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The 2026 San Diego Comic-Con International will take place July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding areas of downtown San Diego, with a special preview night July 22. More than 135,000 attendees are expected at the annual pop culture celebration.
Highlights and promotions from studios, streamers and home entertainment companies include:
‘Star Trek’ 60th Anniversary
Paramount+ and CBS Studios are bringing several “Star Trek” fan experiences to San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the franchise.
The “Star Trek Universe” panel will run from 12: 30 to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, July 25 in Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center, featuring a celebration of the franchise’s anniversary and a look at the fourth season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” which premieres July 23.
“Strange New Worlds” cast members Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Naducers Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers and Alex Kurtzman
To mark the 60th anniversary of “Star Trek,” the panel will include a special intro from Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry and a discussion from cast members spanning the franchise, including Michael Dorn, Robert Picardo, Connor Trinneer, Cirroc Lofton, Doug Jones, Michelle Hurd, Jerry O’Connell, Christina Chong, Karim Diané and George Takei.
A fan screening for the first two episodes of “Strange New Worlds” season four, offering fans a glimpse of the second episode days before it streams, will take place Friday, July 24, at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the screening beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but RSVPs are required online.
In addition, fans with a Comic-Con badge can visit the Paramount+ booth (#3529) on the San Diego Convention Center show floor, featuring an array of arcade-style games themed to select Paramount+ Originals, including a “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” bridge command memory game.
The 60th anniversary celebration also extends to the design of this year’s Comic-Con badge, which will be adorned with an image of the U.S.S. Enterprise from “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” flying over the San Diego Convention Center. The graphic will also be available in the official SDCC digital souvenir book and also featured on a limited edition T-shirt available for purchase exclusively at the official Comic-Con merch shop located in the Marriott adjacent to the Convention Center.
Additional “Star Trek”-related Comic-Con events include:
- “Star Trek: The Collector Frontier” Panel — Paramount Products & Experiences, the Lego Group andMagic: The Gathering celebrate the franchise with exclusive merchandise reveals and a discussion with the toy creators who bring these collaborations to life. Fans can also win prizes. The panel takes place Thursday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 5AB.
- “Star Trek: Bodily Built” — The Lego Group and Magic: The Gatheringunite for a unique “Star Trek” photo op at the Marriott Marquis, 333 W. Harbor Dr., open July 23-26.
- “Star Trek Fleet Command” — 60 Years of “Star Trek” Archives Experience — Star TrekFleet Command,the mobile game from Scopely, will invite fans aboard an immersive archive experience. The off-site activation at The Sinclair, 643 G St., commemorates six decades of Star Trekthrough the lens of the game, featuring official archive pieces, a Holodeck VR experience, themed photo moments, exclusive swag, interactive claw machines with Star Trekprizes, and a souvenir photo station where guests can choose their faction and take home a personalized Star Trek-themed card. The exhibit runs July 24-26. Friday evening will feature a special invite-only event for the Star Trek Fleet Commandcommunity.
Paramount+: The Lodge
The Paramount+ streaming service is set to return to San Diego Comic-Con in 2026 with its popular The Lodge fan attraction.
Set at the Happy Does Bar, 340 Fifth Avenue in the downtown Gaslamp Quarter, and crafted by 15|40 Productions, The Lodge offers convention attendees a chance to experience many of their favorite Paramount+ shows with games, exclusive experiences, interactive photo ops, themed food and drinks, and custom swag such as laser-engraved luggage tags and custom-patched pennants.
This year’s showcase includes pop-up activations themed to “South Park,” “Dutton Ranch,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (which premieres its fourth season July 23), “Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender” (premiering July 25) and the UFC.
Fans will be able to explore the bar from “Strange New Worlds,” wander the Republic City Marketplace from “Avatar Aang,” and head to South Park for laughs. There will also be a celebration of the 60th anniversary of “Star Trek.”
No Comic-Con badge is required for entry but reservations must be made in advance online. Each session lasts 50 minutes.
Nickelodeon Powers Up
Nickelodeon is delivering the ultimate celebration of kid-ness for fans of all ages at Comic-Con with the “Fun-ergy Factory” on the convention center floor, and “Fun Flows Here,” a larger-than-life outdoor activation at The New Children’s Museum Park.
Nickelodeon is inviting fans inside its “Fun-ergy Factory” at booth #4113, an 1,800-square-foot display where kids of all ages power the experience through interactive challenges, immersive moments and must-share photo opportunities inspired by Nickelodeon’s beloved franchises, including “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
New this year, Nickelodeon expands beyond the convention center with “Fun Flows Here,” a larger-than-life outdoor activation designed to supercharge kid energy and slime on an even bigger scale through a partnership with The New Children’s Museum. Free to the public, this multi-activity destination is built for nonstop play and kid-at-heart nostalgia, with the opportunity of receiving Nickelodeon’s highest honor: getting slimed. “Fun Flows Here” is set up at The New Children’s Museum Park, 200 W. Island Ave.
