The 'Avatar' Timeline After 'Aang: The Last Airbender', Explained
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026) is a major addition to the Avatar lore, filling in some crucial gaps between the original series and the sequel show. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2004) focused on Aang and his friends, a band of freedom fighters working to undo the expansion of the Fire Nation. The sequel show Avatar: The Legend of Korra (2012) is set 70 years after the events of that show and explores the adventures of Aang’s successor in the Avatar cycle. Both shows are great fantasy series, albeit with very different technological and cultural touches separating their periods.
Avatar Aang revisits the title character and his friends a decade or so after the original show, following their mission to rewrite the world and bring back the Air Nomads. Here’s everything you need to know about the Avatar timeline, from the fallout of Avatar Aang to what we know about the next show, Avatar: The Seven Havens (2026).
The Years Following 'Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender'
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender serves as the bridge between The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, giving audiences a better idea of what happened following the events of the first show and how they shaped much of the world in the latter. Republic City is formally established in The Last Airbender as a bastion for all nations, where everyone can come together in harmony. There, Aang and Katara settle down on Airbender Island and start a family. While their first son, Bumi, is born a non-bender and their daughter, Kya, is a waterbender, their youngest son, Tenzin, inherits his father’s airbending abilities and keeps that tradition alive.
Toph finally moves to Republic City and becomes the chief of the police force, giving birth to two daughters, Lin and Suyin, before eventually retiring and departing for the swamps of the Earth Kingdom. Lin succeeds her mother in her position, while Suyin leaves Republic City and founds the metalbending city of Zaofu. Sokka remains in the city himself, although his eventual fate has yet to be revealed, save that he passed away before the events of the sequel series. Meanwhile, Zuko returns to the Fire Nation and rules over the empire for a time, eventually starting his own family.
The heroes of the show have many unseen adventures, with crime bosses like Yakone (a bloodbender) coming up against the heroes as crime lords in Republic City. Aang eventually passes away at age 66, due in part to his time in the iceberg finally catching up to him, leading to the birth of his successor in the Avatar line, Korra. In the 17 years that passed before Legend of Korra, the Air Acolytes have become a foundational force traveling the world, carrying on the teachings of the Air Nomads long past their demise.
Tenzin and his wife Pema have three children of their own, all of whom prove to be Air Benders. Zuko steps away from the throne, leaving it to his daughter, Izumi, to rule (and his grandson, Iroh, to command the Fire Nation army). By the events of Legend of Korra, the world reaches a peaceful, if slightly tumultuous, period, defined by cruel rulers like the Earth Queen, renegade factions like the Red Lotus, and resentful movements like the Equalists.
The Age Of Korra
The Legend of Korra follows the growth of Aang’s successor as she takes on the mantle of the Avatar. Working with the generation that came between her and Aang, as well as the last survivors of Aang’s period like the aged Katara, Toph, and Zuko, Korra endures several challenges and threats. Although her connection to the other Avatars was broken during her battle with the dark spirit Vaatu, Korra survives multiple attempts on her life and is able to save the world from being taken over by forces like the Earth Empire that sprang up after the fall of the Earth Queen. She also develops several close friendships, such as with pro-bending brothers Mako and Bolin, as well as her eventual love interest, Asami.
After four seasons, Korra’s adventures (like Aang’s before her) are continued in comic tie-ins that delve further into the aftermath of the spirit realm being reopened and a new generation of Airbenders being empowered as a result. These stories even establish potential routes of redemption for characters like Kuvira, whose efforts to lead the Earth Empire to influence and power cause serious destruction around the world. By the end of those stories, though, the world of Avatar seems to be on a good path for a bright future. Alas, teasers for Avatar: The Seven Havens have suggested that the future of the world is a much grimmer place.
How 'The Seven Havens' Propels Avatar Forward
The first formal trailer for Avatar: The Seven Havens teases that decades after the end of Legend of Korra, a massive cataclysm overtook much of the world. Most of the planet had developed cities that looked similar to Republic City in terms of scale and technology, and the cities had even advanced to the point where highways were connecting them. However, an aged Korra appears in The Seven Havens trailer, seemingly playing a part in the apparent destruction of the world. Most of the land was reduced to ruin by this calamity, with the Avatar blamed by many of the survivors for her part in the collapse of the world.
In the years since, humanity has survived primarily by making their way to the titular Seven Havens, communities that have done their best to rebuild society to the best of their abilities. While the exact circumstances of the calamity have yet to be revealed, the trailer hints that it may have something to do with the return of Vaatu and that he may have found a way to corrupt an older Korra.
It’s also unclear just how much time has passed and whether or not the new Avatar is the direct successor; an unidentified side character suggests in the trailer that generations have passed since the catastrophe, potentially complicating the timeline further. However, it could also open the door to some more unseen stories for the Avatar franchise to explore down the line.
