Excited attendees at the Comic-Con San Diego, showcasing creativity and fandom.
Comic-Con, the premier pop culture convention, is set to kick off in San Diego, having sold out all its badges. The event is expected to draw 135,000 attendees who will contribute significantly to the local economy. While some local businesses, like Shisan Fan, thrive during this period, others are hoping for changes in the event’s timing to balance tourism better. The convention features a range of panels, including discussions with notable figures, and runs from July 24-27, promising various activities for guests and fans.
San Diego – Comic-Con, the premier pop culture convention, kicks off on Thursday and is officially sold out. Previous estimates by the city of San Diego prior to last year’s event projected around 135,000 attendees would spend approximately $96.5 million over the weekend, generating a broader economic impact of $160 million throughout the region.
Oscar Chou, who manages his family restaurant, Shisan Fan, located just two blocks from the San Diego Convention Center, saw a significant increase in customers during last year’s event. Shisan Fan opened shortly before Comic-Con and was bustling with patrons dressed in costumes throughout the day. During the convention week, the family increased their workload and supply of fresh ingredients to keep up with the demand created by the influx of attendees.
However, not all businesses in the Gaslamp District share the same sentiment. Omar Farah, who owns two novelty stores in the district and another outlet in Seaport Village, reported that while his stores usually attract steady summer tourist traffic, they experience a slowdown specifically during Comic-Con. Farah noted that many convention-goers tend to make their purchases within the convention center rather than exploring his shops. He suggested that a rescheduling of Comic-Con to late fall or winter would likely increase local visitor numbers as summertime crowds diminish and would help amplify business for local retailers.
Alonso Nuñez, the executive director of Little Fish Comic Book Studio, has a long history with Comic-Con, having attended for over 30 years, and serves as a judge for this year’s Comic-Con Hall of Fame class. He emphasized the importance of attendees exploring neighborhoods beyond the convention center, like Little Italy and Barrio Logan, to truly appreciate the cultural richness San Diego has to offer beyond Comic-Con activities.
This year’s Comic-Con features a variety of panels, including notable personalities such as George Lucas, who will participate in a discussion on the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, slated to open in 2026. The convention runs from July 24 to July 27 at the San Diego Convention Center, with attendee badges already sold out for this year’s event.
In addition to panels, several events and activities will be available throughout the weekend. Livestreams from IGN are also scheduled to take place on July 25 and July 26, further enhancing the experience for those unable to attend in person.
As Comic-Con approaches, local business owners are cautiously optimistic, with some embracing the opportunities it presents and others wishing for a different timing that might balance local tourism more favorably with convention traffic. Discussions around the economic impact of events like Comic-Con continue to spark conversations among San Diego’s residents and business community.
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