Comic-Con isn’t just a convention; it’s a pilgrimage.
Every July, more than 130,000 fans descend on downtown San Diego for the biggest celebration of pop culture in the world. For five days, superheroes outnumber business suits, cosplay becomes an art form, and some of Hollywood’s biggest announcements happen inside Hall H.
This year’s San Diego Comic-Con(July 22-26) promises to feel like a return to form. Marvel Studios is back, DC is bringing Lanterns, Star Trek returns, animation favorites are everywhere, and fans can expect wall-to-wall programming from morning until late at night.
Ahead of the convention, I caught up with David Glanzer, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer for Comic-Con International, who says organizers have expanded evening programming to give attendees more chances to experience panels after the convention floor closes.
“Anybody who’s been to Comic-Con knows the daytime is packed,” Glanzer told me. “We’ve increased our hours to allow some of those programs to go later into the night.”
While Marvel’s return to Hall H is generating plenty of excitement, Glanzer says Comic-Con’s biggest strength has always been the direct connection between studios and fans.
“Comic-Con fans are not very shy about telling people what they like—and what they don’t,” he joked. “That’s incredibly valuable.”
As for what everyone will be talking about? Even Glanzer isn’t willing to guess.
“I’ll know on Monday,” he laughed. “The fans will tell us.”
One panel he is especially curious about is Ramayana, an epic Indian film adaptation starring superstar Yash that could become one of the convention’s breakout surprises.
Beyond the celebrity panels and blockbuster reveals, Comic-Con continues to wrestle with one very real issue: affordability. Hotel prices remain one of the biggest frustrations for attendees, and Glanzer says organizers negotiate multi-year agreements to keep rates as reasonable as possible.
“If attendees can’t afford to come, then we won’t have attendees,” he said. “And if we don’t have attendees, we won’t have studios. It’s a domino effect.”
That concern has fueled years of speculation about whether Comic-Con could eventually leave San Diego. While the convention is under contract through 2027, Glanzer emphasized that organizers aren’t threatening to move—they’re focused on keeping the fan experience intact.
“Talking about leaving San Diego is never a threat,” he said. “There’s always a challenge that we’re confronted with. Luckily, we’ve been able to stay in San Diego with the limited space we have, and we hope we can for the next few years at least.”
After more than five decades, Comic-Con has grown from a gathering of a few hundred comic book fans into one of the world’s largest entertainment events. Yet Glanzer says the best part hasn’t changed.
“Seeing people have a good time… meeting new people, seeing their favorite artists and writers is an experience you have to experience.”
As someone who’s attended Comic-Con with my familyfor years, I couldn’t agree more. Whether you’re camping out for Hall H, hunting for exclusive collectibles, or simply people-watching to admire the incredible cosplay, there’s truly nothing else like it.
You can hear my full conversation with David Glanzer on the latest episode of Entertain Me with Heather Brooker, available now wherever you get your podcasts and on the iHeartRadio app.
