When does Guardians of the Galaxy 3 take place in the MCU?

The MCU timeline has gotten more complicated as the years have gone by. here’s when Guardians of the Galaxy 3 takes place in the MCU timeline.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a thrilling (and very emotional) addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While trying to settle into life on Knowhere, the Guardians are soon thrown into a dangerous mission that could end in tragedy. At the heart of this new adventure is Rocket’s story, as the echoes of his turbulent past threaten to upend everything the Guardians hold dear.

As the film opens, audiences will find themselves once again immersed in the vibrant and colorful world of the Guardians. However, the tranquility is short-lived as Rocket’s past comes back to haunt him. The team must rally around him and embark on their most important mission yet. If they fail, it could mean the end of the Guardians themselves.

Fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise are eager to see Rocket take center stage in this new installment but that eagerness comes with a lot of nerves as to what the film might hold for Rocket. They’re also eager to know when exactly Guardians of the Galaxy 3 takes place in the MCU.

When does Guardians of the Galaxy 3 take place?

When looking at the broader MCU timeline, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 takes place directly after the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Considering that The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special takes place in December 2025, which is two years after the events of Avengers: Endgame, it’s likely that Guardians of the Galaxy 3 takes place sometime in 2026.

What is unclear in the film is whether it takes place before or after the events of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. We know that both films are said to be set in 2025, but it’s not made known in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 whether the events of the film unfold before or after the events of Quantumania as there are no direct references made to the film. This means it is possible the movie does take place before Quantumania, or that it could even take place during the same time as the Guardians aren’t on Earth in the Guardians of the Galaxy 3.