Comic-Con 2026: Full Schedule

10:00am PDT

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Women in Comics Collective International (WinC for short, pronounced "wink") is an artistic and informative initiative. It serves to highlight the merit and craftwork of marginalized voices, especially those of Women and Queer Folx of color, who work in the comics and multimedia industry. They are also the 2024 recipients of the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. Created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Creator Symposium is an ongoing panel discussion series designed to explore the ways in which creatives working in comics can continue to grow and thrive in an ever-changing industry. Panelists include Shawnee Gibbs and Shawnelle Gibbs (Ghost Roast, writers), Joe Illidge (Noir Is the New Black Season 2, writer), Amy Linsamouth (Omens, writer), Morgan Hampton (Green Lantern Corps), Alice Meichi Li (Rebel Moon, cover artist), and Asia Simone (Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, cover artist). Moderated by Regine L. Sawyer (WinC, founder).

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 23ABC

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, BIPOC, Comics, Education, Writers & Writing

10:00am PDT

They Can Buy Themselves Flowers

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Room 28DE

When fantastic and terrifying things happen, the protagonists of these books jump directly into the fray. Terry J. Benton-Walker (The Drakon King), Kamilah Cole (An Arcane Inheritance), Ayana Gray (I, Medusa), Katee Robert (The Tarot Trials), and Scarlett St. Clair (Terror at the Gates) discuss writing characters who take destiny into their own hands. Moderated by Jenni Marchisotto (Mysterious Galaxy).

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 28DE

1: Programs, BIPOC, Books, LGBTQIA+, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Writers & Writing

11:00am PDT

Comadres y Comics Podcast: A Decade of Comics and Community

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library

Kristen Parraz (Santa Monica Comics Co.; co-host), Sara Bazan (co-host), and Jennifer Lopez (co-host) discuss the impact of their podcast, the growth of Latinx voices in comics, and how community-driven media has shaped industry conversation and opportunity. Henry Barajas (Death to Pachuco) and Omar Morales (Major Thomas) join the conversation.

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library

1: Programs, Anniversaries, BIPOC, Comics, Library Programs, Podcasts

11:00am PDT

Spotlight on Denys Cowan

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Room 32AB

Eisner Award–winning creator Denys Cowan discusses artistic evolution, creative reinvention, and the power of collaboration. From helping lead the latest evolution of Milestone Media as its iconic characters expand within the broader DC Universe to developing film, television, and animation projects, Cowan has never allowed himself to be confined to a single lane. Cowan will discuss his collaborations with Charlamagne tha God on Illuminati, the upcoming BeastMode graphic novel with Marshawn Lynch, and his return to monthly comics as the artist of Nightwing. Along the way, he'll share stories from a groundbreaking career that continues to shape comics and popular culture.

Special Guests

Denys Cowan

Comic-Con Special Guest

Denys Cowan’s acclaimed work as the artist on The Question, Detective Comics, Black Panther, Deathlok, and Nightwing in the 1980s established him as one of comics’ most distinctive storytellers. In 1993 he helped launch Milestone Media, the revolutionary company that changed the face of comics by centering diverse voices and perspectives. Beyond comics, Cowan served as executive producer of the... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 32AB

1: Programs, Animation, Art and Illustration, BIPOC, Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances, Comics, Movies, Superheroes, Television

11:30am PDT

Comics Arts Conference Session #2: How Comics Work

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT

Room 26AB

This session explores how comics construct meaning through serial storytelling, reinterpretation, race, and political memory. Paul Young (Dartmouth College) shows how early Hulk comics helped shape Marvel's serialized universe-building through cyclical transformation narratives and crossovers. Francisco Sáez de Adana (University of Alcalá) reinterprets Vitaliti's contemporary artistic reworking of El Eternauta, focusing on how a classic comic work can be reinterpreted to extract meanings that underlie the original as well as to build new ones. Johnathan Flowers (California State University, Northridge) investigates the act of racebending as a form of counter-narrative that exposes systemic racism and white supremacy embedded in superhero culture and fandom. Daniel Ambord considers how comics confront misinformation and "toxic nostalgia," proposing an anti-fascist interpretive framework for engaging classic characters and stories.

