San Diego Comic-Con 2026: The Biggest Panels, Trailers and Announcements to Watch For
The Top Movie and TV Highlights from SDCC 2026
It's that time of year again: San Diego Comic-Con 2026 is just around the corner! For many years, the event has been one of the world's best-known and largest pop culture conventions. Every year, thousands of fans, artists, actors, and industry representatives gather in San Diego to celebrate the latest news from the world of comics, movies, TV shows, video games, and cosplay. Since its founding in 1970, the convention has evolved from a small comic book fair into a global media event. Studios unveil exclusive trailers, stars sign autographs, and upcoming projects are showcased to eager audiences.
This year will be no different. From July 23 to 26, you can look forward to plenty of news from the world of pop culture. Numerous panels on upcoming blockbuster movies and TV series have been announced. Here's a concise overview of what to expect this year. However, not all SDCC 2026 panels have been announced yet. This article will therefore be updated regularly over the next weeks.
Day 1 (July 23)
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender
We're kicking things off on the very first day with "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender." The film is set after the cult series "Avatar: The Last Airbender." It once again centers on familiar characters like Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Toph.
Here's what it's about: Avatar Aang, the world's last Airbender, learns of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a global quest to find it before it falls into the wrong hands and upends the peace they sacrificed everything to achieve.
At the panel on July 23, you can expect new insights. The voice actors, among others, will be in attendance. A first trailer has already been released; we might see a second one here. "Avatar: The Last Airbender" was originally supposed to be released in theaters—but that didn't happen. Instead, the production moved to Paramount+, where the film will premiere just two days after the panel (July 25).
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
Naturally, one particular franchise couldn't miss Comic-Con. One of the world's biggest pop culture conventions centered around classic "nerd culture" is the perfect stage for "The Big Bang Theory." The cult series is getting a spin-off soon: "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe" centers on Stuart (Kevin Sussman), a character familiar from the original series. But other familiar faces from "The Big Bang Theory" will also make an appearance. The panel takes place on Thursday, July 23. On the same day, the series will premiere on HBO Max. It'll be interesting to see if any surprises are announced during the panel.
More Highlights on Day 1
More highlights for the first day of Comic-Con have already been announced. You can look forward to a panel on "Percy Jackson and the Olympians", which will focus on the third season. You can also look forward to new insights into the second season of "Batman: Caped Crusader," the South Korean film "Hope," and the action thriller "Onslaught" starring Adria Arjona.
Day 2 (July 24)
Lanterns
Following the 2011 box office flop, HBO is taking on a new "Green Lanterns" adaptation. "Lanterns" follows new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
The series is produced by Damon Lindelof, best known as the co-creator of "Lost". Fans can expect brand-new footage and exclusive clips. The first trailer has already been released. The show premieres on HBO Max on August 16.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3
The"Walking Dead" franchise is a true institution at Comic-Con. While the heyday of the original series may be over, several spin-off series continue to provide a steady stream of zombie action. In 2026, a panel on"The Walking Dead: Dead City" awaits you. The spin-off centered on Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and former antagonist Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is heading into its third season. You can expect more insights into the show, and a first trailer has already been released. Among those in attendance will be the two lead actors, as well as showrunner Seth Hoffman and franchise head Scott Gimple.
Blade Runner 2099
"Blade Runner 2099" was announced a long time ago, and now things are finally taking shape. Amazon has announced exclusive glimpses into the dystopian Los Angeles for its Prime Video series. We might even get a first teaser here.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Amazon is also promising new glimpses into the third season of the "Lord of the Rings" series"Rings of Power." A first teaser is also possible here . The third season already has a release date: the new season premieres on Prime Video on November 11.
Other highlights on the second day of the comic convention include "The Vampire Lestat," "X-Men '97," and "My Adventures with Superman."
Day 3 (July 25)
Marvel Studios: Avengers Doomsday and More
Marvel Studios ' big panel has been announced for July 25. What can we expect? Marvel has only revealed this much: we'll get an exclusive look at upcoming projects. They've also kept the panel guests under wraps, promising surprise guests.
Many fans are expecting one thing above all else: the big trailer for"Avengers: Doomsday." So far, Marvel has only released a few teasers; there hasn't been a full trailer yet. The timing (the movie hits theaters on December 16) and the location would be perfect for a trailer release. After all, Marvel likes to use the Comic-Con stage for major announcements. As a reminder: Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU as Doctor Doom was revealed at Comic-Con 2024. So we can look forward to seeing what news Marvel has to announce this time—whether it's about "Avengers: Doomsday," the sequel"Avengers: Secret Wars," or other Marvel projects.
But keep in mind: Due to the time difference, the big highlights, announcements, and trailers will be released during the night from Saturday (July 25) to Sunday (July 26). To make sure you don't miss major trailers for titles like "Avengers: Doomsday , " keep an eye on KinoCheck's YouTube channel. You'll find the trailers there as soon as they're available. In our new movie preview , we've summarized all the known details and taken a look at the latest rumors.
Reacher and Neagley
Meanwhile, action fans can look forward to the "Reacher" panel, which will also cover the new spin-off "Neagley." The fourth season of "Reacher" is about to premiere—but there's still no trailer. After all, the new season premieres on August 12. So it's high time for the first footage.
The same goes for "Neagley." The spin-off series centered on the titular heroine Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) also hasn't received a trailer yet. However, the first images have already been revealed. Reacher actor Alan Ritchson can also be seen in them. The premiere date has also been announced: The first season will be available on Prime Video starting September 16.
Carrie
Another Amazon series ,"Carrie," is in the starting blocks. It's a reimagining of Stephen King's cult novel, which was adapted for the screen in the 1970s by Brian De Palma, among others. A first look and a special announcement were promised for the panel. So we can look forward to a first teaser.
Horror expert Mike Flanagan, known for other Stephen King adaptations such as"Doctor Sleep" and"The Life of Chuck," is behind the project. In addition to Flanagan, cast members Summer Howell, Samantha Sloyan, Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Amber Midthunder, and Matthew Lillard will also be present at the panel.
Apple TV: Silo, Widow's Bay, and More
The major Apple TV panel will focus on the streaming service's major series as well as several films. These include, among others, the critics' favorite "Widow's Bay." Also on the agenda are the post-apocalyptic hit "Silo" (Season 3 has already begun) and the sci-fi series "Dark Matter" (Season 2 premiere: August 28). The new Apple films "Mayday" and "Matchbox: The Movie" will also be featured.
More Highlights on Day 3
Other highlights include panels on"The Rookie,""The Simpsons,""Family Guy," "Bob's Burgers," "American Dad," "Futurama," and a screening of the sixth episode of the third season of"House of the Dragon."
Day 4 (July 26)
The panels for Day 4 have not yet been announced. As soon as new information becomes available, this article will be updated here.
