San Diego Comic-Con 2020 Cancelled

Yesterday, the organizers of San Diego Comic-Con made the difficult decision to cancel San Diego Comic-Con 2020 this Summer. Social distancing restrictions due to the global COVID-19 pandemic made putting on the show impossible. This is the first time in the shows 50 year history that event will not take place. It will return in July of 2021. Those that already purchased badges fro the show will have the option to get a refund, or transfer their badges to San Diego Comic-Con 2021. Emails for those details will go out to badge holders within the next few weeks. We’ve mirrored the press release, which you can see after the jump.

As many of our readers know, San Diego Comic-Con is an event we have attended since 2009. Along with Toy Fair, SDCC is one of our favorite times of the year. We always look forward to the great new toy and collectible reveals, and sharing tons of photos with our visitors. As with everyone, we’re saddened by the news, but completely understand the decision. If the event had gone on, the chances were very high that Toyark staff would not have attended this year. With the event now officially cancelled, companies are likely going to be sharing their reveals online, as well as offering their exclusives to a broader audience. We’ll be bringing you that coverage, and details on how to obtain exclusives as we find out.

When San Diego Comic-Con 2021 rolls around, and things start to get better, we look forward to celebrating the event as we always do. So, for now we hope that everyone is staying home, and staying safe, and most importantly, staying well.

Comic-Con Announces Plans in Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Current Situation Requires Exceptional Measures

For the first time in its 50-year history San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC), the organizers behind the annual pop culture celebration, announced today with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020. 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, they 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 the Governor of California 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, 2020 will 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 major 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.

SDCC 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.

In the next few days onPeak, Comic-Con’s official hotel affiliate, will be canceling all hotel reservations and refunding all deposits made through them. There is no need for anyone who booked through onPeak to take any action, including trying to cancel their reservations online or contacting the company via phone as the process will be handled automatically. Those who booked rooms through onPeak will be notified when refunds have been completed.

“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 the organization. “We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy.”