The kinematics of mountain building and extensional collapse in the Betic-Rif orogen (southern Spain and northern Morocco) are poorly constrained. Our approach to this problem is a combination of 3D microstructural analysis of garnet porphyroblasts using X-ray tomography, Sm-Nd dating of the same crystals and a comprehensive review of structural field data. Several changes in the direction of crustal shortening are inferred from different sets of Foliation Inflexion/Intersection Axes (FIA) defined by inclusion trails preserved within garnet-, staurolite- and plagioclase-porphyroblasts of the Alpujarride-Sebtide- and Nevado-Filabride complexes. The earliest FIAs in both complexes are Late-Eocene (ca. 35Ma) and witness NNE-SSW compression and subduction of African below Iberia. A younger set of FIAs dated 27-22Ma record a change to NW-SE compression related to NW-directed subduction of Adria beneath Iberia. During subsequent extensional collapse of the Alborán domain, a third set of NNW-SSE trending FIAs formed related to westward motion of the Alborán domain relative to the Iberian and Maghrebian margins. After exhumation of the Alpujarride-Sebtides around 18Ma, garnet growth still continued in the Nevado-Filabride complex until the Serravallian (12.5Ma) and still produced 2 suborthogonal FIAs reflecting the dynamic interference of a WSW moving Alborán Domain and a NNW moving African plate.