Panels to look forward to at SDCC 2026

San Diego Comic-Con, the annual celebration of pop culture, returns from July 23–26 with Preview Night taking place on July 22, and ScreenRant will be on the ground covering all the news, panels and excitement the convention has to offer. The four-day event features the biggest studios, IPs, and fans in one spot, making it the perfect place for announcements and previews of new TV shows, movies, comics, and video games. Comic-Con has made San Diego its home since 1970, with the convention taking place at the San Diego Convention Center.

ScreenRant will not only be in attendance at the convention, but will also have a media suite. Hosts Ash Crossan and Joe Deckelmeier will be filming interviews with talent from the top shows, movies, and games featured at the con. Follow ScreenRant on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for all the latest news, behind the scenes, pictures, full interviews, news, and more.

Marvel & DC Reign Supreme

Marvel Returns to Hall H

Both Marvel and DC are always a large part of Comic-Con, with booths teasing the latest superhero props and costumes and panels on their upcoming shows, movies, and comics. Last year, DC promoted Peacemaker season 2 with a panel and 1980s-themed Peacefest featuring live music, exclusive merch, and a surprise appearance by John Cena and James Gunn. This year, however, all eyes will be on Marvel as they return to San Diego Comic-Con after skipping 2025.

Already one of the most talked about panels from San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel will return to Hall H on Saturday at 5:30 PM PT. Kevin Feige and “special guests from the Marvel Cinematic Universe” will unite on stage to talk about what’s next. All eyes will be on the studio as they look to 2027 and the end of Phase 6 and beyond. There will be plenty of comics panels featuring Marvel artists and writers as well.

While DC won't have a big Hall H studio panel this year, they will still have a number of panels to look forward to. DC's panels include a look at the upcoming HBO Max series Lanterns on Friday at 1:30 PM PT, DC’s Jim Lee and Friends on Thursday at 11:30 AM PT, Batman: Caped Crusader Season Two Advanced Screening and Q&A with Cast and Crew on Thursday at 3:30 PM, and My Adventures with Superman Season 3 on Friday at 2:00 PM PT to name a few. Plus, there are plenty of upcoming DC movies the studio can show off at San Diego Comic-Con 2027.

New Shows and Old Favorites

There's something for Everyone at San Diego Comic-Con

New shows entering the spotlight at SDCC include the upcoming Prime Video series Neagley, which shares a panel with Reacher on Saturday at 3:30 PM PT, Mike Flanagan’s reimagining of Stephen King's Carrie with a panel on Saturday at 4:45 PM, and Big Bang Theory spin-off Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on Thursday at 2:15 PM PT. San Diego Comic-Con is a great way to build early hype around a series and give fans a tease about a highly anticipated show.

Returning Comic-Con favorites include Star Trek, celebrating its 60th anniversary at SDCC with a panel on Saturday at 12:30 PM PT, Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Thursday at 10:00 AM PT, and The Walking Dead: Dead City at 11:45 AM PT on Friday. These big cast panels are ones fans have come to look forward to every year. Both Paramount+ and Percy Jackson, among others, will also have off-site activations, allowing fans to immerse themselves inside their favorite TV shows.

Animation is another big part of SDCC with panels for Hulu’s hit series Futurama at 11:00 AM PT, American Dad! at 12:45 PM PT, and Family Guy at 1:30 PM PT, all on Saturday. Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender on Thursday at 1:00 PM PT, The Simpsons at 11:45 AM on Saturday, and a retrospective on the films of Brad Bird on Thursday at 6:00 PM round out more of the animated offerings.

Whether you are in Southern California or following along from your couch, there is plenty to look forward to when it comes to San Diego Comic-Con. The con is one of the most exciting events of the year for fans with big surprises, news, and more. ScreenRant will be there covering it all and bringing the con straight to you so you don’t miss a thing.