San Diego Comic-Con International (July 24-27), San Diego Convention Center

San Diego Comic-Con International will return from July 24 to 27, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center. Recognized as one of the most influential events in the global entertainment calendar, Comic-Con brings together a broad spectrum of participants across comics, animation, film, television, and digital media. With over 130,000 attendees expected, the convention serves as both a celebration of fan culture and a key platform for professional exchange.

Comic-Con continues to strike a unique balance between audience engagement and industry relevance. While a significant portion of programming is dedicated to fan experiences—ranging from exclusive screenings to interactive exhibits and autograph sessions—there is also a structured space for professionals working in the creative industries. Comic-Con offers professional badges to those actively involved in the production of comics, graphic novels, digital/webcomics, comic strips, and animation. This includes writers, artists, pencillers, inkers, colorists, letterers, and animators, as well as genre-focused authors, editors, educators, and librarians, all of whom contribute to the evolving narrative landscape.

Among the thematic focuses already confirmed for the 2025 edition are a series of panels exploring the intersection of technology, narrative, and society:

• AI & Science Fiction Realism: The panel “Beyond Human: Cognitive and Physical Augmentation” will delve into topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, extended reality (XR), brain–computer interfaces, and the ethical implications of memory manipulation.
• Spy-Tech vs Fiction: “Secrets from the Spy Museum” will compare real-world espionage tools and methods with their fictional counterparts in comics and film.
• Cybersecurity & Hacker Culture: “Inside the Hacker’s Mind” will explore cybersecurity threats, hacker culture, and the portrayal of digital activism and online subcultures in popular media.

In addition to official programming at the Convention Center, the event will extend throughout downtown San Diego, activating a wide array of cultural venues and public spaces. These activities reinforce Comic-Con’s role as a cross-sector observatory of contemporary pop culture.

Among the special guests announced this year are J. M. DeMatteis, Emil Ferris, Daniel Warren Johnson, J. G. Jones, Paul Karasik, Bilquis Evely, Jonathan Hickman, Jim Lee, Scott Shaw!, and Jen Sorensen—underscoring the event’s dedication to recognizing excellence across diverse creative disciplines.

Comic-Con 2025 thus reaffirms its role as a leading international meeting point for professionals and fans alike, fostering dialogue at the intersection of culture, creativity, and innovation.

For full details and updates, please visit the official website: www.comic-con.org