For the first time in its 50-year history, Comic-Con International San Diego has cancelled its annual weekend event, which was set to take place at the San Diego Convention Center this July. 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, Comic-Con organizers 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 California Governor Newsom 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, has been cancelled with plans to 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 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.
Comic-Con organizers 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.
"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 San Diego Comic Convention the organization behind Comic-Con. "We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy."
Comic-Con organizers 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.
"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 San Diego Comic Convention the organization behind Comic-Con. "We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy."
Comic-Con International is a four-day pop culture convention founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention in 1970 by a group of San Diegans. This is the third major San Diego to be cancelled in the past week. The San Diego County Fair also announced it would not be hosting its 2020 incarnation, as did the San Diego Pride Festival. We anticipate the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will be announcing the cancellation or postponement of its summer horse racing season in the near future.
For more information about Comic-Con International San Diego, visit comic-con.org.