HBO Max: ‘Lanterns,’ ‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe,’ ‘House of the Dragon’
HBO Max is returning to San Diego Comic-Con with a lineup of experiential activations, screenings and talent panels celebrating new and returning series, including “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” from Warner Bros. Television (debuts July 23), and “Lanterns” from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television (debuts Aug. 16).
HBO original series “House of the Dragon” will showcase a special advance screening of episode six of the third season.
Beginning July 23, Max will debut an interactive activation set inside Stuart’s “The Comic Center of Pasadena” at Sparks Gallery, 530 Sixth Ave., San Diego, showcasing the comic shop viewers know from “The Big Bang Theory.” The experience unfolds as a narrative-driven journey through multiple realities, guiding visitors through character-driven decisions that offer a deeper introduction to the new series’ humor, heart, and “multiversal”chaos. The activation runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 23-25, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26.
The “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” panel will take place July 23 from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center. Moderated by Felicia Day, the event will feature an advance screening of the Max Original spinoff, followed by a panel with surprises and featuring creators Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady, plus stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn.
Earlier in the day, the cast and creators will hit DC’s booth (#4544) for a signing session from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
HBO Max will also host an immersive experience for “Lanterns” through an interactive “Lanterns Training Headquarters” that puts convention-goers through hands‑on challenges, offering an engaging first look at the upcoming debut season. The activation is located at 808 J Street, San Diego, and runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 23, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 24-25.
Sign-ups for the “Lanterns Training Headquarters” activation will open July 13 at 9 a.m. PT at hbomax.com/lanternstraininghq. Reservations are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. All guests must be 18 or older to attend. Follow @greenlantern on social media for more information and sign-up details.
HBO Max will also partner with local businesses in the Gaslamp district for surprise swag giveaways in addition to a “Lanterns Recharge Station” for fans to cool off and charge their phones using “Lantern Batteries.”
On July 24, Max will host the “Lanterns” panel in Hall H from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Cast members Kyle Chandler (Hal Jordan) and Aaron Pierre (John Stewart), Garret Dillahunt (William Macon) and Poorna Jagannathan (Zoe) join co-creators Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King for an exclusive first look with never‑before‑seen clips and behind‑the‑scenes insights.
The “House of the Dragon” season three fan screening will take place July 25 from 10 to 11:15 p.m. in Room 6DE of the San Diego Convention Center, following an introduction from co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal.
Apple TV Hall H Debut
Apple TV will bring a massive lineup of original films and series for its first Hall H panel at this year’s Comic-Con from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 25. Josh Horowitz will moderate the panel featuring previews and discussions of Matchbox: The Movie, “Dark Matter,” Mayday, “Silo” and “Widow’s Bay.”
Inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, Matchbox: The Movie is an action-packed, globetrotting adventure about a group of friends since childhood who have their lives upended when undercover CIA agent Sean (John Cena), their long-absent former leader, returns to their small town and unwittingly gets them embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world. Alongside Cena, the film stars Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, Arturo Castro, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Danai Gurira and Golshifteh Faranhani. Matchbox: The Movie premieres on Apple TV Oct. 9. Confirmed panelists include John Cena, Jessica Biel, Arturo Castro, Sam Richardson and Teyonah Parris.
In Emmy nominee “Widow’s Bay,” something lurks beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no Wi-Fi, spotty cellular reception and he must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true start happening again. The cast also includes Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Kevin Carroll, Dale Dickey, K Callan and Jeff Hiller. Season one of “Widow’s Bay” is available to watch now on Apple TV. Panelists will be announced.
Based on the sci-fi novel of the same name celebrating its 10th anniversary, “Dark Matter” is a story about the road not taken. In season one, the series followed Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a physicist, professor and family man who — one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago — is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. Season two picks up with the Dessens as they settle into a quiet life in a world that finally seems safe until the unimaginable forces them to run once again. As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s (Jennifer Connelly) growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, threatening to tear their fragile stability apart. Elsewhere, Amanda (Alice Braga) and Ryan (Jimmi Simpson) join forces in a desperate attempt to find their way home. With Blair (Amanda Brugel) determined to stop him, while Leighton (Dayo Okeniyi) relentlessly chases his grand vision of creating a perfect world. Season two will launch Friday, Aug. 28, with episodes bowing weekly through Oct. 30. Confirmed panelists include Blake Crouch, Matt Tolmach, Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly and Dayo Okeniyi.
