San Diego Comic-Con returns to the San Diego Convention Center July 23-26, with Preview Night on Wednesday, July 22. For anime fans, the 2026 lineup reaches well beyond the panel rooms, with a major anniversary reunion, a new Gundam reveal, publisher updates, model-building workshops, exclusives and off-site experiences.
The following guide covers the major anime, manga and Japanese pop culture programming announced as of July 15. Times, locations and guest lists remain subject to change.
Crunchyroll celebrates 10 years of “My Hero Academia”
Crunchyroll’s biggest event is the “My Hero Academia 10th Anniversary Panel”
Scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 23, in Ballroom 20. English dub cast members Christopher Sabat, who voices All Might; Justin Briner, who voices Izuku Midoriya; Clifford Chapin, who voices Katsuki Bakugo; and David Matranga, who voices Shoto Todoroki, are set to look back at the anime’s run since its 2016 debut.
The reunion comes after the main series ended Dec. 13, 2025, and the epilogue special “More” aired May 2. The Comic-Con session runs until 11 a.m.
At booth No. 4135, Crunchyroll will present the “Sentenced to Be a Hero: Teoritta Doll Activation.” The animatronic Teoritta, the Goddess of Swords from “Sentenced to Be a Hero,” reacts when attendees give her gentle head pats. Crunchyroll first displayed the activation at South by Southwest earlier this year and made a recent appearance at Anime Expo 2026.
(https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/announcements/2026/7/9/my-hero-academia-san-diego-comic-con-2026-panel)
Gundam will unveil a new anime series!
Bandai Namco Filmworks will reveal a new Gundam anime during “Gundam Showcase 2026: Unveil the Next Gundam,” set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Room 6BCF. The panel overlaps the final 30 minutes of the “My Hero Academia” event.
Guests from Japan will discuss the new series, other upcoming titles and Gundam’s growth in North America. A separate worldwide program carrying the same new-title announcement will premiere at 11 a.m. Pacific time on Gundam Channel International. Bandai Namco says the online program will not be a recording or livestream of the Comic-Con panel.
(Panel attendees are also promised a Gundam gift bag while supplies last.)
The Gundam booth, No. 3829, will add displays tied to the newly revealed anime, the upcoming “Gundam Rogue Orbit” video game, statues, event-exclusive merchandise and giveaways. A free Gunpla workshop will run daily in Mezzanine 19, beginning 30 minutes after the show opens. Seats and model kits will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America has two more major stops. The Tamashii Nations booth, No. 3329, will feature anime figures, event exclusives, photo opportunities and giveaways, with “Tamashii Nations Unveiled: S.H.Figuarts Exclusive Panel” scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25, in Room 7AB. Booth No. 3345 will pair Tamagotchi’s 30th anniversary with Godzilla trivia, a roar contest, collectible pins and an “Escape Godzilla” photo experience. The “30 Years of Tamagotchi!” panel begins at 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, in Room 25ABC. It also includes a Godzilla meet-and-greet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the GameStop in Mission Valley Mall, with scheduled breaks of up to 30 minutes.
Enhypen brings the “Dark Moon” universe to Comic-Con
K-pop group Enhypen will follow the “My Hero Academia” panel into Ballroom 20 for “Bite Me: Calling All Vampires,” running from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday. The group will appear with “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke and actors Peter Facinelli and Ashley Greene for a discussion of vampire storytelling across film, television, music, webtoons and animation. TV Guide Magazine writer Damian Holbrook will moderate.
Enhypen’s connection is “Dark Moon,” the Hybe story franchise that expanded from webtoons and novels into the 2026 anime “Dark Moon: The Blood Altar.” Booth No. 4129 will feature immersive displays and interactive elements from that world. An Enhypen autograph session is scheduled there from 3 to 3:40 p.m. Friday, with access allocated through Comic-Con’s Online Exclusives Portal.
The group will also headline “Dark Moon Blood Night” from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the House of Blues. The event, for attendees 18 and older, will include a conversation moderated by radio host JoJo Wright and live performances by Enhypen. Admission was distributed by lottery, and the application window has closed.
A free “Demon Slayer” konbini opens at Petco Park
One of the week’s largest anime pop-ups will not require a Comic-Con badge. Maruchan is transforming its MaruMart experience into “MaruMart: Demon Slayer Konbini,” a Japanese convenience store-inspired activation based on “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” in the Interactive Zone at Petco Park’s Lexus Premier Lot.
The free experience will include claw machines, photo opportunities and displays featuring Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke and all nine Hashira. Limited-edition shirts, hoodies and keychains will be sold, and complimentary character-themed yakisoba samples will be available in packaging created for the event.
