By muhammadusmanali5080
Quick Answer: When Does Star Wars Rebels Take Place?
Star Wars Rebels takes place between 5 BBY and 1 BBY — the four-to-five years immediately before Rogue One (0 BBY) and A New Hope. Its four seasons and 75 episodes run in parallel with Andor, sit 14 years after The Clone Wars, and end with an epilogue set in 9 ABY that leads straight into Ahsoka and The Mandalorian.
At a glance:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Series start | 5 BBY (Season 1) |
| Series end | 1 BBY (Season 4 finale) |
| Epilogue | 9 ABY |
| Seasons / episodes | 4 seasons, 75 episodes |
| Sits after | The Bad Batch, Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi |
| Sits before | Rogue One, A New Hope |
| Runs parallel with | Andor (5–1 BBY) |
| Canon? | Yes — full Lucasfilm canon |
For BBY/ABY background, see our BBY/ABY Star Wars Dating System guide — short version: 5 BBY means five years before the Battle of Yavin, the climax of A New Hope.
Rebels on the Full Star Wars Timeline
Here’s where Rebels sits relative to everything else in canon:
| Show / film | BBY/ABY | Distance from Rebels |
|---|---|---|
| The Clone Wars | 22 BBY → 19 BBY | ends 14 years before Rebels S1 |
| Revenge of the Sith | 19 BBY | 14 years before Rebels S1 |
| The Bad Batch | 19 BBY → 17 BBY | 12+ years before Rebels S1 |
| Solo | 10 BBY | 5 years before Rebels S1 |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi | 9 BBY | 4 years before Rebels S1 |
| Star Wars Rebels S1 | 5 BBY | — |
| Andor (Seasons 1+2) | 5 BBY → 1 BBY | overlaps entirely |
| Star Wars Rebels S4 | 2 BBY → 1 BBY | — |
| Rogue One | 0 BBY | immediately after Rebels S4 |
| A New Hope | 0 BBY → 0 ABY | immediately after Rogue One |
| Rebels epilogue | 9 ABY | 10 years after the series proper |
| The Mandalorian | 9 ABY | same time as the epilogue |
| Ahsoka | 9 ABY | direct continuation of the epilogue |
Season-by-Season Timeline
Rebels’ episode order is its chronological order — there are no flashback seasons, so release order and timeline order are identical.
| Season | Episodes | In-universe years | Key arc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 15 | 5 BBY | Lothal cell forms; Grand Inquisitor |
| Season 2 | 22 | 4 BBY → early 3 BBY | Ahsoka, Vader, Malachor |
| Season 3 | 22 | 3 BBY → early 2 BBY | Thrawn debut; Battle of Atollon |
| Season 4 | 16 | 2 BBY → 1 BBY (+ 9 ABY) | Mandalore & Lothal liberation |
Season 1 — 5 BBY
The series opens with the Ghost crew as a small underground cell pulling off supply heists against Imperial garrisons on Lothal. Ezra Bridger joins in the premiere; Kanan Jarrus reveals himself as a surviving Jedi. The Grand Inquisitor — the same rank of Jedi hunter seen in Obi-Wan Kenobi four years earlier — pursues the crew all season.
Major beats:
- “Spark of Rebellion” (5 BBY) — the Ghost crew forms with Ezra
- The four Rebels shorts also sit here, just before the premiere
- Tarkin turns his attention to Lothal
- First contact with Phoenix Squadron and Fulcrum (Ahsoka)
Season 2 — 4 BBY → early 3 BBY
The Ghost crew joins the wider Phoenix Squadron. Ahsoka Tano appears in person as Fulcrum, Captain Rex returns, and Darth Vader hunts the cell directly. The Malachor finale delivers Ahsoka’s duel with Vader and reintroduces Maul.
Major beats:
- Ahsoka returns to canon after The Clone Wars
- Rex and the clone veterans join the Rebellion
- Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister replace the Grand Inquisitor
- Malachor: Ahsoka vs Vader; Kanan blinded; Maul returns
Season 3 — 3 BBY → early 2 BBY
Grand Admiral Thrawn debuts as the new primary antagonist — Timothy Zahn’s character entering canon. Phoenix Squadron becomes a recognized Rebel Alliance cell, and the season ends with the disastrous Battle of Atollon. Maul dies on Tatooine in “Twin Suns” (2 BBY).
