Few Hollywood love stories are as wholesome as Zendaya and Tom Holland’s. Since being cast as the leads of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, the two have established a long and endearing friendship that ultimately took a romantic turn. Their relationship has been marked by careful privacy, public support, and a series of milestones that fans have followed closely. Below is the complete timeline of their journey from co-stars to husband and wife.
2016: Casting in the Spider-Man Franchise
The two were cast as the iconic comic book couple for Marvel’s reboot of the Spider-Man franchise. The first installment, Spider-Man: Homecoming, began production in June 2016 and was released in July 2017. This was the beginning of their professional partnership, which soon blossomed into a personal connection.
2017: Denying Dating Rumors on Press Tour
While promoting their new movie, Zendaya and Holland became subject to a whirlwind of dating rumors—all of which they vehemently denied on social media. Responding to a tweet suggesting the costars had gone on holiday together, Zendaya wrote, “Wait wait...my favorite is when it says we go on vacations together HA! I haven't been on a vacation in years!hbu @TomHolland1996 ???" Holland tweeted back, "Does the press tour count."
2019–2020: They Reportedly Date Other People
In 2019, Zendaya reportedly began dating her Euphoria co-star Jacob Elordi. The two were spotted on a PDA-filled outing in New York City and later embarked on a Greece vacation together. Meanwhile, in 2020, Holland debuted his relationship with British actress Nadia Parkes on Instagram. The two reportedly quarantined together during the early days of the pandemic.
July 2021: Photos Capture Them Kissing in LA
Photos emerged of the Spider-Man co-stars and longtime friends kissing in a car while stopped at a red light. Other photos showed them exiting Zendaya’s mother’s house in the L.A. neighborhood of Silver Lake. This marked their first public display of affection as a couple.
August 2021: Attending a Friend’s Wedding Together
Though they remained tight-lipped about the status of their relationship, they were seen attending a friend’s wedding seemingly as each other's dates. In photos taken at the event, Zendaya and Holland posed with their heads leaning against each other.
September 2021: Going Instagram Official
For Zendaya’s 25th birthday, Holland posted a sweet tribute on Instagram featuring a behind-the-scenes film photo of their time on the Spider-Man set. “My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays,” he wrote in the caption. “Gimme a call when your up xxx.” This was their first public acknowledgment of the relationship on social media.
October 2021: Zendaya Gushes Over Tom
Speaking with InStyle, Zendaya praised Holland’s work ethic since he’d stepped into the role of Peter Parker. “There are many things, obviously, that I appreciate. In an actor way, I appreciate that he really loves being Spider-Man. It’s a lot of pressure—you take on the role of a superhero wherever you go. To the little kid who walks by, you are Spider-Man. I think he handled that so well,” she said. She added that Holland is “a fun time. Very charismatic, can make anybody feel comfortable and have a good laugh and a good chat.”
November 2021: Tom Talks Privacy
In an interview with GQ, Holland reflected on the paparazzi photos that captured him and Zendaya kissing in a car over the summer. “One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world,” he said. Zendaya echoed these sentiments, noting that “loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing.”
Winter 2021: Promoting Spider-Man: No Way Home
While promoting the third installment of their Marvel franchise, the couple made headlines for their various fashionable red-carpet appearances together. Zendaya wore outfits that seemed to pay homage to the iconic comic series, from a custom Valentino Haute Couture gown with embroidered cobwebs to a dazzling Alexander McQueen ensemble with crystal spiderweb stockings.
August 2022: Spending Time Together in Budapest
Holland reportedly flew from New York City, where he was filming The Crowded Room, to Budapest, where Zendaya was filming the Dune sequel—ultimately clocking more than 4,000 miles just to visit his girlfriend. He was spotted knitting while aboard his commercial flight. Later, they were seen sightseeing in the city.
September 3, 2022: Celebrating Zendaya’s Birthday
For her 26th birthday, Zendaya was spotted enjoying a celebratory dinner at MAMO Italian Restaurant in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood, accompanied by Holland, her mother Claire Stoermer, and her Euphoria co-star Hunter Schafer.
December 1, 2022: Engagement Rumors Addressed by Zendaya’s Mom
Zendaya’s mother subtly cleared the air on Instagram after pop culture pages suggested the pair got engaged in secret. She shared a screenshot of the definition of “clickbait,” implying the rumors were false. Neither Zendaya nor Holland addressed them directly.
March 2023: Rare PDA-Filled Outing
The couple was spotted on a low-key grocery shopping trip in London. In photos published by the Daily Mail, Holland pushed the shopping cart as Zendaya walked ahead, and they sweetly held hands. The two both wore casually stylish outfits, with Zendaya in a black zip-up bomber jacket and light-wash jeans, and Holland in a gray Saint Laurent hoodie and caramel trousers.
