The Complete Timeline Of Tom Holland And Zendaya's Adorable Relationship

This article was updated on January 7th, 2025.

They’re both known for being sweet and down-to-earth, and who doesn’t love watching two gorgeous people fall in love? 

With the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, everyone is talking about Zendaya and Tom Holland’s relationship. Here’s a quick timeline of their relationship from being “just friends” to one of the cutest couples in Hollywood.

Summer 2016: Zendaya and Tom Meet on the Set of Spider-Man: Homecoming

Like many celebrity couples, Zendaya and Tom met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in the summer of 2016. The two became fast friends, which came in handy for their roles as Peter Parker and MJ.

Tom spoke about his friendship with Zendaya in an interview with People. He said, “We are like the best of friends. She’s so great and amazing.” He continued, “I’m a little worried [about dealing with fame … but] Zendaya is super famous, and she’s been through this, and I just call her up and say, ‘How do I manage being famous?’ I’m very glad I have a friend like her.”

Summer 2017: Spider-Man: Homecoming Is Released and Romance Rumors Swirl

When Spider-Man: Homecoming was released, fans immediately noticed the on-screen chemistry, and romance rumors began to swirl about the pair. A “source” close to both of them (we always take these “sources” with a grain of salt) told People they were dating. The source said, “They started seeing each other while they were filming Spider-Man. They’ve been super careful to keep it private and out of the public eye, but they’ve gone on vacations with each other and try and spend as much time as possible with one another.”

Another source said, “They’re both really ambitious and they challenge each other – but, most importantly, they make each other crack up. They seem to have a really similar sense of humor and love joking around together. They have great banter back and forth.”

Despite sources confirming their rumored romance, both Zendaya and Tom insisted they were just friends. Zendaya told Variety, "We are friends. He's a great dude. He's literally one of my best friends. This past how many months, we've had to do press tours together. There's very few people that will understand what that's like at 20 years old."

2018-Summer 2019: Instagram Clues 

Despite denying romance rumors, Zendaya and Tom kept fans on their toes in 2018 and 2019 through Instagram posts. Both posted pictures of each other for their birthdays and Tom posted a photo of Zendaya’s Joan of Arc-inspired look at the 2018 Met Gala with the caption, “All hail the queen. Killing it mate.”

For Zendaya's birthday tribute, Tom wrote, “Me, myself and the birthday girl. Happy birthday mate – keep killing it and paving the way for the rest of us.”

For Tom's birthday tribute, Zendaya wrote, “Happy birthday weirdo, thanks for being the wonderful person you are, we’re all very lucky to have you and your weirdness.”

Though it’s easy to interpret that they’re just good friends from these posts, we all know that you don’t wish just anyone a happy birthday on Instagram. That’s reserved for very close friends, and the chemistry between the two in the second Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Far From Home only made fans wish even more that they were together IRL.

Summer 2019-Summer 2020: Zendaya and Tom Are Allegedly in Different Relationships

Fans who were rooting to see Zendaya and Tom get together were crushed when Zendaya and Euphoria co-star Jacob Elordi were spotted on vacation together in Athens in August 2019. Though Us Weekly confirmed they were dating, Zendaya neither confirmed nor denied the relationship. However, Jacob said that Zendaya was "like my sister," seemingly confirming that the two were just friends. Sources seem to have mixed reports on whether or not the two dated, but the speculation ended when Jacob began dating model Kaia Gerber in September 2020.

Tom reportedly started dating British actress Nadia Parkes in February 2020, and he seemingly confirmed their relationship by posting a picture of her on Instagram. However, it didn’t work out for them in the long run, as Tom was caught kissing a certain American singer-actress after Spider-Man: No Way Home wrapped in 2021.

July 2021: Kissing Photos Go Viral

 Zendaya and Tom reunited on the set of Spider-Man: No Way Home in early 2021, and it looks like they finally decided to move their on-screen romance off-screen. They were seen having dinner together at the end of June, and photos of them kissing appeared on Page Six only a few days later.

The photos went viral, and fans lost their minds on Twitter, and we don’t blame any of them because they look so happy together.

