Comic-Con International today, July 22, agreed to keep Comic-Con in San Diego through 2030, extending one of the city’s most visible convention partnerships.
Comic-Con extends San Diego run
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced the agreement as Comic-Con 2026 opened at the San Diego Convention Center.
Before the new agreement, Comic-Con had confirmed plans to remain in San Diego through 2027. The new deal adds three more years.
Comic-Con 2026 opened with Preview Night on Wednesday, July 22. The four-day convention runs Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26.
Event brings major visitor impact
Comic-Con 2026 is expected to draw more than 135,000 attendees. The event is also projected to generate more than $160 million in regional economic impact through direct and indirect visitor spending.
In addition, organizers expect more than 61,000 hotel room nights during the event. Visitors are projected to spend more than $95 million at local hotels, restaurants, attractions, and businesses.
The event is also expected to generate about $3 million in hotel and sales tax revenue for the City of San Diego.
Convention center reports record impact
Comic-Con began in 1970 as a small gathering of comic book fans. Today, it is one of San Diego’s signature annual events.
The convention features more than 460,000 square feet of exhibit space, more than 1,000 exhibitors, and more than 2,000 hours of programming, workshops, and special events focused on comics, film, television, gaming, publishing, and the arts.
David Glanzer, chief communications and strategy officer of Comic-Con, says the agreement reflects support from the city, the San Diego Tourism Authority, and local hotels.
“We are grateful to the City, Tourism Authority and the many hotels who have joined in offering increased room blocks at competitive rates that can keep tens of thousands of fans returning to Comic-Con in San Diego for years to come,” says Glanzer.
The San Diego Convention Center hosted 92 meetings and conventions in fiscal year 2025. Those events generated a record $1.57 billion in regional economic impact, according to the release.
Mardeen Mattix, president and chief executive officer of the San Diego Convention Center, says Comic-Con’s decision to stay in San Diego through 2030 is a win for the city’s economy and visitor industry.
The San Diego Tourism Authority is a private, nonprofit mutual benefit corporation with more than 1,000 member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals connected to the visitor industry. For more info, visit www.sandiego.org.
Information sourced from the City of San Diego and San Diego Tourism Authority. Edited by Exhibit City News for clarity, length, and style.
