Comic-Con 2026: Full Schedule

11:00am PDT

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

Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Parker James (co-creator of StEvEn & Parker), John Attanasio (CEO and co-founder, Toonstar), Luisa Huang (COO and co-founder, Toonstar), and Earnest Pettie (global research lead, YouTube), with moderator Dana Harris-Bridson (editor-in-chief, IndieWire), discuss what it takes to build an enduring kids' franchise in 2026 without Hollywood's permission.

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

U: Updated, Kids, Marriott Programs, Movies, Writers & Writing | 1: Programs, Kids, Marriott Programs, Movies, Writers & Writing

7:00pm PDT

Fleischer Cartoons: Greatest Hits Vol. 1

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

Room 28DE

Learn about the history and influence of the Fleischer Studios cartoons with Max Fleischer's granddaughter, Jane Fleischer Reid who will showcase the new Blu-ray alongside producer Mauricio Alvarado. Betty Boop, Popeye, Superman, Koko the Clown, and more will be highlighted.

Thursday July 23, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 28DE

U: Updated, Animation, Art and Illustration, Education, Humor & Satire, Kids, Movies, Television | 1: Programs, Animation, Art and Illustration, Education, Humor & Satire, Kids, Movies, Television

11:30am PDT

Angry Birds and Palworld: Epic Games with Epic Toys!

Friday July 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Room 6BCF

Rovio Entertainment and The Loyal Subjects unveil new toys inspired by the upcoming film The Angry Birds Movie 3 and the world-dominating Palworld game. Toy designer Dina Al Rifai (The Loyal Subjects) shares behind-the-design insights and reveals upcoming M.A.S.K. and The Hunger Games movie toys. Featuring John Cohen (The Angry Birds Movie 3, producer), Heitor Pereira (The Angry Birds Movie 3, composer), Tom Akel (founder, Rocketship Entertainment), Thom Zahler (Angry Birds, artist), Evan Lee (EvanTube), and Ben Mattes (Rovio), the panel highlights new projects and creative processes across film, comics, and collectibles. The program also includes a special Palworld message from game developer Pocketpair and a sneak peek of the next 80's classic toy that The Loyal Subjects will be remaking for 2027.

Friday July 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 6BCF

5:30pm PDT

Divine Design for Demigods: Creating the Costumes for Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2

Friday July 24, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT

Room 6DE

Catherine Adair (costume designer, Local 892; Perry Mason season 2, The Mysterious Benedict Society season 1) shares behind-the-scenes details on creating costumes for iconic characters, alongside her costume team: David Matwijkow (assistant costume designer, Local 892; Perry Mason season 2), Daniel Mahler Landman (key costumer, Local 705; Star Trek: Picard season 3), Tannis Hegan (specialty costumer; Tron: Ares, Peacemaker), and Zoe Neary (producer; co-producer, The Old Man season 2).

Friday July 24, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 6DE

U: Updated, Action/Adventure, BIPOC, Comics, Fandom, Kids, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television | 1: Programs, Action/Adventure, BIPOC, Comics, Fandom, Kids, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television

6:00pm PDT

Diversity in Fantasy

Friday July 24, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

Room 9

John Wells III (The Kalib Andrews Chronicles), Leon Langford (StarLion), Bennie Walker (To Shatter a Mountain), Lilly Lu (Death Wish), Pamuelah Hallilwell (Grieving Still), Vince Alvendia (Horrorgasm comic anthology, Dark Agents: Violet and the Trial of Trauma), Kaj Kunstmann (Warhead), and Dalila Caryn (The Forgotten Sister Series) discuss diversity in fantasy and what diverse authors owe their own cultures when writing diverse characters. Moderated by Tiffie Starchild (content creator).

Friday July 24, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 9

U: Updated, Kids, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Writers & Writing | 1: Programs, Kids, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Writers & Writing

7:30pm PDT

San Diego Kids to Hollywood Artists!

Friday July 24, 2026 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT

Room 24ABC

A panel of native San Diegans who have made it big in publishing and Hollywood discusses their paths, the skills they learned along the way, and what it takes to make it today. Everyone starts out as a kid with a sketchbook and a pencil, and their stories highlight what it takes to chase art and animation dreams. Jeff Ranjo (Warner Bros.), Ricky Nierva (Pixar), Esther Tejano (Netflix Animation), and Justin Parpan (Disney) participate. Moderated by Tom Racine.

Friday July 24, 2026 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC

U: Updated, Animation, Art and Illustration, Comics, Kids, Movies, Television | 1: Programs, Animation, Art and Illustration, Comics, Kids, Movies, Television

1:30pm PDT

How to Draw an Octopus . . . Returns!

