Comic-Con 2026 opened in San Diego with surprise celebrity moments, crowded fan events, major studio previews and elaborate cosplay across downtown. The convention runs through Sunday, July 26, at the San Diego Convention Center.
Comic-Con 2026 First Day Highlights
The first full day of Comic-Con 2026 brought a mix of Hollywood promotion, fan culture and street-level excitement. Preview Night began Wednesday, July 22, before the convention officially opened Thursday, July 23.
One of the biggest early moments came from Johnny Depp. The actor appeared in full costume as Ebenezer Scrooge to promote “Ebenezer,” a new gothic take on “A Christmas Carol.” The film is scheduled for release on Nov. 13.
Depp stayed in character while greeting fans and promoting the movie. The appearance drew major attention because it marked his return to a large studio film after several years away from that space.
Fans Fill San Diego With Cosplay and Pop Culture
Cosplay remained one of the strongest parts of opening day. Fans arrived dressed as characters from comics, anime, streaming series, horror, fantasy, video games and classic franchises.
The Associated Press reported that more than 120,000 people are expected at the event this year. Downtown San Diego has also transformed around the convention, with themed displays, packed streets and fan activations.
Comic-Con is now much more than one convention hall. Restaurants, hotels and nearby public spaces are part of the experience, giving fans more ways to celebrate their favorite stories.
Panels Bring Movies, TV and Global Fandom Together
Opening day also included panels tied to major entertainment projects. The “Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender” panel featured Eric Nam and Dave Bautista, according to AP coverage from the event.
Another standout moment brought K-pop group ENHYPEN together with members of the “Twilight” cast for a vampire storytelling panel. The pairing showed how Comic-Con continues to blend music, movies, television and online fandoms.
The convention also included early buzz around “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” “Marvel’s Wolverine,” “My Hero Academia” and other fan-driven titles.
What Is Still Ahead at Comic-Con
The next two days are expected to bring some of the weekend’s biggest announcements. Friday’s schedule includes major spotlights for DC Studios’ “Lanterns,” “The Walking Dead,” “Rick and Morty,” “X-Men ’97,” “Blade Runner 2099” and “The Rings of Power.”
Saturday is expected to be the biggest day for blockbuster news. Marvel Studios is set for a Hall H presentation, where fans are watching for updates on “Avengers: Doomsday,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and other Marvel projects.
Apple TV is also expected to make a strong push with projects including “Silo,” “Widow’s Bay” and “Matchbox the Movie.” Prime Video has panels tied to “Spaceballs: The New One,” “Carrie,” “Blade Runner 2099” and “The Rings of Power.”
Why the Weekend Matters
Comic-Con 2026 is showing how fan culture continues to shape entertainment. Movies still matter, but streaming shows, animation, games, comics and global music fandoms now share the same stage.
For fans, the weekend offers a first look at the stories likely to dominate screens over the next year. More trailers, casting news and release updates are expected before Comic-Con closes Sunday.