The pop-up will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maruchan-teams-up-with-global-anime-sensation-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-for-first-ever-collaboration-at-san-diego-comic-con-302823446.html)
Aniplex, Viz, Yen Press and Kodansha bring industry updates
Aniplex of America’s annual industry panel is set for 6 p.m. Thursday in Room 7AB. Staff members Shelby Tozier and Anthony Foronda will review the company’s past, present and future.
(https://comiccon2026.sched.com/event/2QWgk/aniplex-of-america-industry-panel)
Viz Media will host “Making Manga with Viz” from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday in Room 29AB. The publisher has also advertised screenings tied to “Rooster Fighter” and “RWBY,” although the full anime screening guide had not been posted as of July 15. At booth No. 2813, Viz plans an early release of the “Rooster Fighter” limited-edition Blu-ray, a convention-exclusive “Bleach” muscle tee, a “Naruto” Disliz Itachi wristwatch and “Kagurabachi” blind buttons. Giveaways include a Piyoko pin from “Rooster Fighter” and a double-sided plastic fan featuring “Bleach” and “Black Torch,” while supplies last.
(https://www.instagram.com/p/Danks84j5u2/)
Yen Press will hold its industry panel from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday in Room 9, with licensing announcements, prizes and a question-and-answer session. Booth No. 1918 will carry manga, light novels and Korean comics, along with rotating giveaways. A double-sided “Sentenced to Be a Hero” and “Solo Leveling: Ragnarok” tote will be available with purchases of $45 or more, while supplies last.
(https://yenpress.com/news/join-us-at-san-diego-comic-con-2026)
Kodansha’s “New and Upcoming Kodansha Manga Revealed” begins at 11 a.m. Saturday in Room 9. The publisher is promising new-license previews, a question-and-answer session and surprise giveaways.
Tokyopop and 247 Comics will present “The Ultimate Manga-Comics Mashup” at 1 p.m. Thursday in Room 28DE. Their booth, No. 1837, will carry convention exclusives and host creator signings. Udon Entertainment will be at booth No. 100 with manga, art books, apparel, pins and signings. Its programming includes an art battle at 5 p.m. Thursday in Room 5AB and an industry panel at noon Friday in Room 28DE.
(https://store.udonentertainment.com/pages/udon-sdcc-2026-menu-page)
Webtoon schedules four creator panels!
Webtoon Entertainment has four official panels, beginning with “Creature Craft: Visionaries of Horror Comics Share Their Secrets” at 10 a.m. Thursday in Room 29AB. Punko, Cullen Bunn and Cat Staggs will participate, with Nerdist editor-in-chief Rotem Rusak moderating.
Friday’s schedule includes “Love in Every Universe: The Great Romance Trope Debate” at 10 a.m. in Room 32AB and “Adapting Fantasy High for Webtoon with Derek V. Song” at 1 p.m. in the same room. The company’s flagship presentation, “What’s Next from Webtoon Entertainment,” begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Room 24ABC, with updates from Webtoon Originals, Webtoon Productions and Webtoon Unscrolled. Webtoon’s official lineup lists executives Ryan Lee and Sydney Bright, producer Erik Kozura and creators ROSEOAK, Derek V. Song, Punko and Ucheomaaa among the participants.
(https://about.webtoon.com/press-release/250)
“Anime, Manga and K-Comics Censorship” is a separate Comic Book Legal Defense Fund program, not one of Webtoon’s four panels. Scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday in Room 11, the session will bring together CBLDF interim director Jeff Trexler, journalist Deb Aoki and USC Annenberg doctoral researcher Samantha Tecson. They will discuss school and library restrictions, import bans, payment-platform restrictions, criminal prosecutions and First Amendment protections.
The broader manga schedule includes “Library Manga for ‘Eager Readers’” at 2 p.m. Thursday in Room 28DE and “Inside Indie Manga Publishing” at 5 p.m. Thursday in Room 29AB. Friday brings “Best and Worst Manga of 2026” at 6 p.m. in Room 4, followed by “Manga Recommendations for Non-Manga Readers” at 7 p.m. in the same room. Saturday’s panels include “Beyond the Mainstream: Literary Manga, Manhwa and Manhua” at 4 p.m. in Room 23ABC, “Salaam Fandom! Anime, Manga and Islam” at 6 p.m. in Room 29AB, “From 0 to 50: Pro Tips for High-Speed Webtoon Production and Studio Workflow” at 6 p.m. in Room 25ABC and “Entre2Mundos: Manga Beyond the Page” at 7:30 p.m. in Room 29CD. “Manga Tutorials for Kids” opens Sunday’s schedule at 10 a.m. in Room 11.
Panels explore representation, fandom and Japanese animation
“Afrofuturism: Black to the Future IX: Afro-Anime” begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 29CD. Director and producer Kevin Grevioux, journalist Anissa Ocansey, writer and producer Matt Ford, writer Jimmy Diggs and academic Camille Jones are scheduled to discuss anime through an Afrocentric lens. Comic-Con lists the session as a conversation about creative and collaborative possibilities between Black creators and anime.