Major beats:
- Thrawn debut in canon
- Agent Kallus turns and becomes Fulcrum
- Saw Gerrera’s Partisans appear (linking to Rogue One and Andor)
- The Bendu introduced
- Battle of Atollon — a major Rebel defeat
Season 4 — 2 BBY → 1 BBY (plus 9 ABY epilogue)
Two storylines dominate: the liberation of Mandalore (Sabine recovers the Darksaber; Bo-Katan claims leadership) and the liberation of Lothal (Ezra vs Thrawn). Kanan dies during the fuel depot arc. The finale is set in 1 BBY — months before Rogue One.
The epilogue jumps to 9 ABY: the Empire has fallen, Hera is a New Republic officer with her son Jacen, Zeb has reunited Kallus with the Lasat, and Sabine and Ahsoka depart to find Ezra.
Rebels vs Clone Wars Timeline
This is the comparison most people get wrong.
| The Clone Wars | Star Wars Rebels | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 22 BBY → 19 BBY | 5 BBY → 1 BBY |
| Government | Galactic Republic collapsing | Galactic Empire at its peak |
| Jedi | Thousands, at war | Fewer than a dozen in hiding |
| Ahsoka | Padawan, then walks away | Fulcrum, Rebel intelligence |
| Rex | Clone captain | Retired veteran turned rebel |
| Maul | Crimson Dawn crime lord | Isolated, obsessed, dies in 2 BBY |
Roughly 14 years separate them. Everything that makes Rebels emotionally heavy — Kanan’s survivor guilt, Ahsoka’s distance, Rex’s chip scars, Maul’s decay — is a consequence of that gap.
Rebels vs Andor Timeline — Parallel Storylines
Rebels and Andor cover exactly the same five years.
| Show | In-universe years | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Rebels | 5 BBY → 1 BBY (+9 ABY) | Lothal cell → Rebel squadron |
| Andor | 5 BBY → 1 BBY | Political & intelligence rebellion |
They follow completely different cells: Rebels covers the Lothal underground (Hera, Kanan, Ezra, Sabine, Zeb, Chopper across Lothal, Mandalore and Atollon), while Andor covers the political-intelligence axis (Mon Mothma’s defection, Luthen’s network, Aldhani, Ghorman, Ferrix). They never cross paths on screen, though Saw Gerrera and Mon Mothma appear in both, and both stories converge at Yavin.
For more on Andor‘s placement, see our Andor Timeline Placement guide.
Rebels vs Rogue One and A New Hope
Rebels ends in 1 BBY; Rogue One is 0 BBY. That’s a matter of months.
- The Ghost appears in the Battle of Scarif fleet.
- Chopper is visible on Yavin 4.
- “General Syndulla” is paged over the Yavin intercom — Hera made general.
- Saw Gerrera’s Partisans, introduced in Rebels Season 3, are central to Rogue One.
Rebels vs Ahsoka and The Mandalorian — The 9 ABY Connection
The Rebels finale epilogue is the prequel to Ahsoka. Narrated by Sabine Wren and set in 9 ABY, it establishes that Ezra is still missing in the unknown regions, Sabine has spent years searching, and Ahsoka has returned to help.
The Ahsoka series (9 ABY) picks up that exact thread: Sabine as Ahsoka’s apprentice, Hera as a New Republic general, Thrawn as the central antagonist, and Ezra found alive. The Mandalorian, also 9 ABY, inherits Rebels’ Mandalore and Darksaber history directly.
If you watch Ahsoka without Rebels, you’ll follow the plot but miss the weight of every reunion.