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
Room 26AB

1: Programs, BIPOC, Comics, Comics Arts Conference, Education, International, Superheroes

12:00pm PDT

From Sketch to Stunt: Designing Costumes That Survive the Action

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Room 32AB

Superhero landings, wire fights, explosions—costumes don't just look good; they have to perform. ISBCD costume designers Gersha Phillips (Captain America), Trayce Gigi Field (Spider-Noir), Charlese Antoinette (Children of Blood and Bone), Antoinette Messam (The Bluff), Dominique Dawson (HIM), Tiffany Hasbourne (Shadow Force), and Jennifer Bryan (The Acolyte) break down how garments are engineered for extreme action, from stretch fabrics and hidden reinforcements to quick-change duplicates and stunt doubles. The panel shares stories of costumes that ripped, burned, or had to be rebuilt overnight, and how teams saved the day.

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 32AB

1: Programs, Action/Adventure, BIPOC, Costuming, Fandom, Historical, Horror and Suspense, International, Movies, Mysteries & Crime Dramas, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television

12:00pm PDT

Light Before Dawn: The Making of a Global Fantasy Streaming Series

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Room 28DE

As demand grows for independent, creator-driven storytelling, new models of global collaboration are emerging. Sohaib Awan (creator of IDW Publishing's Jinnrise) leads a discussion with author Sarah Mughal Rana (Dawn of the Firebird), director Usman Riaz (The Glassworker), and Mustafa Davis (Mustafa Davis Studios) on developing Light Before Dawn, a fantasy live-action prequel series to Dawn of the Firebird. The panel shares how the international team is developing the project and how creators can produce ambitious multimedia while retaining ownership of their work.

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 28DE

1: Programs, BIPOC, Historical, International, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Television

12:30pm PDT

Creators Assemble: Adapting and Pitching Your Game for TV and Film

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT

Room 10

Translating your story across media can be tricky, which is why so many game-to-film adaptations feel poorly conceived. But when done well, you get The Expanse, Fallout, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and countless others. But how do you do it without a massive IP everybody's heard of? How do you determine your lead characters? Do you need a pitch deck? A completed script? Six seasons of story arcs? This panel of film industry professionals explores what studios generally look for, how meetings get set up, and what pitfalls to avoid when adapting a game for the screen. Ryan Omega (TaskmasterLA, Darkness Emergent), Lauren Cipollo (Parallax, Dark and Zarus), Matt Conant (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Jenni Powell (Emmy Award–winning producer, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries), and moderator Joe Barrette (Creators Assemble president) participate.

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, BIPOC, Education, Fandom, Games, Television, TTRPG, Writers & Writing

1:00pm PDT

The Asian Corner: LeUyen Pham Talks Comics and Kids' Books with Gene Luen Yang

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Room 29AB

Eisner Award winner and Caldecott Honor winner LeUyen Pham (Lunar New Year Love Story) has created more than a hundred books in her career, but she is still feeling like a newbie in the world of graphic novels. Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) talks with LeUyen about making comics, the difference between kids' books and comics, and how their Asian history fits into the stories they tell. Q&A to follow.

Special Guests

LeUyen Pham

Comic-Con Special Guest

LeUyen Pham is the artist of over 120 books for adults and children. Her graphic novels include the multi-Eisner Award–winning Lunar New Year Love Story with Gene Yang, the Eisner Award–nominated Templar, and the bestselling Friends series with Shannon Hale. She is the recipient of several awards, including the Caldecott Honor, The Society of Illustrator’s Bronze Medal, and the Fay B. Kaigler Southern Miss Medallion. She is the creator of the Vampirina book series, which has been... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 29AB

1: Programs, BIPOC, Books, Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances, Comics, Education, Kids, Writers & Writing

1:30pm PDT

Main Character Energy: Black Female Storytellers

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Room 10

Moderated by Amanda Miller and Amber Miller (co-founders, Fangirl Central), this panel spotlights Black female storytellers from all areas of the industry who are shaping narratives across genres and platforms. ShaMya Williams (producer, Starting 5), Christian Streaty (writer, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures), Ryan Oakley (illustrator, Fortnite), Kai Grayson (producer, Roles for Initiative LA), Chelyse Abrams (editor, Michael), and Angela Entzminger (screenwriter, My Adventures with Superman) discuss their creative journeys, the challenges of forging new paths, and the power of fandom in building community and identity. One lucky audience member will have the opportunity to win a commissioned 5x7 bust illustration.