Many fans wonder why it took them so long to get together, and one reason could be that Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal told them not to date. We all remember Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst dating after the 2002 version of Spider-Man came out, only for them to break up and make filming the next two films awkward. Pascal told Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone not to date when they filmed The Amazing Spider-Man in 2011, but they didn’t take her advice and eventually broke up in 2015.

Understandably, Pascal didn’t want Zendaya and Tom to ruin their on-screen chemistry by taking by dating IRL, but we’re glad they finally gave in and started dating. They look so happy together, and here’s to hoping they break the Spider-Man dating curse!

Fall-Winter 2021: Zendaya and Tom Get Candid about Their Relationship and Future

Though fans were excited to see photos of Zendaya and Tom together, the two value their privacy and were uncomfortable with the paparazzi photos. In an interview with GQ, Tom said, “I’ve always been really adamant to keep my private life private because I share so much of my life with the world anyway.”

He continued, “We sort of felt robbed of our privacy. I don’t think it’s about not being ready – it’s just that we didn’t want to [talk about it].”

Zendaya echoed a similar sentiment. She said, "The equal sentiment [we both share] is just that when you really love and care about somebody, some moments or things, you wish were your own…I think loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing and something that you want to deal with and go through and experience and enjoy amongst the two people that love each other.”

Though we understand why they weren’t thrilled with the photos getting leaked, we can’t help but love watching them together while working on press for Spider-Man: No Way Home. Tom’s comments in a recent interview with People show that he might take a break from acting soon, but he doesn’t plan on doing it alone. He said, “I’ve spent the last six years being so focused on my career. I want to take a break and focus on starting a family and figuring out what I want to do outside of this world… I love kids. I can’t wait to be a dad – I can wait and I will, but I can’t wait!”

2022–2024: Memorable Moments and Milestones

Between 2022 and 2024, Zendaya and Tom Holland continued to shine in their respective careers while strengthening their relationship. During this time, they juggled blockbuster projects, memorable public appearances, and quiet personal moments.

In 2022, Zendaya earned widespread acclaim for her performance in the second season of "Euphoria," winning her second Emmy Award. Tom was one of her biggest supporters, even sharing a cheeky Instagram Story hinting at how proud he was of her achievements. On the big screen, Zendaya starred in Dune: Part Two, taking on an expanded role as Chani in the sci-fi epic. Tom, meanwhile, headlined the action-adventure hit Uncharted and began production on smaller, character-driven projects, including "The Crowded Room" series, which showcased his depth as an actor.

The couple also delighted fans in 2023 with their adorable interactions at the Spider-Man: No Way Home home release campaign. Though their Spider-Man trilogy had officially wrapped, their shared history with the franchise remained a touchpoint for their bond. Interviews from this time showed their playful banter, with Tom poking fun at Zendaya’s love for pranks and Zendaya teasing Tom about his enthusiastic storytelling.

Off-screen, their relationship flourished as they embraced quieter moments together. Fans spotted them enjoying casual date nights in London and Los Angeles, attending a Beyoncé concert, and even taking a romantic trip to Paris during Fashion Week, where Zendaya wowed on the red carpet while Tom cheered her on from the sidelines.

In 2024, Tom posted a heartfelt birthday tribute to Zendaya, calling her his “brightest light.” Zendaya returned the favor, sharing a candid photo of Tom with the caption, “My Spider-Man always.” These moments highlighted the love and admiration they have for each other, even while maintaining a relatively private relationship.

2025: Officially Engaged!

Zendaya and Tom Holland have taken their love story to the next level with their recent engagement, delighting fans worldwide. The proposal took place in a private and intimate setting at Zendaya's family home between Christmas and New Year's. Before proposing, Tom sought and received the blessing of Zendaya's father, honoring the couple's respect for family and tradition.

Zendaya subtly debuted her engagement ring—a stunning 5.02-carat diamond designed by Jessica McCormack—at the 2025 Golden Globes.

As they step into this new chapter together, it’s clear that Zendaya and Tom are more than just a power couple—they’re each other’s biggest supporters and best friends.

Congratulations to the happy couple! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two as they continue to inspire us with their love and commitment.

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