For more, see our sneak peak at 2026 San Diego Comic Con, which opens Thursday, following a preview night the day before for full-convention badge holders.
Didn’t get a badge to Comic-Con this week and feeling a big case of FOMO coming on?
Well, put aside that fear of missing out because there’s plenty to see and do even if you can’t get inside the San Diego Convention Center for Comic-Con.
As the pop culture convention has exploded in popularity, it has had to expand beyond the spacious rooms of the convention center. Movie studios, television networks and online platforms have taken over parts of the Gaslamp with events to promote their offerings.
The activations, also known as offsites, generally allow entry for non-badge holders. Ask the staff to make sure at the front of the offsite before you take a spot on a long line.
Here are just some of the activations scheduled this week:
Adult Swim
Look for a series of free nighttime events, including outdoor screenings of new content, a live table read with the cast of “Rick and Morty” and a cosplay display. The activities will be held Thursday through Saturday on The Green outside the San Diego Convention Center at Fifth Avenue Landing and Convention Way.
San Diego Public Library
The library will offer a free, five-day conference at the Central Library downtown. There will be panels and programs promoting education and literacy, using comics as a medium for learning.
Petco Park
The open-air parking lot across from the home plate entrance at Petco annually is converted into an Interactive Zone with activities and food trucks. This year, KAYOU, a Chinese collectibles and entertainment company, offers a Wall of Fandom as part of a walk-through exploration of their items. There will be larger-than-life installations, displays and product showcases. Visitors will be able to purchase KAYOU items and build their collections.
KAYOU is also hosting fan meetups and trading events offsite at Tito Rick’s Garage at 2918 Imperial Ave.
In addition, the Hello Kitty Coffee Truck returns to the Petco Park Interactive Zone, marking its 12th year at Comic-Con. The truck will operate from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. but note that they will only be accepting credit cards — no cash.
Another truck will be pulling up outside of Petco Park at 100 Park Boulevard, hosted by excecutive producer, writer and star of the comedy-mystery series “Diarra from Detroit.” Diarra, herself, will be slinging ice cream scoops to fans of the series on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Seaport Village
“Clash of the Clans,” a popular combat strategy game played on mobile phones, will organize a real-life class at Seaport Village. There will be an interactive challenge room experience and a ticketed “Clash for the Stache” live experience that challenges guests with a quest. There will also be photo opportunities, giveaways and merchandise for sale.
Visit clashforthestache.com for information about tickets.
Candy Land
Fans will be able to step into real-life version of the popular board game by visiting A Candy Land Café. The café will open at the Bayside Kitchen + Bar at 2137 Pacific Highway. There will be 90-minute seatings for $24.50 per person. The café will have photo opportunities, a menu designed to match the spirit of the game and activities like cookie decorating.
Paramount+
The Lodge, the entertainment giant’s hub, features activities and interactive experiences for popular shows including an Avatar Legends™: The Fighting Game arcade placement. The Lodge will be at Happy Does (340 Fifth Ave.) from Wednesday through Sunday.
Also, there’s 60 Years of Star Trek Archives Experience, celebrating the iconic show’s landmark anniversary. It will include a Holodeck VR experience, photo opportunities, exclusive swag, interactive claw machines with “Star Trek” prizes and a souvenir photo station where guests can choose their faction and take home a personalized, themed card. The experience will be at The Sinclair event venue at 643 G St.
Hard Rock Cafe
The “Forest is Calling Portal Experience” is the first physical look at the world of the film “Wildwood,” opening in theaters on Oct. 23. The space for LAIKA, which has produced five animated films, including 2009’s “Coraline,” is open Thursday through Sunday, featuring the film’s Impassable Wilderness.
Nickelodeon
The activation, “Fun Flows Here,” takes place in Museum Park, across the street from The New Children’s Museum, 200 W. Island Ave. It will include a “Kids Imagine Nation” stage, games and entertainment inspired by “PAW Patrol,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “The Thundermans” and Star Trek: Scouts. And, yes, there will be slime. The activation is open Thursday to Sunday.
Note: the Museum and its parking garage will be closed from Tuesday to Sunday.
The Gaslamp sign being transformed ahead of Comic-Con 2026 (Photo by Adrian Childress/Special to Times of San Diego)More in Gaslamp Quarter
Enter Posiden’s trident in Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians activation located in Gaslamp at the corner of 5th Avenue and L Street. From 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday, participants can choose to explore one of three paths inspired by either Percy, Annabeth or Thalia.
Just down the road, the Wild Hare Bar Garden at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp will be transformed into the Level Up Lounge. Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday, the space will be transformed into a retro gaming-inspired bar, complete with pixel-art as an ode to video games’ golden age.
Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp will transform its LandShark Bar & Grill into the LandShark Lunar Landing Bar from Wednesday through Sunday. Featuring themed drinks and an abundance of photo opportunities, the transformation blends the bar’s tropical style with a darker, sci-fi atmosphere.
With one truck in the Gaslamp Quarter and three others in areas surrounding the convention center and Petco Park, American Horror Story is freaking out the neighborhood with its very own set of ice cream trucks. From Thursday through Saturday, the four trucks each day will represent one of the series’ twelve seasons as iconic characters from the show greet fans. On Saturday evening fans will be invited for the “13th Scoop” activation.
GameStop
The King of Monsters is landing in San Diego at the Mission Valley GameStop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. before Wednesday’s preview night at the convention center. Fans can shop new official Godzilla merch, pick up a free promotional button, snap photos and participate in a meet-and-greet.
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