Marvel Studios returns to San Diego Comic-Con as we (hopefully) get a better look at the future of Star Trek
San Diego Comic-Con is a strange creature of an event. What was once a destination for comic fans everywhere morphed into the annual showpiece event for some of the biggest film and television studios in the world. In more recent years, though, Comic-Con has been caught in the middle of a series of industry shifts that have left the event feeling slightly less spectacular than it did during its peak years of popularity. The once-can’t-miss convention sometimes comes and goes with little more than a whimper to mark its passage.
SDCC 2026 feels different. From Marvel’s return to Hall H to a much-anticipated look at the future of Star Trek, this year’s SDCC is set to do what the best SDCC events of previous years have done: set the tone for the year (or even years) ahead. That’s to say nothing of the various live-only events that still make SDCC one of the last great mega conventions. But since there’s a good chance that you’ll be following the event from home this year, here’s a rundown of some of the biggest panels to keep an eye on.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender: Thursday, July 23 (1:00 PM PDT)
The entirety of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender leaking online a few weeks ago was a weird bit of business, but the “good” news is that reactions to the movie itself were generally positive. Those of you who preferred to not pirate the film (or simply never knew the leak happened) will have the chance to get a better, proper look at the next Avataradventure.
Described as a kind of “pre-sequel,” this animated film follows Aang and friends on a grand adventure that will (at least softly) lead into the events of The Legend of Korra. We’ve actually gotten a trailer for this movie already as well as news that it will receive a limited theatrical release for possible awards consideration, so this panel will likely largely consist of cast and crew stories and production information. Still, it should be a good time.
Blade Runner 2099 & The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Friday, July 24 (10:00 AM PDT)
Somewhat surprisingly, Prime Video is running a joint event for two of its biggest upcoming projects. And while there are certainly reasons to look forward to the Rings of Power Season 3 presentation (at least depending on where you stood on the show’s second season),Blade Runner 2099 may actually be the biggest star of this particular show.
Until now, we really haven’t seen anything of Prime Video’s much-hypedBlade Runner miniseries. Odds seem good that we’ll actually get a bit of footage from the show at SDCC 2026, but even a release date and a cast showcase would go a long way to making us feel a little more genuinely excited about this show that is more of an idea at the moment than a fully-formed creative vision.
Lanterns: Friday, July 24 (1:30 PM PDT)
As time goes on, we may find that there are simply advantages and disadvantages to James Gunn’s apparent insistence on diving deep into DC lore through various projects. Based on what we know, though, the Lanterns series is shaping up to be one of the bigger arguments for the advantages of letting such stories exist on their own terms with relatively less grounding.
Lanterns follows Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they investigate a seemingly humble earthbound murder case that may be tied into a much bigger plot. While recent trailers for the show have offered a surprising amount of plot details, there’s still quite a bit about this multiverse (and seemingly multi-timeline) show that looks more like True Detective than a Green Lanterns series that we still don’t know about. Hopefully, this upcoming conference will reveal a little more about the show without giving too much away.
Star Trek Universe: Saturday, July 25 (12:30 PM PDT)
If this isn’t the biggest panel at SDCC 2026, it’s certainly the most intriguing. Star Trek is in a weird place at the moment, to say the least. Strange New Worlds is wrapping up, and a new regime presides over the future of a franchise that doesn’t seem to have much of a definitive future at the moment outside of a few rumors and wrapping up some existing projects.
This panel will almost certainly contribute to the ongoing celebration of Star Trek’s 60th anniversary, but all eyes will really be on whether or not we get confirmation of any additional Star Trek movies or TV series that are in the works. Alternatively, it could be interesting to see how the cast of the few lingering Star Trek projects deal with discussing the legacy of a franchise (and their own projects) that appears to largely be on hold for the first time in a long time. It’s the chaos of the thing that makes it so fascinating.
Apple TV Showcase: Saturday, July 25 (2:00 PM PDT)
Apple TV has quickly turned into the destination for some of the best sci-fi, fantasy, and horror shows in quite some time. So their presence at SDCC this year is far less of a “happy to be invited” affair and closer to a genuine look into the present and future of some of the more exciting genre series out there at the moment.
Specifically, Apple TV is expected to feature the following shows at SDCC 2026:
- Silo
- Dark Matter
- Widow’s Bay
On paper, Apple TV will basically just be doing a victory lap for their recent genre hits. However, there is some hope that they will also at least tease a few of their upcoming series. And while it’s way too early to hope for a preview of any of the upcoming Brandon Sanderson series, a Neuromancerteaser or trailer is certainly not off the table.
Marvel Studios: Saturday, July 25 (5:30 PM PDT)
If SDCC 2026 feels a touch thin this year on Saturday in terms of major presentations, it’s probably because Marvel Studios has returned to Hall H and everyone else has rightfully recognized that it’s going to be pretty difficult to steal their thunder this year.
In essence, this is seemingly the Avengers: Doomsday panel with just a touch of Spider-Man: Brand New Day thrown in. The Doomsday of it all alone is enough to get people buzzing, as we can fully expect to see more footage, more cast reveals, and more cryptic teasers of the movie that may make or break the MCU (while still making $1 billion regardless). However, given that Marvel just released a surprise trailer for Doomsday ahead of SDCC 2026, you certainly can’t rule out the possibility that this panel will include a better look at Marvel’s post-Doomsday plans.
Other Panels of Note:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Thursday, July 23 (11 AM PDT)
Hope (Neon): Thursday, July 23 (4:30 PM PDT)
The Vampire Lestat: Friday, July 24 (12:30 PM PDT)
The 20th Anniversary of Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth: Friday, July 24 (5:15 PM PDT)
Carrie: Saturday, July 25 (4:45 PM PDT)
Matthew Byrd
Matthew Byrd is the News Editor of Reactor. He has been featured in various publications and has written numerous works of fiction, but he mostly likes talking about his dog and bad movies. You can find him on Bluesky at @mbyrd.bsky.social.
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