Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set four years after Spider-Man: No Way Home. Doctor Stephen Strange’s spell has caused the world to forget that Peter Parker exists, and Peter chooses not to restore his relationships with MJ and Ned.
During those four years, Peter works alone as Spider-Man and protects New York City anonymously. The time jump explains why Peter is more adult, more isolated, and fully devoted to crime-fighting when the film begins.
This is a story-time gap, not the number of years between the films’ theatrical releases. No Way Home was released in 2021, while Brand New Day was released in 2026. The film’s plot therefore uses a four-year interval within the MCU narrative.