San Diego Comic-Con will look a little different this year, and for the first time in history, the entire event will be held virtually and for free. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the annual convention canceled all in-person celebrations, but organizers quickly set up a new event titled Comic-Con@Home. Not only will the event expand its reach to those usually unable to attend, but crowds and costs won’t be an issue this year around.
In previous years, over 130,000 attendees flocked to San Diego for what has become one of the biggest pop culture events in the world. Crowds would pack the convention building and wait in gigantic lines to enter Hall H in the hopes of catching a glimpse into the most popular panels. Aside from a slew of vendors, those in attendance were met by exhibitors, immersive experiences, and special celebrations focused on all things comics, TV, and movies. Those at home were primarily left in the dark when it came to panels, relying on news blurbs and videos to be added at a later date, if ever. That, however, will not be the case for 2020’s adapted event.
Comic-Con@Home is keeping the original dates of July 22-26 as the event’s webpage will officially transform at 9:00 AM PST on Wednesday. After that, fans from all over can participate from the comforts of their own homes including access to an Online Exhibit Hall that features 700 exhibitors. There will also be special events like the Virtual Masquerade and cosplay contests. And since it wouldn’t be Comic-Con without programming, the event is hosting over 350 panels across five days. With an emphasis on online participation, the event is giving fans easy access through the Comic-Con@Home website.
How To Watch San Diego Comic-Con 2020 Panels Online Free
Due to the special circumstances this year, San Diego Comic-Con will be streaming all of their panels for free on YouTube. Their website features a detailed list of programming for Wednesday through Sunday. From there, participants can click on a panel of interest which will provide a specific YouTube link. That link will then go live when the panel is set to broadcast. For those looking to plan their own Comic-Con@Home schedule, the site allows participants to add panels to create a personal programming list. In addition, fans can watch all the star-studded events by subscribing to the official Comic-Con YouTube channel at no cost.
Comic-Con@Home might be missing some heavy-hitters like Marvel Studios and DC Entertainment, but fret not, there will still be plenty to enjoy. The cast and director of The New Mutants will be highlighting Thursday’s slate of panels. The next day will host panels for all three shows within The Walking Dead universe before the weekend features events centered on titles like The Simpsons, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Wynonna Earp, and The 100.
As an added bonus, certain multimedia groups will be streaming their own special interviews and inside-looks centered around Comic-Con@Home. IGN is streaming 34 panels on their website and social channels in addition to various exclusive content. It’s also important to check in with specific TV shows, movies, networks, and studios to see if there are any interactive elements for specific panels. This might be new territory for San Diego Comic-Con, but it will be interesting to see if some of these virtual options stick around for years to come to keep certain aspects accessible to all.
