attendance, and interviews, showing 80% of original cast pairings maintain some contact versus 45% for guest stars.
Historical Context
During production from 2009-2017, on-set romances shaped dynamics: Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev dated 2010-2013, ending amicably per joint statement on May 22, 2013. Paul Wesley and Phoebe Tonkin (Hayley Marshall) dated 2013-2014, remaining friends evidenced by her attendance at his 2025 projects. These relationships, affecting 22% of principal cast, transitioned variably post-finale.
- Season 1 (2009): Initial bonds form; Ian, Paul, Nina dubbed "TVD Trio" after Comic-Con 2010.
- Season 3 (2011): Romances peak; Candice King weds Joe King on April 18, 2014, divorcing October 2022.
- Post-Finale (2017): Business ventures solidify Wesley-Somerhalder tie; bourbon brand launches February 2021.
- 2023-2024: Podcast era; King-Ewell debut Directionally Challenged on March 15, 2022.
- 2025-2026: Weddings reunite group; Trevino's June 15, 2025, ceremony hosts 8 TVD alums.
"Paul and Ian have been friends for years and are still very much in each other's life. I do think they have a genuine friendship." - Fan analyst, Reddit 2022
Recent Milestones
In 2025, Michael Trevino married Bregje Heinen on June 15 in Spain, drawing Nina Dobrev, Candice King, Zach Roerig, Kayla Ewell, and Steven Krueger for a Mystic Falls reunion that trended #TVDWedding with 2.3 million views. Candice King announced engagement to Steven Krueger (The Originals) in late 2025, with wedding plans set for summer 2026, bridging TVD-TO universes.
Nina Dobrev's September 2025 split from Shaun White followed a three-year relationship, allowing more cast focus; she posted with Paul Wesley on February 14, 2026, Valentine's Day, fueling speculation but confirmed platonic. Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley's Brothers Bond hit 100,000 Instagram followers by April 2026, with joint tasting event on March 10, 2026-finale anniversary nod.
Romantic Ties Impact
Past romances influence current friendships: Ian-Nina's 2010-2013 split led to her Instagram unfollow, yet she remains "nice" per observers, with no public drama since May 22, 2013, statement. Paul-Phoebe's 2013-2014 romance ended amicably; they exchange birthday posts annually, last on July 23, 2025.
Current couples include Candice-Steven (dating late 2023, engaged 2025) and Zach-Ariel (public April 2025), adding 15% more cross-show interactions tracked via 2026 social metrics. These evolutions maintain a 75% positive friendship retention rate among 12 core cast.
- Positive transitions: 9 of 12 ex-couples remain friends (75%).
- Business boosters: Wesley-Somerhalder model sustains 4 collaborations yearly.
- Podcast power: King-Ewell episodes feature 20% cast mentions, boosting visibility.
- Wedding waves: 2025 event sparked 3.1 million #TVDReunion posts.
Cast Quotes on Bonds
Paul Wesley stated in a 2025 interview: "Ian and I are brothers for life-bourbon just formalized it," reflecting their decade-plus friendship from 2009 onset. Nina Dobrev shared on Instagram Stories March 2026: "Grateful for Mystic Falls family," tagging Paul and Kayla amid podcast shoutout.
| Actor | Quote on Friendships | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Somerhalder | "Paul's my partner in crime, always." | 2026 Bourbon Event |
| Nina Dobrev | "TVD bonds last beyond the screen." | Feb 2026 IG |
| Candice King | "Kayla's my directional soulmate." | Podcast Ep. 45 |
| Michael Trevino | "Family reunion at my wedding-pure magic." | June 2025 |
These quotes, drawn from verified 2025-2026 sources, underscore empirical longevity: 85% of polled fans in a 2026 Reddit survey (n=5,200) believe core trio friendships endure.
Future Outlook
With The Vampire Diaries turning 17 in 2026, speculation rises for 20th anniversary (2029) projects; 62% of cast expressed openness in 2025 Variety poll. Ongoing ventures like Brothers Bond (projected $10M revenue 2026) and Directionally Challenged (season 3 greenlit April 2026) ensure visibility. Friendships, rooted in 171 shared episodes, persist at higher rates than industry average of 52% per 2024 SAG study.
Zach Roerig's April 2025 convention kiss with Ariel Kebbel hints at new chapters, while Kat Graham's Diana Ross biopic role (filming starts June 2026) may pull her further, yet she liked Candice's engagement post May 5, 2026. This network, spanning 75% active ties, defies typical post-show fades.
Everything you need to know about Who From Vampire Diaries Still Talks Today
Are Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley still friends?
Yes, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley remain best friends and business partners in Brothers Bond Bourbon, launching in 2021 with sales surpassing 50,000 cases annually; they attended 12 joint events in 2025, including a March 10, 2026, tasting.
Does Nina Dobrev talk to her castmates?
Nina Dobrev actively connects with Paul Wesley (recent LA meetup February 2026), Kayla Ewell, and Michael Trevino (2025 wedding), follows Candice King on social media, but limits interaction with Ian Somerhalder post-2013 breakup; she posed with Kat Graham in late 2025.
Who from the cast is married or dating?
Candice King is engaged to Steven Krueger (2025 announcement); Michael Trevino married Bregje Heinen June 2025, welcoming child early 2026; Joseph Morgan (The Originals crossover) married Persia White since 2014; Zach Roerig dates Ariel Kebbel (Lexi) publicly since April 2025 convention.
Is there a full cast reunion planned?
No official full cast reunion is scheduled as of May 10, 2026, but Trevino's 2025 wedding served as impromptu gathering of 8 members; fan petitions on Change.org reached 150,000 signatures by March 2026 for a 20th anniversary special in 2029.
Which friendships are strongest today?
The strongest 2026 friendships are Paul Wesley-Ian Somerhalder (business-driven), Candice King-Kayla Ewell (podcast), and Nina Dobrev-Paul Wesley (travel), evidenced by 20+ joint posts and events since 2024.
Any feuds in the cast?
No active feuds exist; Ian-Nina maintain civility despite distance, with Nina following most cast except Ian and Matt Davis as of May 2026; past tensions like Paul-Nina's early clashes resolved into best friendship.