Comic-Con Events at Petco Park 2026

San Diego Comic-Con is officially back to take over downtown in 2026. SDCC runs Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, with the highly anticipated Preview Night kicking things off on Wednesday, July 22. As always, Petco Park serves as the ultimate off-site hub. Between the massive Petco Park Interactive Zone, high-energy Gallagher Square concerts, and exclusive pop-up activations, the stadium grounds draw thousands of fans all weekend long—no badge required. Details are rolling in fast, but here’s everything we know so far.

Gallagher Square Major Events

Pre-Con Kickoff: Ed Sheeran (Tuesday, July 21)

Before the official madness begins, the Gaslamp gets an early musical jolt. Pop superstar Ed Sheeran brings his intimate LOOP Tour to Petco Park on Tuesday, July 21 to showcase his latest album, Play. It’s the perfect pre-game soundtrack if you’re arriving in town early to watch the convention setups.

Opening Night: Rainbow Kitten Surprise (Thursday, July 23)

Ready to kick off SDCC proper? Indie rock favorites Rainbow Kitten Surprise take over Gallagher Square on Thursday night, bringing their genre-fluid, emotionally charged sound to the stadium lawn. With Australian breakouts Spacey Jane opening, expect soaring melodies, introspective lyrics, and the perfect festival energy to close out day one of the con.

Funko Fundays: Quest for the Grail (Friday, July 24)

Funko’s legendary, badge-less fan party returns to SDCC—landing right at Gallagher Square on Friday, July 24. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the main event kicking off at 7 p.m. This year’s theme? “Quest for the Grail – Atlantis.” Fundays is notorious for going massive: expect food, live entertainment, major product reveals, and the highly coveted “Box of Fun” packed with exclusive Pop! figures for every ticketed attendee. Tickets sold out fast, but keep an eye on @OriginalFunko for giveaways, or brave the resale market.

Crunchyroll Anime Music Festival (Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26)

In a major win for badgeless fans, Crunchyroll is taking over Gallagher Square on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 for a massive, free-entry Anime Music Festival. The lineup is absolutely stacked with premier international talent, headlined by SPYAIR, yama, Denzel Curry, and INIKO. Blending anime culture with live, high-energy performances right on the stadium lawn, it’s set to be one of the biggest open-air offsites of the weekend.

Petco Park Interactive Zone

The Interactive Zone is the undisputed king of free Comic-Con experiences you don’t need a badge for. It sets up in the Lexus Premier Lot—the massive surface lot next to Petco Park, just across the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge from the convention center. It runs Thursday, July 23 through Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., wrapping up slightly earlier at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The first wave of 2026 activations is officially locked in:

• MaruMart (Maruchan debut): The classic instant ramen brand is launching an immersive walk-through designed to look and feel like a traditional Japanese convenience store. Visitors can sample products, track down rare or unexpected flavors, buy SDCC-exclusive merchandise, and hit photo ops with surprise giveaways scattered throughout.
• KAYOU Walls of Fandom: The trading card company makes its SDCC debut with a massive, free walkthrough experience showcasing larger-than-life displays celebrating popular card lines like My Little Pony and K-Pop Demon Hunters. Collectors can grab a SDCC-exclusive “Superfan Passport” and earn stamps here, at Booth #4934 inside the convention center, and at a Friday evening fan meetup at Tito Rick’s Garage on Imperial Avenue.
• Labu’Tique Farmers Market: The incredibly popular pop-up shop returns with a fresh theme this year. It will be styled as an open-air farmers market where collectors can buy highly sought-after designer toys and plushes, including Labubus, Jelly Cats, Needohs, and Squishy Toys.
• Hello Kitty Cafe Truck: An absolute staple of the lot, the pink truck returns to serve themed sweets—macarons, madeleines, and the oversized Chef Cookie—alongside exclusive 2026 merchandise like custom quarter-zips, throw blankets, mugs, and totes.

More studio activations, custom menus, and daytime booth giveaways will keep rolling out as the convention approaches. Keep an eye on the blocks immediately surrounding the ballpark, too: in past years, nearby storefronts along 7th Ave have been converted into temporary themed pop-ups and cafes for the weekend.

Getting There: Petco Park as a Comic-Con Transit Hub

Even if you aren’t attending an event at the ballpark itself, Petco Park is one of the main drop-off points for the official Comic-Con hotel shuttle system—recently handling the high-traffic Red and Purple routes. Step off the shuttle, walk across the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge, and you’re instantly at the convention center.

Specific 2026 shuttle routes, hotel assignments, and service hours haven’t been finalized yet. Check the official Comic-Con website closer to the convention for the full schedule.

The Padres During Comic-Con Week

As is tradition, the Padres hit the road during SDCC 2026 to make room for the madness. Their last home game before the convention is Sunday, July 12 against the Toronto Blue Jays, and the team doesn’t return to Petco Park until Tuesday, July 28 against the Colorado Rockies. That effectively hands the stadium and Gallagher Square over to Comic-Con for the full week.

Not at Petco: The Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park

Worth flagging for first-time visitors: the Comic-Con Museum is a separate, year-round attraction. It is not part of the convention itself, and it is not at Petco Park. Run by the same nonprofit (Comic-Con International), it lives a few miles north in Balboa Park, inside the former Hall of Champions building at 2131 Pan American Plaza.

The museum rotates immersive exhibits drawn from the Comic-Con universe—recent runs have featured Spider-Man, Batman, and the U.S. premiere of Doctor Who: Worlds of Wonder. It’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Wednesdays). Balboa Park parking is free, and it’s a reasonable rideshare or short drive from downtown. If you’re in San Diego during Comic-Con week without a badge and want more than the street-level activations, this is a solid half-day stop.

More 2026 Coverage

Check back as announcements roll in. We’ll continue to update this page with programming news, ticket on-sales, new Petco Park activations, and anything relevant to the fan experience outside the convention center doors.

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