Character Timelines Across Rebels
| Character | Enters | Timeline arc |
|---|---|---|
| Ezra Bridger | 5 BBY | Street kid → Jedi apprentice → vanishes with Thrawn (1 BBY) → found in 9 ABY |
| Kanan Jarrus | 5 BBY | Order 66 survivor → teacher → blinded (3 BBY) → dies 1 BBY |
| Hera Syndulla | 5 BBY | Cell leader → Phoenix commander → general by 0 BBY → New Republic (9 ABY) |
| Sabine Wren | 5 BBY | Explosives expert → Darksaber wielder (2 BBY) → Ahsoka’s apprentice (9 ABY) |
| Garazeb Orrelios | 5 BBY | Lasat survivor → finds Lira San → reunites Kallus with his people (9 ABY) |
| Chopper (C1-10P) | 5 BBY | Clone Wars-era astromech → Yavin (0 BBY) → still with Hera in 9 ABY |
| Ahsoka Tano | 5 BBY (as Fulcrum) | Vader duel (3 BBY) → World Between Worlds → 9 ABY search for Ezra |
| Captain Rex | 4 BBY | Clone veteran → rebel commando → Endor (4 ABY) |
| Grand Admiral Thrawn | 3 BBY | Imperial commander → exiled to unknown regions (1 BBY) → returns 9 ABY |
| Agent Kallus | 5 BBY | ISB agent → Fulcrum defector (3 BBY) → Lira San (9 ABY) |
| Maul | 3 BBY | Malachor → Ezra’s manipulation → dies on Tatooine (2 BBY) |
| Mon Mothma / Bail Organa | 4 BBY onward | Alliance founders bridging Rebels, Andor and Rogue One |
The Galaxy During Rebels (5–1 BBY)
- The Empire has ruled for 14–18 years. Total dominance, peak overreach.
- The Death Star is in late-stage secret construction.
- The Rebellion is fragmenting into cells: the Ghost crew, Phoenix Squadron, Saw’s Partisans, Luthen’s network, Mon Mothma’s senators.
- Mandalore is under Imperial control until the Season 4 liberation arc.
- The Jedi Order is nearly extinct — Kanan, Ahsoka, Ezra and a handful of hidden survivors.
- The Inquisitors are active early but eliminated by mid-series.
- Thrawn is the rising Imperial threat.
Recommended Watch Order Around Rebels
- The Clone Wars (22 → 19 BBY) — especially the Ahsoka and Mandalore arcs
- Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY)
- The Bad Batch (19 → 17 BBY)
- Solo (10 BBY) — optional
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (9 BBY)
- Andor Season 1 (5–4 BBY)
- Star Wars Rebels Seasons 1–3 (5–2 BBY)
- Andor Season 2 (4–1 BBY)
- Star Wars Rebels Season 4 (2–1 BBY)
- Rogue One (0 BBY)
- A New Hope → Empire → Return of the Jedi (0–4 ABY)
- The Mandalorian / Book of Boba Fett (9 ABY)
- Ahsoka (9 ABY) — direct Rebels sequel
For the full saga, see the Star Wars Watch Order Guide.
Naming Characters for the Rebels Era
If you’re writing characters for the Rebels timeframe (5–1 BBY), the naming aesthetic is rebellion-era underground:
- Rebel cell operatives — short, punchy names. Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren. Use our Rebel Pilot Name Generator and Star Wars Last Names Guide.
- Mandalorian rebels (Sabine-era) — clan-aligned warrior names. Use the Mandalorian Name Generator and the Mandalorian Names & Clans Guide.
- Twi’lek rebels (Hera-style) — Ryloth-rooted names. Use the Twi’lek Name Generator and Twi’lek Names Guide.
- Surviving Jedi (Kanan/Ezra-style) — humble, hidden Jedi names. Use the Jedi Name Generator.
- Imperial officers and Inquisitors — see the Imperial Officer Name Generator and Sith Name Generator.
- Lothal locals — earthy human names. See our Human Names Guide.
- Pronouncing it all correctly — Syndulla, Garazeb, Lothal and more in the Star Wars Pronunciation Guide.
For broader help, see the Complete Star Wars Naming Guide, the BBY/ABY Dating System Guide, and Star Wars What If Scenarios for alt-timeline work.
The Bottom Line
Star Wars Rebels takes place from 5 BBY to 1 BBY, across 4 seasons and 75 episodes, with an epilogue in 9 ABY.
The main series covers the five years leading directly into Rogue One and A New Hope, running in parallel with Andor, fourteen years after The Clone Wars. The epilogue ties Rebels directly to Ahsoka and The Mandalorian.
If you’ve ever wondered why so much of The Mandalorian-era storytelling feels emotionally connected to characters you’ve never met — it’s because Rebels built them all. Watch Rebels. The galaxy makes more sense afterwards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does Star Wars Rebels take place?
