Sam Smith has one of those voices you feel as much as you hear. From heartbreak anthems like Stay With Me to bold hits like Unholy, they’ve built a career on emotional honesty and fearless self-expression. Offstage, Sam has also become a powerful voice for identity and authenticity, coming out as non-binary in 2019 and using they/them pronouns ever since.
As of August 2025, Sam is gearing up for a special New York City concert residency, To Be Free, starting October 8, 2025, at The Warsaw in Brooklyn. But along with the excitement around new music and shows, fans are just as curious about what’s going on in Sam’s love life.
Let’s take a warm, respectful look at Sam Smith’s relationship with their boyfriend, fashion designer Christian Cowan, and how love and self-discovery weave through their personal story and music.
Who Is Sam Smith Dating in 2025?
Sam Smith is currently in a relationship with their boyfriend, Christian Cowan, a British fashion designer known for his bold, glamorous creations and for dressing megastars like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Cardi B.
Their romance began around December 2022, when they were first spotted together at a White House event celebrating the Respect for Marriage Act. Since then, they’ve been seen holding hands in New York, sharing quiet coffee runs, and attending fashion events side by side.
They made their red-carpet couple debut at the 2024 Met Gala. The moment was more than just a fashion statement: both wore looks designed by Christian, including metallic rose details inspired by an early gift he gave Sam—a metal-plated rose. It was a stylish way of telling the world, “We’re together.”
Over the years, Sam and Christian have balanced careers that are both demanding and very public. Sam performs around the world, and Christian designs collections that debut at major fashion weeks. Yet they still carve out time for themselves, whether it’s a casual walk in Manhattan’s West Village or a low-key coffee date in New York in mid-2025.
There were rumors in late 2023 that they had split, after speculation that Sam was back on the dating app Raya. Those whispers didn’t last long. By early 2024, they were spotted kissing in New York, and people close to Sam confirmed the couple was still together. Since then, their public appearances have quietly reinforced that their relationship is still going strong.
Sam often shows up to support Christian at his fashion shows—like his Valentine’s New York Fashion Week event—while Christian creates custom looks for Sam’s performances and red carpets. Their relationship is romantic, but it’s also a creative partnership where music and fashion meet.
A Look at Sam Smith’s Past Relationships
Long before they started dating Christian Cowan, Sam had already experienced love, heartbreak, and everything in between—and those experiences shaped both their life and their music.
Their first widely known relationship was with model and actor Jonathan Zeizel around 2014–2015. They reportedly met during the filming of the Like I Can music video. It was a relatively short relationship, but it unfolded just as Sam’s career was exploding with In the Lonely Hour. That era of unrequited love and emotional ache became the foundation for some of Sam’s most beloved songs.
In 2017, Sam began dating actor Brandon Flynn, known from 13 Reasons Why. Fans saw them together at events, walking hand in hand and sharing sweet public moments. Their relationship lasted for several months and ended in 2018. Sam later admitted that the breakup was painful, but it also helped them grow and led to some of the deeply introspective songs that came afterward.
There were also brief rumors over the years—such as speculation about reality TV personality Charlie King—but nothing concrete was ever confirmed. Sam has often said they’ve only had a few truly serious relationships and that they’ve become more protective of their personal life as time has gone on.
Today, they prefer to keep love more private, letting the world see glimpses when it feels right—like at the Met Gala—but not turning every relationship moment into content. It’s their way of keeping something sacred in a life that’s often very public.
Are They Married? Clearing Up the Rumors
Despite swirling online chatter, Sam Smith is not married. There’s no husband, no spouse, and no confirmed partner named Matilda or any other name that sometimes floats around social media. There are also no credible reports that Sam has children.
These ideas usually come from misunderstandings, fan fiction, or misquotes rather than reality. Right now, Sam’s attention appears to be on their music, their creative life, and their relationship with Christian, not on marriage or starting a family.
In August 2025, a satirical social media post claimed Sam had come out as “semibisexual,” which caused a bit of confusion before it was recognized as a joke. For the record, Sam has been very open about being non-binary and about their fluid attraction, saying they’re open to loving people regardless of gender. That’s the truth they’ve shared publicly—and it’s one they continue to live out authentically.
How Love Shapes Sam Smith’s Music
Sam’s songs often feel like pages from a diary, and that’s not an accident. From the beginning of their career, they’ve written from real experience—crushes that never turned into relationships, breakups that left them shattered, and moments of joy and self-acceptance.