March 19, 2023: Wearing Each Other’s Initials
In symbolic tributes to their romance, the actors were captured wearing each other’s initials in recent outings. During a nail appointment, Zendaya wore a sweet new signet ring featuring Holland’s initials—“TH.” Holland, meanwhile, was spotted out on multiple occasions wearing pants marked with the letter “Z” on the back pockets.
March 27, 2023: Rare Glimpse at Date-Night Style
Zendaya and Holland had a rare date night out at Jamavar, an Indian restaurant in London. In a photo shared on Instagram by the executive chef, Zendaya looked elegant in a slate gray slipdress layered under a brown trench coat, while Holland wore a white collared shirt, blue sweater, and brown tweed blazer.
April 1, 2023: Low-Key Trip to Mumbai, India
The couple was spotted arriving at the Mumbai airport together and had a low-key yacht outing. They were featured on the Instagram account of Blue Bay Marine, a yacht charter service. Later that day, they attended the launch of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, though they didn’t walk the red carpet together. Zendaya wore an ornate navy-and-gold sari by Rahul Mishra, while Holland wore a classic black tux.
April 8, 2023: England Palace Tour
During an outing in London, they took a tour of King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace. In photos shared by the Queen Anne Boleyn Society, they posed with historians Tracy Borman and James Peacock. Zendaya looked casual in a beige wool trench and gray sweater, while Holland wore a navy blazer and white T-shirt. In an interview with The Sun, Zendaya admitted she loved Holland’s British accent but didn’t understand rhyming slang.
April 27, 2023: Instagram Date Night Post
Zendaya posted a video from an Usher concert on her Instagram Story, showing her singing along while standing close to Holland. “When I tell you we barely had a voice by the end of this,” she wrote. “Childhood dream came true, going to an @usher concert.”
May 4, 2023: Rare Public Date at NBA Playoffs
The couple had a casual date night in San Francisco, attending Game 2 of the NBA Playoff match-up between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. Zendaya paired a black Golden State cap with a white T-shirt, while Holland wore a gray sweatshirt.
June 1, 2023: Zendaya Celebrates Tom’s Birthday
To kick off Holland’s 27th birthday, Zendaya shared sweet rare snaps on her Instagram Story, including one of him making a heart gesture while swimming. Holland later posted a photo of himself in a wetsuit and harness, with Zendaya commenting a heart-eye emoji.
June 13, 2023: Tom Talks About Being “Happy and in Love”
In an interview with BuzzFeed, Holland joked about his limited “rizz” while hinting at his romance with Zendaya. “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz,” he said. “I need you to fall in love with me, really, for it to work. So, long game. Probably making a movie with each other. Definitely helps when the characters you’re playing are falling in love with one another—you can sort of blur the lines a little bit.” He added that he was “locked up” and “happy and in love.”
August 23, 2023: Zendaya Explains Why She Keeps Her Relationship Private
In Elle’s September 2023 cover story, Zendaya opened up about the ways fame had disrupted her public life, including her highly publicized romance with Holland. “Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public,” she said. “I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love. But also, I do have control over what I choose to share. It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist.”
September 4, 2023: Date Night at Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour
The couple was among the A-listers at Beyoncé’s Los Angeles show. Zendaya wore a glittering silver sequined set, while Holland wore an all-black outfit. Fan-captured videos showed them holding hands and freezing in sync during Beyoncé’s onstage mute challenge.
January 23, 2024: Tom Posts Zendaya’s Paris Fashion Week Look
Holland shared his love for Zendaya’s front-row look at Schiaparelli’s Spring/Summer 2024 haute couture runway show. On his Instagram Story, he posted a black-and-white portrait of her with heart-eye emojis, and also shared a video soundtracked by “Cupid’s Chokehold” with the caption “This was made for me 😂.”
February 15, 2024: Attending the Dune: Part Two After-Party
The couple was captured holding hands and smiling as they left the world premiere after-party in London. They coordinated in monochromatic black outfits, with Zendaya elegant in a sweeping Mugler gown and Holland suave in an open cardigan.
February 22, 2024: Zendaya Praises Tom’s “Rizz”
In a BuzzFeed interview, Zendaya praised her boyfriend for his “natural gift.” When asked who in the Dune cast has the most rizz, she jokingly replied, “Me. Hello?” before admitting, “I think someone who has beautiful charisma, not on the Dune cast, but I personally—works for me—is Mr. Tom Holland. He’s great at just talking to people and getting to know people.”
March 17, 2024: Tennis Date
Zendaya and Holland were spotted sitting courtside at the Indian Wells Open in California. She wore an all-white tennis-inspired outfit, while he wore a maroon cardigan and orange-tinted sunglasses. At one point, they were spotted singing along to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
April 9, 2024: Zendaya Gushes About Tom in New Interview
In an interview with the Mirror, Zendaya opened up about her relationship with Holland, who was set to appear in a West End production of Romeo and Juliet. She said she “could not be more proud” of his work. She also praised his ability at handling overnight fame after being cast as Spider-Man.