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh team up in Mayday, a genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy that flips the spy thriller on its head. When hotshot U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly (Reynolds) is sent on a top-secret mission into Russian territory at the height of the Cold War, the operation implodes, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines. Discovered by Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent with a penchant for American culture, Troy thinks he’s toast — but could an unlikely alliance between the two lead to Troy’s rescue and a bond neither saw coming? Alongside Reynolds and Branagh, the ensemble cast includes Marcin Dorocinski, Maria Bakalova, David Morse and more. Mayday premieres on Apple TV Sept. 4. Confirmed panelists include directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
Based on Hugh Howey’s best-selling trilogy, season three of “Silo” reveals an origin story set centuries earlier, while continuing the saga of a dystopian society of 10,000 people living underground under mysterious circumstances. In the present, Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) survives her forced “cleaning” but returns with memory loss as the silo recovers from rebellion and faces a dangerous new threat. Meanwhile, in the “Before Times,” journalist Helen Drew (Jessica Henwick) and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman) uncover a conspiracy that pulls them into a chain of events with catastrophic, irreversible consequences. The ensemble cast includes Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Rick Gomez, Billy Postlethwaite, and Clare Perkins. Joining the cast for season three alongside Zukerman and Henwick, are Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney, and Matt Craven, with Colin Hanks set to recur, and Steve Zahn also set to return. Season three of “Silo” runs through Friday, Sept. 4. Confirmed panelists include Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Ashley Zukerman, Jessica Henwick, Alexandria Riley and executive producer Graham Yost.
In addition to the Hall H panel, fans will also be able to attend a special sneak preview screening of the first episode of the new season of “Dark Matter,” and take an immersive step into the underground world of “Silo” in a multi-sensory installation that will transport visitors into the silo itself to experience the tension, intrigue, and atmosphere that has captivated audiences worldwide.
The “Dark Matter” preview takes place from 10 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 24, in room 6DE of the convention center. Participating guests include star and executive producer Joel Edgerton; cast member Dayo Okeniyi; author of the novel, creator, and executive producer Blake Crouch; writer and executive producer Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry; and executive producer Matt Tolmach.
The Silo Experience runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday at The Lot @ 1st & J, 450 2nd Ave. in downtown San Diego. The activation is free and open to the public; no Comic-Con badge required.
AMC Global Media Panels and Fan Screenings
AMC Global Media returns to Comic-Con with a star-studded lineup of panels, a fan screening event, exclusive news and more.
The cast and executive producers of “The Walking Dead: Dead City” celebrate the upcoming season with a Hall H panel Friday, July 24, from 11: 45 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m., followed later that evening by an advance screening of the season premiere for fans at The Loft at Petco Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., to be introduced by the cast and producers.
The “Dead City” Hall H panel will include stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Aimee Garcia, Raúl Castillo and executive producers Seth Hoffman and Scott Gimple, moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Dalton Ross.
In season three, premiering Sunday, July 26 on AMC and AMC+, Maggie (Cohan) and Negan (Morgan) finally put aside their differences to build the first thriving community in Manhattan since the apocalypse, but when chaos in the city begins to arise, they are forced to question: have they learned from their old wounds or will their dark past spell doom for the entire city?
“The Vampire Lestat” descends on Hall H for the first time Friday, July 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. with highlights from The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live music performance followed by a panel with the cast and executive producers discussing the season. The Vampire Lestat cast and producers, including Jacob Anderson (“Louis du Pointe du Lac”), Assad Zaman (“Armand”) and Eric Bogosian (“Daniel Molloy”), Rolin Jones (creator and showrunner), Mark Johnson (executive producer) and Hannah Moscovitch (executive producer) take the stage for a panel moderated by Rotten Tomatoes’ Jacqueline Coley. This season, Lestat (Sam Reid) goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by “muses” from his wild and rebellious past. As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population.
Comic-Con will give convention-goers a first look at “YAGA,” the new mystery series on AMC+, with a panel Saturday, July 25, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton Bayfront. Series cast members Noah Reid, Clark Backo and Carrie-Anne Moss are joined by showrunner and executive producer Kat Sandler for a panel discussion moderated by TV Guide Magazineand TV Insider’s Damian Holbrook that will feature a sneak preview. Based on the play by Sandler, YAGA reimagines the Slavic folk tale of the Baba Yaga witch, as a contemporary mystery thriller. It follows Rapp (Reid), a private investigator who arrives in a small coastal town to investigate the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery, Henry Park (Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry). Rapp finds himself at odds with an apprehensive local detective, Carson (Backo); a charismatic university professor, Katherine (Moss) and a labyrinth of enigmatic suspects, secret lives and ancient magic. YAGA is an original series from Canadian streamer Crave, produced by Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures in association with Bell Media. YAGA is distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus, a Bell Media company.