Their debut album, In the Lonely Hour, channeled the ache of loving someone who didn’t love them back. Tracks like Stay With Me and I’m Not the Only One connected with millions of listeners who recognized their own heartbreak in the lyrics.
Over time, Sam’s music has expanded beyond sadness into empowerment, sensuality, and freedom. Songs like Unholy and newer releases show a more confident version of Sam—still vulnerable, but no longer defined by pain.
Their 2025 single To Be Free, tied to their upcoming New York residency, continues that evolution. The song explores emotional and personal freedom and feels like someone who’s weathered storms and come through them stronger. While Sam hasn’t said outright that Christian inspired it, the combination of a stable relationship and deeper self-acceptance is clearly reflected in their more hopeful tone.
A Love Story Woven Through Fashion
One of the most striking parts of Sam and Christian’s relationship is how it merges fashion and music. Christian’s designs are bold, playful, and unapologetically glamorous. Sam’s style has become increasingly adventurous and fluid, often challenging traditional ideas about gendered clothing.
Together, they’ve created some unforgettable fashion moments. At the 2024 Met Gala, their coordinated looks—with rose details tied to a personal story—made headlines. At other events, Sam has worn Christian’s pieces, from glittering coats to tailored suits with unexpected twists.
Sam’s style journey has been part of their self-expression as a non-binary person. They’ve worn skirts, flowing gowns, dramatic coats, and looks that mix masculine and feminine elements. By doing so in high-profile spaces, they help normalize gender-fluid fashion and inspire fans to dress in ways that feel authentic to them.
Christian’s presence in Sam’s life isn’t just romantic—it’s also creative. Their partnership showcases how love can fuel art in both subtle and spectacular ways.
Sam Smith’s Journey of Self-Discovery
Sam’s decision to come out as non-binary in 2019 was a pivotal moment, both for them personally and for many fans watching. They shared that they didn’t feel entirely male or female and asked the world to respect their they/them pronouns.
That kind of honesty, especially on such a big stage, takes courage. Since then, Sam has become a role model for people exploring their identities, showing that it’s okay not to fit neatly into a box.
Their path hasn’t been easy. In early 2025, Sam suffered a serious skiing injury and tore their ACL, leaving them unable to walk for a period of time. They described the experience as challenging, both physically and emotionally, but also talked about how it pushed them to grow stronger. Throughout the recovery, Christian was there to support them, appearing at events and helping them return to the stage and the studio.
All of this—identity, recovery, love, and creative risk—feeds into the music and performances Sam is preparing for To Be Free in New York. It’s not just a residency title; it’s a reflection of where they are in life.
What’s Next for Sam Smith?
The next big chapter for Sam is their To Be Free residency in New York City, set for October through December 2025. With 24 shows in an intimate venue, it’s a chance for fans to experience their voice up close, along with stories and songs that trace their journey from heartbreak to healing and self-love.
Sam is also featured on Barbra Streisand’s upcoming duets album, The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2, scheduled for release later in 2025—a dream collaboration that highlights how far they’ve come since their early days.
On the personal side, Sam and Christian seem content with a rhythm that’s both private and present. They’re not oversharing, but they’re not hiding either. A kiss on a New York sidewalk here, a matching Met Gala look there—enough for fans to see the happiness between them, without turning their relationship into a constant headline.
Why Sam Smith’s Story Matters
Sam Smith’s story matters because it’s about more than fame or chart-topping hits. It’s about learning to be fully yourself, even when the world is watching. It’s about loving who you love, expressing yourself without apology, and finding your voice—on and off the stage.
Their relationship with Christian Cowan is one part of that story: a creative, supportive partnership that seems to bring out their best. Their past relationships, their heartbreaks, their coming out as non-binary—all of it has shaped the artist and person they are today.
For younger fans, or anyone navigating identity, love, and self-worth, Sam’s journey sends a powerful message: you don’t have to fit a mold to deserve love, success, or happiness.
Conclusion
In 2025, Sam Smith’s life is a blend of love, music, and authenticity. They’re in a committed relationship with fashion designer Christian Cowan, a partner who supports them personally and creatively. From Met Gala red carpets to quiet New York coffee dates, their bond is steady and real.
Sam is not married and doesn’t have children, but they are deeply engaged in building a life that feels true to who they are—through their songs, their style, their identity, and their relationships. As they step into their To Be Free residency and share new music, fans can look forward to more powerful performances shaped by the same honesty that defines their love story.
Whether you know Sam Smith as a playlist favorite, a fashion risk-taker, or a voice for non-binary visibility, one thing is clear: their journey is still unfolding, and it’s one worth watching—and listening to.