April 11, 2024: Sweet Kiss at London Premiere of Challengers
Holland couldn’t look prouder of Zendaya at the London premiere of her new movie Challengers. In a video posted to X, they share a sweet kiss and embrace at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square. He was also captured whistling and filming her as she was introduced in the theater.
May 7, 2024: Tom Admires Zendaya’s Met Gala Look
After missing out on fashion’s biggest night, Holland took to Instagram to publicly admire the outfit of his girlfriend, who co-chaired the 2024 Met Gala. Sharing a photo of Zendaya in her first look—a dramatic royal blue and emerald green Maison Margiela Artisanal gown—he captioned the post with heart-eye emojis.
May 23, 2024: Supporting Tom’s Production of Romeo and Juliet
The couple exited the Duke of York Theatre in London following Holland’s press night for his Shakespeare production. Zendaya wore a romantic black corseted gown by Vivienne Westwood, while Holland matched in all-black Prada.
October 17, 2024: Tom Talks About His Favorite Thing to Do for Zendaya
During an appearance on the Rich Roll podcast, Holland opened up about a sweet gesture for Zendaya that he takes “huge pride” in: fixing things around her house. “If something breaks in Zendaya’s house, I take huge pride in fixing it,” he said, mentioning that he built her cupboards and a new wardrobe.
November 24, 2024: Rare Date Night Snap on Instagram
To celebrate the release of his non-alcoholic beer line, Bero, Holland and Zendaya headed out to a bar for a date night. Holland shared a rare snap of Zendaya to his Instagram Story, showing her smiling and giving two thumbs up next to a pint of Bero.
January 2, 2025: Tom Explains Why He Doesn't Pose on the Carpet with Zendaya
In his cover interview for Men’s Health, Holland revealed why he generally avoids posing on the red carpet with his girlfriend: “because it’s not my moment, it’s her moment, and if we go together, it’s about us.” The two had not posed together on a carpet since their last joint project, 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.
January 5, 2025: Zendaya Debuts Her Engagement Ring at the Golden Globes
The Challengers star nearly broke the internet when she stepped onto the Golden Globes red carpet in a burnt-orange Louis Vuitton gown and a gleaming diamond ring on that finger. After hours of speculation, several outlets confirmed Zendaya was engaged to longtime boyfriend Tom Holland, and he actually proposed sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
January 8, 2025: Tom References Their Relationship in Bero Promo
Holland made a reference to his relationship in an Instagram video promoting his non-alcoholic drink brand, Bero, launching at Target. Instead of talking about his fiancée Zendaya, he revealed his love for her dog, Noon, explaining that the drink “Noon Wheat” was named after the dog.
August 8, 2025: PDA on the Set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day
The engaged pair looked so in love on the set of the upcoming action film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring both of them, in London. Zendaya wore a cozy ivory sweater and navy slacks, with her massive diamond engagement ring. Holland was casual in several different outfits. In photos captured, they were seen cuddling, laughing, and holding hands.
January 10, 2025: Tom’s Father Shares Proposal Details
Holland’s father, Dominic Holland, shared some details about the proposal in a Patreon post. He wrote that Tom “was very incredibly well prepared. He had purchased a ring. He had spoken with her father and gained permission to propose to his daughter. Tom had everything planned out… When, where, how, what to say, what to wear.”
January 24, 2026: Zendaya Gushes Over Working with Tom
In an interview with the Mirror, Zendaya opened up about working with her fiancé, calling Holland not only her “favorite person,” but her “favorite person to work with,” too. “On set he has this huge calming presence that not only puts me at ease but also everybody he works with,” she said. She also spoke about finding a balance between their public and private lives, and how London felt like home.
February 18, 2026: Zendaya Seen Wearing a Wedding Band
During an outing in Beverly Hills, Zendaya was photographed wearing a gold wedding band on her left finger instead of her engagement ring, sparking speculation that she and Holland secretly married. Neither her nor Holland’s reps commented on the rumors.
March 1, 2026: Law Roach Reveals the Couple Secretly Wed
At the 2026 Actor Awards, longtime stylist to Zendaya, Law Roach, revealed that she and Tom Holland had secretly already tied the knot. “The wedding already happened. You missed it,” Roach told Access Hollywood on the red carpet, “It’s true!”
April 1, 2026: Zendaya Explains Why She Won’t Address Marriage Rumors
During an interview on The New York Times’ Modern Love podcast, Zendaya explained why she wasn’t responding to all the speculation about her secret marriage. “I just feel like for me there is a level of a parasocial investment in my personal relationship, which I understand,” she said. She added that she has “my own little boundaries of what I like to bring up and talk about.”
June 16, 2026: Tom Confirms They Got Married
For an Esquire UK cover story to promote his new Spider-Man film and The Odyssey, Holland confirmed that he and Zendaya did, in fact, get secretly married. The topic came up during a discussion about fake A.I.-generated wedding images. When asked if he had to send out texts to family members, Holland paused and said: “No, because they were all there.” With a decisive tone, he added: “That’s all you’ll get on that.”
Source: Harper's BAZAAR News