Saturday July 25, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Room 3

Pop culture is full of cephalopod characters, from Squidward to Doc Ock, but how accurate is their anatomy? SS Julian (Octopolis), Danna Staaf, Ph.D. (Monarchs of the Sea, The Lady and the Octopus), and Kassandra Cruz (Puppy Knights) share the art of drawing octopods. The panel explores why cephalopods fascinate us, how to combine true anatomy with engaging character design, and practical techniques for committing these elusive invertebrates to ink while avoiding the abyss of artificially hallucinated reference material. Drawing supplies will be provided, but attendees may also bring their own.
All of the necessary supplies to participate in this Comic-Con How To session will be provided.

Saturday July 25, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 3

2:00pm PDT

Science in Middle-Grade Sci-Fi

Saturday July 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

Panelists discuss the role of science in middle-grade science fiction, including how scientific accuracy can support (or complicate) storytelling and how well-portrayed science can inspire young readers to pursue science fiction and STEM pathways. Authors Greg Van Eekhout (Voyage of the Dogs), Becca Lee Gardner (Bleep Blurp Murder), and Delilah Dawson (Ride or Die) appear with scientists Lisa Will (resident astronomer, Fleet Science Center) and Ronald Coleman (Ph.D. in regenerative medicine). Moderated by Jonathan Bacon-Liu (host, All the Time We Have Podcast).

Saturday July 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

U: Updated, Books, Kids, Library Programs, Technology - Science - STEM | 1: Programs, Books, Kids, Library Programs, Technology - Science - STEM

6:30pm PDT

Kids Comics Creators on "Growing Future Comics Fans!"

Saturday July 25, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT

Room 26AB

Kids comics have stormed the world stage. This roundtable discussion explores how the current crop of kids comics creators is growing new readers and creating lifelong fans. Panelists include Jennifer Holm (Babymouse), Lucas Turnbloom (How to Cat), James Burks (Box Tales), Dora Wang (Pocket Peaches), and Jana Tropper (Animal Rescue Friends), moderated by Tom Racine (Doomed to Die: An A-Z of Death in Tolkein). Q&A follows.

Saturday July 25, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 26AB

U: Updated, Comics, Kids | 1: Programs, Comics, Kids

12:00pm PDT

Autism in Comic Books

Sunday July 26, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Representation matters, but it comes with complications. Moderator Britton Payne (animation attorney; executive director, The Autism Scene) details the sometimes troubling history of autistic characters in comic books and how comics as a medium can foster a modern understanding of autism among its readership. Multiple-Eisner award nominee Deniz Camp will discuss the development of the autism storyline he wrote in the smash hit comic book Absolute Martian Manhunter. Fourth grader and inclusion advocate Eleanor Payne discusses YA books featuring autistic characters. Panelist Rebecca Burgess (YA graphic novel Speak Up!) also discusses their experiences as an autistic comic book creator and the process of creating autistic comic book characters, including an autistic main character navigating her way through high school.

Special Guests

Deniz Camp

Comic-Con Special Guest

Deniz Camp writes comics. The son of Turkish and Filipina immigrants, born in the Philippines but raised in the American midwest, he’s known for 20th Century Men (Image Comics), Ultimates (Marvel), Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC), Bleeding Hearts (Vertigo), and Assorted Crisis ... Read More →

Sunday July 26, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

U: Updated, Anime & Manga, Comics, Education, Historical, Kids, Marriott Programs, Superheroes, Writers & Writing | 1: Programs, Anime & Manga, Comics, Education, Historical, Kids, Marriott Programs, Superheroes, Writers & Writing

12:15pm PDT

Ask an Astronaut: Q&A with NASA Astronaut (and Everest Climber) Scott Parazynski

Sunday July 26, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm PDT

Room 5AB

Scott E. Parazynski is a physician, astronaut, and explorer. Trained as an ER doctor, he is a veteran of five Space Shuttle flights and seven spacewalks, including the one dubbed the "Apollo 13 moment" of the shuttle era. He is the first person to have both flown in space and summited Mount Everest. He was also Senator John Glenn's personal space physician during Glenn's historic return to orbit in 1998 and completed the first U.S.-Russian spacewalk. In addition, he is an active volcano explorer, scuba diver, commercial-rated pilot, former Olympic coach, technology inventor, serial entrepreneur, and author of the bestseller The Sky Below: A True Story of Summits, Space and Speed. An extended Q&A is included. Moderated by Susan Karlin (Fast Company).

Sunday July 26, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm PDT
Room 5AB

Comic-Con 2026