Star Wars Rebels takes place between 5 BBY and 1 BBY — the five years immediately before Rogue One and A New Hope. The series epilogue jumps forward to 9 ABY (the era of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka), showing what happened to the Ghost crew after the Galactic Civil War.
Where does Star Wars Rebels fit in the Star Wars timeline?
Rebels fits in the Imperial era, between Obi-Wan Kenobi (9 BBY) and Rogue One (0 BBY). Chronologically: Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY) → The Bad Batch (19–18 BBY) → Solo (10 BBY) → Obi-Wan Kenobi (9 BBY) → Andor S1 (5 BBY) → Rebels Seasons 1–4 (5–1 BBY) → Rogue One (0 BBY) → A New Hope.
What year does Rebels Season 1 start?
Star Wars Rebels Season 1 begins in 5 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) — five years before A New Hope. The premiere "Spark of Rebellion" introduces the crew of the Ghost on Lothal as a small underground cell pulling off supply heists against the Empire.
When does Star Wars Rebels Season 4 end?
Star Wars Rebels Season 4 ends in 1 BBY, immediately before Rogue One (0 BBY) and A New Hope. The finale "Family Reunion and Farewell" closes the Lothal storyline and includes an epilogue narrated by Sabine that jumps to 9 ABY — the era of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.
How many seasons is Star Wars Rebels?
Star Wars Rebels has 4 seasons and 75 episodes total: Season 1 (15 episodes), Season 2 (22), Season 3 (22) and Season 4 (16). The four seasons cover roughly four in-universe years, from 5 BBY to 1 BBY.
How many episodes of Star Wars Rebels are there?
There are 75 episodes of Star Wars Rebels across four seasons, counting the feature-length "Spark of Rebellion" premiere as two parts. Watching in release order is also correct chronological order — Rebels has no flashback seasons.
Is Star Wars Rebels canon?
Yes. Star Wars Rebels is fully Lucasfilm canon. Its characters and events are referenced directly in Rogue One, The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, Ahsoka and multiple canon novels, and the Rebels finale is the direct setup for the Ahsoka series.
Does Star Wars Rebels overlap with Andor?
Yes, almost entirely. Andor (5 BBY → 1 BBY) and Rebels (5 BBY → 1 BBY) cover the same five years. Rebels follows the Ghost crew on Lothal; Andor follows the Mon Mothma / Luthen / Yavin political axis. They never cross over directly but share the same galactic moment.
What is the Rebels timeline compared to Clone Wars?
The Clone Wars runs 22–19 BBY, during the Republic’s collapse. Rebels runs 5–1 BBY, fourteen years later, under a fully established Empire. Roughly 14 years separate the Clone Wars finale ("Victory and Death") from the Rebels premiere, which is why Ahsoka, Rex and Maul look and act so differently in Rebels.
Where does Rebels fit relative to Rogue One?
Rebels ends in 1 BBY, less than a year before Rogue One (0 BBY). The Ghost and Chopper both appear in Rogue One’s Yavin scenes, and a Rebels-era call-out for "General Syndulla" is heard over the base intercom — the two stories are back-to-back.
Does Rebels lead into Ahsoka?
Yes, directly. The Rebels finale epilogue (9 ABY) shows Sabine and Ahsoka leaving to search for Ezra Bridger in the unknown regions. The Ahsoka Disney+ series picks up that exact thread in 9 ABY with Sabine, Ahsoka, Hera and Thrawn.
Does Rebels overlap with The Bad Batch?
No. The Bad Batch runs 19–18 BBY (with its finale around 17 BBY), about twelve years before Rebels begins in 5 BBY. The shows connect through shared characters and the early Imperial cloning and occupation storylines rather than overlapping dates.
Does Rebels overlap with Obi-Wan Kenobi?
No, but they’re close. Obi-Wan Kenobi is set in 9 BBY, four years before Rebels Season 1 (5 BBY). Both feature Inquisitors hunting Jedi survivors, and the Grand Inquisitor appears in each — the Kenobi series is effectively the era just before Kanan and Ezra’s story starts.
When does Rebels Season 2 take place?
Rebels Season 2 takes place in 4 BBY, running into early 3 BBY. The season introduces Ahsoka Tano as Fulcrum, Darth Vader, and the Inquisitors Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister, and ends with the Malachor arc.
