A big crowd is streaming toward the San Diego Convention Center for Comic-Con 2026 Preview Night. Fans are coming in on hotel buses. A huge line has formed in the Gaslamp Quarter for Paramount+ offsite The Lodge. Other offsite activations are putting on their final touches. There’s even a tiny bit of cosplay to be seen.
It must be late Wednesday afternoon!
Photos from a late walk…
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Check it out! Hot Wheels has a Porsche outside Comic-Con 2026 with a cool KPop Demon Hunters wrap that looks like Derpy!
Very cool!
A small crowd had already gathered around the car to take photos on Wednesday afternoon, before the opening of Preview Night at the San Diego Convention Center.
Here are my pics…
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
What’s this? The giant head of a mutant-hunting Sentinel outside San Diego Comic-Con?
Word is, Wolverine of the X-Men used his adamantium claws to behead the gigantic, deadly, cybernetic machine.
I see a crew of workers swarming around the Sentinel’s fallen head. They must be studying it.
Not sure if this is real life, or if I’m somehow in the Danger Room, with Colossus somewhere nearby…
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Another batch of photos!
It’s Wednesday, the day of Comic-Con 2026 Preview Night, and I continue to walk all over the place!
The first two photos were taken inside the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel. I then worked my way over to San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter where Comic-Con preparations are in earnest…
The Doomsday arch now has simulated flames at either end. Doctor Doom must be on the way!
But can he cope with Sauron?
Hot Wheels will be here…
Nickelodeon…
Splatoon…
The Gaslamp has been invaded by people and products seeking attention!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Took a leisurely walk through the Gaslamp and around the San Diego Convention Center this morning. It’s Wednesday. This evening Comic-Con 2026 will kick off with Preview Night.
The main thing I noticed is that many of the offsites are being completed. Workers are scrambling to get everything done!
Here are my photos…
UPDATE!
I was wondering about that huge steel structure being built in the Petco Interactive Zone. When I returned later this morning, I learned it’s miniature golf promoting Magic: The Gathering!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Willy Wonka has arrived for Comic-Con 2026 and he has taken over the Starbucks at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel! Now it’s Starbucks and the Coffee Factory!
Patrons can enjoy special drinks, including Wonka Bar Iced Caramel Latte, Turning Violet Mango Dragon Refresher, and Golden Ticket Tropical Guava Refresher!
Where are the Oompa-Loompas?
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
PAWmicon was held today in Balboa Park. The fun event raises funds for the Helen Woodward Animal Center.
Dogs and their human friends converged on the park, many wearing costumes. Yes, there were many superheroes. Villains, too!
I saw Krypto, Wonder Dog, Bat Dog, a scary four-legged alien, Bark Vader, a canine Homelander…
If you’d like to help the Helen Woodward Animal Center, visit their website here.
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far (and related things), click here!
Tomorrow, Wednesday July 22, at 10:30 am, the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park will be hosting a special panel.
Cover Story: Six Decades of Comic-Con will feature a behind the scenes look at Comic-Con’s souvenir book covers. Many of those covers are now on display at the museum.
Gary Sassaman, Comic-Con’s former Director of Programming and Publications, will discuss this fascinating history and answer questions from the audience.
If you’re looking for something to do prior to Comic-Con Preview Night, this might be the perfect activity!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
No badge for Comic-Con? Want to purchase official Comic-Con merchandise outside the San Diego Convention Center? No problem!
A truck full of cool SDCC merch was setting up on the grass in front of the Hilton Bayfront this afternoon as I walked past.
The general public will be able to buy official Comic-Con shirts, hoodies, pins, collectibles, and tons more good stuff!
UPDATE!
Next day, they were set up and ready!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Another fun blog post full of photos taken while walking around San Diego before the start of Comic-Con 2026. It’s now Tuesday. Tomorrow is Preview Night.
Shop windows, activations rising, exhibitors arriving, a little cosplay–just random images!
Enjoy!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!