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Animation, Art and Illustration, BIPOC, Comics, Fandom, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television, Writers & Writing

4:00pm PDT

Transgender and Nonbinary Creators Stay Relevant and Proud

Thursday July 23, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Room 9

Trans and nonbinary people have faced political setbacks as hard-won rights are challenged across the country. However, trans creators are still speaking up, sharing their experiences, and making a difference in the fight for equality. How can trans and nonbinary artists use their work to support the community? How can trans stories reach broader audiences? What can trans and nonbinary creators bring that popular culture desperately needs? Prism Comics, moderator Tara Madison Avery (We're Still Here, Stacked Deck Press), and panelists Sonya Saturday (The Greatest Thing You've Ever Seen in Your Life, J.K. Rowling and the Ungrateful Fans), Simon Jane Robrock (Blue Hare Comix, MADE U LOOK), Margeaux Pepoy (The Adventures of Simone & Ajax, Betty & Veronica), Mac Maclean (Opting Out, Death Saves, 3rd Edition), Jenny Blake Isabella (Black Lightning, Ghost Rider), Yas Modares Ghasiri (They Said They Said, Their Story: The In-Between), and Liam Coballes (Shifter, The Out Side) discuss these and other questions.

Thursday July 23, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Anime & Manga, BIPOC, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, LGBTQIA+

4:30pm PDT

NEON's Sci-Fi-Action Epic: HOPE

Thursday July 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT

Ballroom 20

From visionary South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin (The Wailing, The Chaser) comes Hope, one of the most talked-about films from this year's Cannes Film Festival. In the remote village of Hope Harbor, a mysterious creature has wreaked havoc on the community. Police and local hunters set out to track the beast, only to find themselves hunted instead. But not all is as it seems. As panic spreads and reality unravels, the village faces something far beyond imagination. "Pure, unfiltered blockbuster adrenaline" (Justin Chang, The New Yorker), the film is a bold, action-packed spectacle infused with Na Hong-jin's signature mix of genre-blending suspense and dark humor. Following a special introduction by Korean breakout star Hoyeon (Squid Game), Na Hong-jin takes part in an in-depth conversation and presents exclusive footage from Hope that has not been shown anywhere else.

Thursday July 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Ballroom 20

1: Programs, Action/Adventure, BIPOC, Horror and Suspense, International, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy

5:00pm PDT

Crafting Pop Culture Content to Educate

Thursday July 23, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library

In a world of fast edits and even faster social media virality, crafting educational content has become increasingly important as audiences seek ways to deepen their knowledge. What does it take to create unique, memorable educational content, and how can audience reactions guide more impactful work? Jason Patrick Galit (JPG; pop culture educator and consultant, InterMyth) leads Goldie Chan (branding expert and author, Personal Branding for Introverts), Thomas Craig VIII (host, Sick Burn Podcast), Ronell Crawford (co-creator, 8-Bit Closed Fist), and Sabeen Faheem (press, cosplayer, and entertainment host) in a discussion of research methods, differentiation through marketing and branding, and strategies for pushing back on anti-intellectual comments and bad-faith engagement online.

Thursday July 23, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library

1: Programs, BIPOC, Education, Fandom, Games, Historical, Library Programs, Seminars & Workshops, Technology - Science - STEM

6:00pm PDT

Keenspot Power Hour: Maids, Monsters, and Pooh Bears, Oh My!

