Abel Tesfaye is basically a ghost right now. If you've been scrolling through social media looking for the Weeknd recent pictures, you've probably noticed something weird. He’s not wearing the red suit anymore. He’s not the bandaged-up character from After Hours, and he’s definitely moved past the prosthetic "old man" face from Dawn FM.
Instead, the latest shots of him are... well, surprisingly human.
Most of the buzz surrounding the Weeknd recent pictures stems from the rollout of his final chapter under this moniker: Hurry Up Tomorrow. We’re seeing him in these high-contrast, moody stills from his upcoming psychological thriller film, and honestly, he looks exhausted. But that’s the point. The era of the "pop star" Abel is being buried, and the pictures we’re seeing are the evidence of that transition.
What the Sao Paulo Shots Actually Reveal
Forget the polished studio portraits for a second. The real story is in the raw, grainy shots from his massive one-night-only show in Sao Paulo and the subsequent teaser images.
If you look closely at the the Weeknd recent pictures from the stage, he’s wearing this ethereal, almost biblical white robe. It’s a massive departure from the dark, gritty, leather-heavy aesthetics of his previous tours. Fans on Reddit have been dissecting the "Anima" look—a direct reference to the feminine soul or the inner self—which seems to be a recurring theme in the new visuals.
He’s not just performing; he’s playing a character that feels like it's being stripped of its ego. In some of the close-ups, you can see he’s leaning into a more natural look. No heavy makeup, no fake scars. Just Abel. It’s kinda jarring if you’ve been following him since 2020.
The Jenna Ortega Connection and the Movie Stills
We can't talk about the Weeknd recent pictures without mentioning the film Hurry Up Tomorrow. Lionsgate recently dropped some official stills that feature Abel alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan.
In these photos, he’s often seen in dimly lit rooms, looking like a man on the verge of a total breakdown. One specific image that went viral shows him sitting in a hotel room with Ortega, and the tension is palpable. It doesn't look like a music video. It looks like a high-budget A24-style fever dream.
- The Hair: He’s kept the shorter, natural afro-style hair he’s had for a while, but it’s less styled in the movie stills to reflect the "insomniac musician" character he’s playing.
- The Wardrobe: In the recent paparazzi shots from late 2025 and early 2026, he’s been spotted in simple black hoodies and baseball caps—the ultimate "don't look at me" uniform.
- The Vibe: There is a distinct sense of "endings" in every photo he posts. He’s been very vocal about "killing off" the Weeknd persona, and the pictures are the visual obituary.
Why People Think He Looks Different
Is it just a new outfit, or is it something else? Some fans have pointed out that Abel looks leaner in the Weeknd recent pictures.
This might be for the role in the film. Actors do it all the time. But it also matches the "ascetic" vibe of the Hurry Up Tomorrow era. He’s moving away from the "Starboy" excess. When you look at the images from his latest public sightings—like the brief appearances at charity events for Sudan earlier this month—he looks remarkably grounded.
He’s 35 now. The "young, reckless" energy of the House of Balloons days is gone, replaced by a guy who seems more interested in being a filmmaker and a serious actor.
The 2016 Nostalgia Trap
Interestingly, there's been a weird trend on TikTok and Instagram recently where 2016 aesthetics are coming back. Because of this, a lot of old photos from the Starboy era are being recirculated and labeled as the Weeknd recent pictures.
Don't get it twisted. If you see him with the vertical "palm tree" hair or the cross necklace, that's a decade-old throwback. The current Abel is all about the "divine" white outfits, the psychological thriller grit, and a more mature, stripped-back facial appearance.
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How to Track His Real-Time Updates
If you’re trying to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on his creative director La Mar Taylor’s social feeds or the official XO accounts. They tend to drop the high-res "lore" photos before the tabloids even get a whiff of where he is.
The biggest thing to watch for? The 2026 UK and Europe stadium tour dates. As those shows kick off, we’re going to get a flood of new stage photography that will likely define his final look before he officially retires the name.
Next steps for fans:
Go check the official Lionsgate press room for the high-res stills from Hurry Up Tomorrow. Pay attention to the lighting in the scenes with Barry Keoghan; there are visual cues there that link directly back to the After Hours short films. Also, keep your eyes on the "Timeless" merch drops, as the photography used for those items is usually the most current representation of his brand.