Grab your cosplay, charge your phone, and stretch those line-waiting legs—because San Diego Comic-Con 2025 is blasting off from July 24 to 27, and this year’s edition is stacked with jaw-dropping panels, legendary guests, exclusive merch, immersive offsite events, and all the geeky goodness we live for.
Let’s be real: every July, downtown San Diego becomes the mothership of pop culture, and 2025 is taking things next level. From Preview Night on July 23 to a panel lineup that reads like a nerd dream journal, SDCC is promising everything from sneak peeks of epic shows and films to unforgettable fan experiences. Think: superheroes, anime icons, horror flicks, nostalgic cartoons, and even… PAC-MAN coffee.
The Schedule Breakdown
- Preview Night: July 23, 6–9 PM
- Day 1: July 24, 9:30 AM–7 PM
- Day 2: July 25, 9:30 AM–7 PM
- Day 3: July 26, 9:30 AM–7 PM
- Day 4: July 27, 9:30 AM–5 PM
***Pro tip: Badge pick-up starts July 23. Get in early—those lines move fast, but the crowds move faster.
Panels You Can’t Miss
Hold onto your lanyards—here are some of the biggest names and moments hitting the stages at SDCC 2025:
- George Lucas makes his Comic-Con panel debut (yes, seriously!) alongside Guillermo del Toro and Doug Chiang to talk about the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (Sunday, 11 AM PT).
- TRON: Ares lands with Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, and Evan Peters (Friday, 5:30 PM).
- South Park x Beavis & Butt-Head x Digman! all under one chaotic roof (Thursday, 6:45 PM).
- Peacemaker Season 2 panel with James Gunn, John Cena, and the cast (Saturday, 3:30 PM).
- Project Hail Mary stars Ryan Gosling and creators dish behind-the-scenes stories (Saturday, 2:15 PM).
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc makes its Hall H debut (Saturday, 5:45 PM).
- Critical Role, Percy Jackson, Alien: Earth, Gen V, Predator: Badlands, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, The Bad Guys 2—it’s a buffet of fan-favorites!
Oh, and let’s not forget the Avatar: The Last Airbender 20th Anniversary panel (Thursday 10:00 AM) —because yes, we’re still not over Zuko’s redemption arc.
Inside Comic-Con
- Exhibit Hall: Over half a million square feet of fandom heaven: rare collectibles, celeb signings, immersive installations, and merch exclusives.
- Artist Alley: Meet the masterminds behind your favorite comics.
- Eisner Awards: Friday night at Hilton Bayfront—comics’ version of the Oscars.
- Comic-Con Masquerade: Saturday, 8:30 PM. Epic cosplay showdown.
- Comic-Con Art Show: Runs all weekend at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Free entry!
Outside the Convention Center: Free Events & Fan Fun
No badge? No problem! The city goes full geek mode with free and ticketed events:
- Crunchyroll Anime FanFest at The Rady Shell (July 25–26).
- PAC-MAN Café on 7th Ave (open from July 11).
- Malibu Barbie Café pop-up at Bayside Kitchen & Bar.
- Batman (1989) In Concert at Gallagher Square (July 26).
- VooDoo Ranger Pirate Ship fan party on the bay (July 24–27).
Can’t Be There? Stream the Vibes
While most panels aren’t streamed live, many will show up online afterward (keep your eyes on YouTube and official social accounts). And don’t worry—sites like GamesRadar+ and the always-reliable @SD_Comic_Con on X (formerly Twitter) will keep you in the loop with minute-by-minute updates, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and even giveaways via #AdventuresOfPrizeMule!
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 is shaping up to be a multi-fandom supernova. Whether you’re a Hall H warrior, an indie comic aficionado, or just in it for the cosplays and churros, this is the year to geek out hard. And hey, if you didn’t get a badge this time, September 2025 is when they release the next round. Start planning.