News Summary
The badge sale for San Diego Comic-Con 2026 began today, successfully catering to eligible returning attendees. Despite minor loading issues at the start, badges sold out quickly, with 75% of participants securing their spots. Upcoming Open Registration is scheduled for November 15, allowing anyone with a Member ID to purchase badges. The convention will take place from July 22-26, featuring selling points for various demographics and no overlap with major Marvel film releases.
San Diego – The Returning Registration badge sale for San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026 commenced successfully this morning, specifically catering to eligible returning general attendees from the previous year. The sale started promptly after the waiting room opened at 7:30 AM PT, allowing attendees to prepare for the sales process.
However, some participants faced a minor inconvenience due to a loading issue that caused the webpage to display a white background with limited text. Although the text was challenging to read, it could be highlighted, enabling users to navigate the sale. Once the sale started, operations continued smoothly, alleviating early concerns.
At precisely 9 AM, the randomization process for attendees in the waiting room began, assigning each individual a line position. Attendees were provided with a status bar featuring a toucan that offered wait-time estimates during the badge purchasing period.
The badge sales concluded swiftly: Preview Night badges sold out in just 32 minutes, slightly quicker than the previous year’s 35 minutes. Saturday badges followed suit, selling out in 65 minutes, maintaining consistency with last year’s 75 minutes and the 66 minutes observed in 2024. Friday badges sold out in 70 minutes, compared to 81 minutes in 2025 and 73 minutes in the previous year. Thursday badges took 84 minutes to sell out, while Sunday badges sold out a bit later in 88 minutes. This year’s Returning Registration was recognized as one of the smoothest implementations in recent years.
According to a poll, 75% of participants successfully secured at least one badge during the sale, reflecting a significant improvement from the previous year, where 8% of participants experienced glitches, compared to only 2.5% this year.
The next opportunity for badge registration, termed Open Registration, is scheduled for November 15, 2026. This registration is available to anyone possessing a Member ID. Badges purchased will be mailed to the addresses registered under each Member ID. General hotel sales are anticipated to commence after Open Registration, likely in April. Various other credentialing events will precede the convention, including those for volunteers and trade professionals.
San Diego Comic-Con 2026 is set to take place from July 22-26, with Preview Night on the 22nd. The convention will be hosted at the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding hotels. For first-time attendees, badges will also become available on November 15, 2026.
Pricing for adult badges ranges from $64 to $85 per day, with special discounted rates available for teenagers, seniors, and active military personnel. Children aged 12 years and under can enter for free, with adults allowed to register up to two children. Additionally, adults can volunteer for a badge by completing a three-hour shift.
Exhibitors will need a seller’s permit to obtain badges, while press badges will be accessible to various media outlets covering the event. It’s worth noting that the 2026 convention will not coincide with any major Marvel film releases, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day scheduled to release shortly after the event.
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Additional Resources
- SDCC Blog: San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Returning Registration Recap
- Wikipedia: San Diego Comic-Con
- The Popverse: SDCC 2026 Dates
- Google Search: San Diego Comic-Con History
- San Diego Union-Tribune: Comic-Con 2026 Badge Sale
- Google Scholar: Comic-Con Event Impact
- USA Today: SDCC Tickets and Badges
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Comic-Con 2026
- San Diego Magazine: Comic-Con Guide
- Google News: San Diego Comic-Con 2026
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
