On this day last year, the internet essentially hit “pause” when reports surfaced that Tom Holland had popped the question to Zendaya during an intimate holiday proposal. While the couple had spent years perfecting the art of a private relationship, the giant diamond Zendaya flashed during the 2025 awards season was impossible to ignore.
Today the pair remains Hollywood’s gold standard for a low-key, high-power romance. As they navigate a year packed with massive joint projects, we dive into how Peter Parker and MJ turned a movie-set friendship into a real-life “happily ever after.”
Tom Holland and Zendaya attend SiriusXM’s Town Hall with the cast of Spider-Man: No Way Home on December 10, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
How It Started: From Awkward Hellos to the Kiss That Broke the Internet
Their love story began nearly a decade ago in June 2016 on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Tom Holland famously admitted that his first meeting with Zendaya wasn’t his “smoothest” moment, describing it as an awkward, fumbled greeting that left him wondering if he’d made a bad impression. However, they quickly became inseparable best friends, constantly appearing on each other’s social media feeds and spending their off-days together while insisting to the press that they were merely platonic. The “just friends” narrative finally ended in July 2021 when paparazzi captured the two sharing a romantic moment in a car in Los Angeles. From that moment on, the world knew that “Tomdaya” was the real deal.
How It’s Going: One Year of Being Fiances
Since the news of their engagement broke last January, the couple has been busier than ever, balancing wedding rumors with their skyrocketing careers. We now know that Tom kept the proposal intimate and personal, asking for Zendaya’s hand at one of her family homes during the quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s 2024.
Despite the global frenzy that followed the report, the couple has remained characteristically grounded. While fans are clamoring for a 2026 wedding, insiders suggest the pair is in no rush to head to the altar. With both stars currently filming back-to-back blockbusters, a 2027 date is looking more likely for their rumored traditional, family-centered ceremony.
Zendaya and Tom Holland attend a photocall for “Spiderman: No Way Home” at The Old Sessions House on December 05, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
The “Double-Feature” Year: Their Major 2026 Projects Together
If 2021 was a big year for the duo, 2026 is set to be historic as they move beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe to share the screen in a major dramatic capacity. They are both set to star in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated next film, The Odyssey, scheduled for release on July 17, 2026. While plot details are under lock and key, the prospect of the two working under the visionary director has already generated massive industry buzz.
In a rare “double-feature” weeks, they will also return to their roots in Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, 2026. This fourth installment is rumored to be a narrative reset for their characters, and fans are desperate to see how their real-life chemistry translates to a reunion for Peter and MJ.
Tom Holland and Zendaya in Spiderman: Far From Home (2019)
Zendaya and Tom Holland have managed the nearly impossible task of staying grounded while being one of the most talked-about couples. Zendaya recently reflected on their partnership, noting that acting beside her fiancé feels like “second nature” and provides a profound sense of safety on set. One year into their engagement, that mutual respect and quiet devotion are exactly why the world continues to be enchanted by their journey.