When does Rebels Season 3 take place?
Rebels Season 3 spans 3 BBY to early 2 BBY. It introduces Grand Admiral Thrawn, elevates Phoenix Squadron into the wider Rebel Alliance, and ends with the Battle of Atollon.
When does Rebels Season 4 take place?
Rebels Season 4 spans 2 BBY to 1 BBY. It covers the liberation of Mandalore, the liberation of Lothal, and Ezra’s final confrontation with Thrawn, plus a 9 ABY epilogue that sets up Ahsoka.
What does BBY and ABY mean in the Rebels timeline?
BBY means "Before the Battle of Yavin" and ABY means "After the Battle of Yavin" — the Death Star’s destruction at the end of A New Hope is year zero. So 5 BBY is five years before A New Hope, and 9 ABY is nine years after it.
What is the Rebels timeline in order of episodes?
Rebels’ episode order matches its chronological order: Season 1 (5 BBY), Season 2 (4–3 BBY), Season 3 (3–2 BBY), Season 4 (2–1 BBY), then the 9 ABY epilogue inside the finale. Watch release order and you are watching the timeline in order.
Where does Rebels fit between the movies?
Between Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY) and Rogue One (0 BBY), sitting in the final five years before A New Hope. Solo (10 BBY) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (9 BBY) both come before Season 1.
Should I watch Rebels before Ahsoka?
Yes — strongly recommended. Ahsoka continues Rebels plot threads directly: the search for Ezra, Thrawn’s return, Sabine’s training and the Lothal liberation. Seasons 3 and 4 are the most essential.
Should I watch Clone Wars before Rebels?
It helps but isn’t required. Rebels stands alone, but The Clone Wars gives essential background for Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex, Maul, the Mandalore civil war and Order 66 — all of which pay off in Rebels Seasons 2–4.
What happens in the Rebels epilogue timeline?
The epilogue is set in 9 ABY, roughly ten years after the finale’s main events. The Empire has fallen, Hera is a New Republic officer, Zeb has reunited Kallus with the Lasat, and Sabine and Ahsoka depart to find Ezra in the unknown regions.
How long is the Rebels timeline in total?
The main series covers about four to five in-universe years (5 BBY to 1 BBY). Including the epilogue, the story spans roughly 14 years, from 5 BBY to 9 ABY.
When does Rebels take place relative to The Mandalorian?
The Mandalorian is set in 9 ABY, the same year as the Rebels epilogue and about ten years after the Rebels finale. Rebels explains the Darksaber’s history and Mandalore’s fall, which drives much of The Mandalorian’s Seasons 2 and 3.
Does Rebels take place before or after Solo?
After. Solo is set around 10 BBY, five years before Rebels Season 1 (5 BBY). Both take place during the Empire’s peak, but Solo is earlier in the Imperial era.
Where does Thrawn fit in the Rebels timeline?
Grand Admiral Thrawn debuts in Rebels Season 3 (3 BBY), commands through Season 4, and vanishes with Ezra into the unknown regions in 1 BBY. He returns in the Ahsoka series in 9 ABY.
When does Ahsoka Tano appear in the Rebels timeline?
Ahsoka first appears (as Fulcrum) at the end of Season 1 in 5 BBY, features throughout Season 2 (4 BBY), duels Vader on Malachor in early 3 BBY, and returns in the Season 4 World Between Worlds arc and the 9 ABY epilogue.
When do the character deaths happen in the Rebels timeline?
Major losses land late: Kanan Jarrus dies during the Lothal fuel depot arc in 1 BBY (Season 4), and Maul dies on Tatooine in 2 BBY (Season 3’s "Twin Suns"). Ezra disappears rather than dies, vanishing with Thrawn in 1 BBY.
Do the Rebels shorts fit the timeline?
Yes. The four Rebels shorts ("The Machine in the Ghost," "Art Attack," "Entanglement," "Property of Ezra Bridger") take place in 5 BBY, just before and around the events of "Spark of Rebellion."
What is the best watch order for Rebels and Andor?
Because both cover 5–1 BBY, the cleanest hybrid order is: Andor Season 1 → Rebels Seasons 1–3 → Andor Season 2 → Rebels Season 4 → Rogue One. Watching each show straight through also works fine — they never intersect on screen.
