Read the full statement issued on April 17, 2020.

COMIC-CON ANNOUNCES PLANS IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Current Situation Requires Exceptional Measures

San Diego – For the first time in its 50-year history San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC), the

organizers behind the annual pop culture celebration, announced today with deep regret, that

there will be no Comic-Con in 2020. The event will instead return to the San Diego Convention

Center from July 22-25, 2021.

Recognizing that countless attendees save and plan for its conventions each year, and

how many exhibitors and stakeholders rely upon its events for a major portion of their livelihood,

they had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by

summer. Continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of

California have made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year.

Similarly, WonderCon Anaheim, which was to have been held April 10-12, 2020 will

return to the Anaheim Convention Center from March 26-28, 2021.

In addition to their conventions, Comic-Con has been planning a major renovation of

Balboa Park’s Federal Building to be completed for the grand opening of the Comic-Con

Museum in the summer of 2021. However, the COVID-19 situation has had an effect on those

efforts as well. As such, they will be rephasing the Museum’s initially planned major

renovations, but will not scale back the experience to be offered to visitors upon the Museum’s

grand opening. They anticipate releasing building plans illustrating the Museum’s transformation

and sharing more information about those efforts in the coming months.

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SDCC also announced that individuals who purchased badges for Comic-Con 2020 will

have the option to request a refund or transfer their badges to Comic-Con 2021. All 2020 badge

holders will receive an email within the next week with instructions on how to request a refund.

Exhibitors for Comic-Con 2020 will also have the option to request a refund or transfer their

payments to Comic-Con 2021 and will also receive an email within the next week with

instructions on how to process their request.

In the next few days onPeak, Comic-Con’s official hotel affiliate, will be canceling all

hotel reservations and refunding all deposits made through them. There is no need for anyone

who booked through onPeak to take any action, including trying to cancel their reservations

online or contacting the company via phone as the process will be handled automatically. Those

who booked rooms through onPeak will be notified when refunds have been completed.

“Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and while we are saddened to take

this action, we know it is the right decision,” said David Glanzer, spokesperson for the

organization. “We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the

community we all love and enjoy.”

San Diego