Comic-Con 2026: Full Schedule

5:30pm PDT

Aliens 40: The 40th Anniversary of One of the Best Sequels Ever Made!

Thursday July 23, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT

The 40th anniversary of Aliens (1986) is marked with a panel honoring James Cameron's landmark sequel and its lasting impact on sci-fi action and pop culture. Cast members Jenette Goldstein, Mark Rolston, and Ricco Ross share behind-the-scenes stories, discuss groundbreaking effects, and trace Ripley's evolution into an action icon. Moderated by Mark Atkinson (actor, filmmaker), the session includes rare anecdotes, a Q&A, and retrospective insights.

Thursday July 23, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 6A

U: Updated, Action/Adventure, Anniversaries, Fandom, Horror and Suspense, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Tributes | 1: Programs, Action/Adventure, Anniversaries, Fandom, Horror and Suspense, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Tributes

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, Alanah Pierce, 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

U: Updated, BIPOC, Comics, Fandom, Humor & Satire, Television, Tributes, Web, After Dark | 1: Programs, BIPOC, Comics, Fandom, Humor & Satire, Television, Tributes, Web, After Dark

10:00am PDT

A Look Back at Comic-Con's Early Years

Saturday July 25, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

A look back at Comic-Con's early years through the memories of those who were there and never-before-seen video. Panelists include moderator and host Scott Smith (electronic publicist; creator of Comic-Con CCTV), co-moderator Anthony Keith, Clayton Moore (original on-air host for Comic-Con TV), Gabriel Wisdom (early Masquerade host, local radio personality), and David Clark (founding member). The panel will feature video from an early Masquerade, including Brinke Stevens' "Funeral for a Friend" performance, The Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens, George Clayton Johnson, Joe Kubert, filmmaker George Pal, and June Foray, along with stories from the original creators of the Con TV experience.

Saturday July 25, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

U: Updated, Anniversaries, Comics, Education, Fandom, Historical, Marriott Programs, Television, Tributes | 1: Programs, Anniversaries, Comics, Education, Fandom, Historical, Marriott Programs, Television, Tributes

11:15am PDT

Concert Heroes: Film, Comedy, and Rock 'n' Roll!

Saturday July 25, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

"Real rock stars face the stage!" Concert fandom takes center stage in Concert Heroes, a fast-paced comedy filmed entirely in San Diego. Starring Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live, A Night at the Roxbury), the film celebrates the passion, chaos, and community of live music culture. Cast members E. G. Daily (Pee-Wee's Big Adventure), Robert Romanus (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Eddie McClintock (Warehouse 13), Carolyn Hennesy (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Chad Wolf (Carolina Liar), and Ryan Ochoa (Pair of Kings)—along with writer/producer Steven Mark (The Samuel Project), director Joseph A Nunez (Superbad), and music from pop-rock band Carolina Liar—share a behind-the-scenes look at bringing this indie feature to life. The panel includes stories from the set, a look at the filmmaking process, exclusive clips, and the world-premiere trailer. Moderated by San Diego actor and filmmaker Mark Atkinson (Selena: The Series), followed by audience Q&A.

Saturday July 25, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

U: Updated, Fandom, Hilton Programs, Humor & Satire, Movies, Music, Tributes | 1: Programs, Fandom, Hilton Programs, Humor & Satire, Movies, Music, Tributes

11:30am PDT

Comics Arts Conference Session #10: An Oddly Compelling Conversation about Denis Kitchen

Saturday July 25, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Room 26AB

As a publisher, cartoonist, author, curator, and founder of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Denis Kitchen's career has spanned decades from the underground comix of the 1960s to the present, working with legends like R. Crumb, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, and Trina Robbins along the way. This panel brings together contributors to Conversations with Denis Kitchen, published by the University Press of Mississippi, with Kitchen’s friends and colleagues who have known him for decades. Karen Green (Columbia University), Danny Fingeroth (Superman on the Couch), Rob Salkowitz (University of Washington), and Michael Dooley (Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design) join Conversations editor Kim Munson (Comic Art in Museums) for a discussion of Kitchen's enduring commitment to creative freedom, his battles against censorship, his recent projects in curation and art, underground comix, and his relationship with Will Eisner. A special clip from the new documentary Oddly Compelling: The Denis Kitchen Story will be shown.

Saturday July 25, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 26AB

U: Updated, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, Comics Arts Conference, Education, Historical, Tributes | 1: Programs, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, Comics Arts Conference, Education, Historical, Tributes

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