(https://comiccon2026.sched.com/event/2QWgS/afrofuturism-black-to-the-future-ix-afro-anime)
Studio Ghibli fans have two events to watch Saturday. Comic-Con special guest Yôichi Nishikawa, a background artist who has worked on every Ghibli feature since “Howl’s Moving Castle,” will hold a spotlight panel at 2 p.m. in Room 7AB. At 4:15 p.m. in Room 6A, former Studio Ghibli production coordinator Hirokatsu Kihara and Nishikawa will present “40th Anniversary of Castle in the Sky,” with production stories and original artwork. An autograph session with Kihara is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. in Autograph Area AA15.
Sunday’s highlights include “Katsuya Terada, Manga Legend Live Draw Session” at 11 a.m. in Room 11, “35 Years of Sailor Moon: Magical Girl Fandom Appreciation” at 11:45 a.m. in Room 6BCF, “How Pokémon Captured Our Hearts for 30 Years” at 1 p.m. in Room 6BCF and “In My Y2K Era: Anime Fandom Before Streaming and Social Media” at 3 p.m. in Room 24ABC.
The exhibit hall adds “One Piece,” “Dan Da Dan” and figure exclusives
Figpin will operate its main booth at No. 403 and a “One Piece” collaboration with Toei Animation at booth No. 3635. The Toei space will debut convention-stickered “One Piece” pins featuring characters including Monkey D. Luffy, Tony Tony Chopper, Jewelry Bonney, Lilith and Roronoa Zoro. Larger “One Piece” sets will be available for preorder. Figpin’s main booth will carry additional exclusives from “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon,” “Dragon Ball Super” and “One Piece.” [\Figpin has posted quantities and line procedures for both booths.
(https://figpin.com/blogs/news/figpins-ultimate-san-diego-comic-2026-guide)
Mighty Jaxx will add another “One Piece” stop at booth No. 2601, with event-exclusive Chopper and Luffy collectibles and first-release items from the East Blue lineup.
Kotobukiya returns at booth No. 3535 with figures, model kits and first-release items. Its event-exclusive “Darkstalkers” Hsien-Ko limited-edition Bishoujo statue will cost $179.99, with limited quantities available. The company will also distribute four randomized Bishoujo trading cards at scheduled times and host a panel about its artist hand model at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 10. Lists booth signings with animator Takahiro Kagami on Thursday and Friday for qualifying purchasers.
(https://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/en/event/detail/1297/)
Good Smile Company will be at booth No. 4045 with limited event exclusives and displays spanning anime and other pop culture properties. The company had not published a complete item list as of July 15.
At booth No. 3645, Monogram International will sell a Comic-Con-exclusive “Dan Da Dan” three-piece foam bag clip set featuring Turbo Granny, Momo and a transformed Okarun. The set costs $25 and is limited to 260 pieces. Monogram lists the quantity and price on its official product page. The exclusive arrives just after GKIDS released “Dan Da Dan” Season 2 on Blu-ray on July 14. Science SARU has “Dan Da Dan” Season 3 scheduled for 2027.
(https://monogramdirect.com/sdcc-exclusive-19-dan-da-dan-3d-foam-bag-clip-3-pc-set/)
Screenings and more off-site events
Comic-Con’s traditional anime rooms will return in Grand Ballrooms 1-4 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. The convention had not released the complete 2026 screening grid as of July 15. Comic-Con says the full Anime Guide, including synopses, will be posted later. Attendees younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in the anime rooms after 10 p.m. Comic-Con posted the location and age policy in its July 14 anime preview.
(https://www.comic-con.org/toucan/toucan-tip-14-films-and-anime-2026/)
Outside the screening rooms, the Stern Pinball Pop-Up Arcade at the Marriott Marquis will feature the company’s new Pokémon machine from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The Interactive Zone will also host Kayou’s free “Walls of Fandom”, with displays and photo opportunities based on “Naruto,” “KPop Demon Hunters,” My Little Pony and tokidoki. Visitors can shop, trade cards, open packs, make custom cards and meet artists. Kayou products will also be sold at the Shumi Co. booth, No. 4934, and a separate fan meetup is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Tito Rick’s Garage. The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will be in the same Interactive Zone from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Two independently produced, ticketed anime parties are also scheduled: “Party Plus Ultra” runs from 8 p.m. Thursday to 1:30 a.m. Friday at Parq Nightclub, and the 21-and-older San Diego Anime Rave begins at 9 p.m. Saturday at Spin Nightclub. Neither party is an official Comic-Con event.
Comic-Con is still adding and revising events. Fans should check the official schedule, the Comic-Con app and individual company accounts before lining up. Crunchyroll says it will post convention highlights on X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for fans following from home.
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