AMC Global Media and Shudder will also be represented on other Comic-Con International panels, including the Bold Voice of Contemporary Horror 10th Anniversary panel and First in Fright with Fangoria panel.
The Bold Voice of Contemporary Horror 10th Anniversary panel takes place Friday, July 24, from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. in room 6A of the convention center. Deborah Ann Woll, star of Shudder’s upcoming film The Cycle and Dan Stevens, star of AMC’s “The Terror: Devil in Silver,” join some of the most knowledgeable and influential voices in horror today to discuss the state of indie and studio horror media, and give a sneak peek at the best to come this year going bigger and bolder for their tenth anniversary. Featuring exclusive footage from future releases and stand out festival titles and a lively discussion, moderated by Overlook Film Festival co-founder and director of film programming, Michael Lerman, with Zachary Wigon (director, Victorian Psycho), Dave Boyle (SXSW Audience Award Winner Never After Dark) and more.
The First in Fright with Fangoriapanel takes place Friday, July 24, from 8 to 9 p.m. in room 23ABC of the convention center. Since 1979, Fangoria has been the definitive blood-spattered bible for horror fans, chronicling the genre across print, film, and digital media. Join Fango and a few very special guests, including Devon Sawa (Shudder’s Hell Motel: Murder at Red Mountain), for a trip through the brand’s house of horrors, complete with exclusive sneak peeks, scoops, and surprises surrounding this year’s Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, which will stream exclusively on Shudder on Sunday, Oct. 25.
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Turns 20
The Academy Award-winning film Pan’s Labyrinth from director Guillermo del Toro is celebrating its 20th anniversary at Comic-Con.
The Cineverse: Return of a Masterpiece — The 20th Anniversary of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth panel takes place Friday, July 24, from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. in Hall H. Del Toro will be on hand with actors Doug Jones and Ivana Baquero to discuss the film, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, a 3D 4K scene preview, and discussions about the film’s legacy. Cineverse is re-releasing the film theatrically Oct. 9.
Fans can participate in a Pan’s Labyrinthx Comic-Con 2026 Fetch Quest from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Begin the game by picking up a ticket at the Toynami booth (#3229), which offers a special surprise in celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, and the Insights Edition booth (#2129), which has two official books celebrating the power and legacy of the dark fantasy. Every player who completes the quest will receive a limited-edition Pan’s Labyrinth poster. The first 50 players to complete the quest will receive access to a private poster signing with Guillermo del Toro on Saturday, July 25.
Air Bud Returns
Ahead of Cineverse’s release of Air Bud Returns on Jan. 22, 2027, Buddy himself will be attending San Diego Comic-Con, alongside creator Robert Vince. Fans can expect a panel as well as an autograph session and photo opportunity with the pair.
The Air Bud Returns panel will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 26, in Room 6BCF of the San Diego Convention Center. The next chapter in the “Air Bud” franchise is not a sequel or remake, but an all-new story reimagined by writer, director and franchise creator Robert Vince. Air Bud Returns is set in the original town of Fernfield, “where anything is possible.”
The autograph session and photo opportunity with Vince and Buddy will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday in the Sails Pavilion.
Alliance to Showcase ‘Star Wars’-Inspired Collectibles
Alliance Entertainment Holding Corp., a distributor and fulfillment partner to the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry, has announced that Handmade by Robots will showcase exclusive “Star Wars”-inspired figures through its first dedicated booth presence in the Lucasfilm Pavilion (booth No. 2913-E) at the San Diego Convention Center.
Alliance will also showcase Alliance Authentic, its new platform for authentic, certified, encapsulated, and individually numbered collectibles. Designed to preserve entertainment history through trusted provenance and long-term stewardship, Alliance Authentic provides collectors with a premium solution for owning and protecting culturally significant collectibles, including rare vinyl soundtrack LPs and other highly sought-after entertainment memorabilia.
Crafted in Handmade by Robots’ signature “knit-look” aesthetic, each figure looks as though it’s been hand-stitched yet is precision-molded from high-quality vinyl for lasting display.
Since the acquisition of Handmade by Robots in December 2024, Alliance has rapidly expanded the brand’s retail footprint and licensing pipeline. Major new figure releases slated for the second half of 2026 include characters from “Star Wars,” Marvel, Mattel, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” Jason Universe and more.