Thursday July 23, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

Room 5AB

At the 26th annual Comic-Con panel of pioneering comics conglomerate Keenspot, lucky audience members will win ultra-rare variant covers and other mystery prizes. Panelists include the mastermind behind the Ex Posse Universe, film producer Sean E. DeMott (co-creator of Maid Cafe), who is joined by writers Aimee DeLong and Kazue Watanabe, with cover artist Naomi Griffin, to discuss their top-selling grindhouse slasher manga Maid Cafe. Next, The Crying Boy creator, Niall O'Rourke (Squish & Squash), has updates on the in-the-works film and television adaptations of his two Ringo-nominated comics with director Mitchell Altieri (The Hamiltons), and then breaks down the process of making comics for an all-ages audience with the writer of the kids comics phenomenon Pooh Bear Adventures, Matt Cole (The Glopple), alongside Michael Adams (Hero Hiro, Kung Fu Legume) and Rob "Potsy" Potchak (Junior High Horrors, ZOR). There will also be surprise guests and announcements on Keenspot's comics, film, and television projects. Please note: The first half of this panel will discuss comics for mature readers, while the latter half will be devoted to Keenspot's all-ages comics. If bringing children, please arrive at 6:25.

Thursday July 23, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 5AB

1: Programs, Animation, Anime & Manga, BIPOC, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, Horror and Suspense, Humor & Satire, International, Kids, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Television, Web, Writers & Writing

6:30pm PDT

Gay Geeks and Where to Find Them

Thursday July 23, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT

Room 26AB

Nicole Maines (actor, writer), Sami DeMonster (community manager, Tiny Onion), Viktor Kerney (writer, board member, Prism Comics), and Kickxy Vixen (drag queen, cosplayer) gather to discuss their geeky careers, seeking diversity and representation, and how being a member of the community influenced their work. Special performance by Kickxy Vixen. Moderated by Julian Jetson (host, stylist).

Thursday July 23, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 26AB

1: Programs, BIPOC, Books, Comics, Cosplay, Costuming, Fandom, Horror and Suspense, LGBTQIA+, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Technology - Science - STEM, Television, Writers & Writing

7:00pm PDT

Fear and Loathing in Aztlan: Hunter S. Thompson, the Chicano Movement, and Comics

Thursday July 23, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT

Room 29AB

This panel examines the continued and intertwined impact of both the writings of Hunter S. Thompson (writer of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and the Chicano Movement (including the Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War) in comics. Topics include the writings of Oscar Zeta Acosta, the art journal Con Safos, the journalism of Ruben Salazar, the art of Ralph Steadman, prints from the East L.A. art center Self Help Graphics, and the recent production of the play Aztlan (m)otherland. Featuring Xaviera Flores (librarian/archivist, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center), Lalo Alcaraz (cartoonist/TV producer, La Cucaracha, Coco), Jeaux Janovsky (cartoonist/animator, Animation Magazine, Orwell: 2 +2=5), and the cast of Aztlan (m)otherland—Crismar Chacin-Ruiz (actress, Netflix's Two Graves), Alejandro Bravo (actor, upcoming Coyote film with Esai Morales), Alan Corvaia (actor, El Sonambulo), and Seth Alexander Ernsdorf (actor/artist/designer, Ernsdorf Design). Moderated by Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca (artist/writer, MoMA, LACMA, Aztlan (m)otherland).

Thursday July 23, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 29AB

1: Programs, BIPOC, Education, Historical

8:00pm PDT

The Comic Shop Series Roundtable

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT

Room 25ABC

"Under the regular threat of eviction and the looming competition of a big box store, a quirky group of friends strives to keep their comic shop afloat by any ridiculous means necessary." That tagline is a hook for the award-nominated series The Comic Shop, centered on friendship and reaching for your dreams. Creator Cheyenne Ewulu and panelists Shanae Cole, Dani Fernandez, Grayson Niles, Khary Payton, Zeno Robinson, and Frankey Smith discuss what it took to bring the passion project to the screen and how it was shaped to stand out in pop culture, with behind-the-scenes stories for new and longtime audiences.

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC

1: Programs, BIPOC, Comics, Fandom, Humor & Satire, Television, Tributes, Web

Comic-Con 2026

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Denys Cowan

11:30am PDT

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LeUyen Pham

1:30pm PDT

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