Important Notes About Attending Programs and Events at Comic-Con Special Edition
Comic-Con Special Edition features a comprehensive and diverse schedule of programming events. It spans all three days and includes 13 separate rooms in the Convention Center, ranging from 256 seats to 1,000 seats to the larger 4,250-seat Ballroom 20 for the Masquerade on Saturday night.
The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Hotel has opened their meeting space to us. The facility is located on the Harbor Drive side of the hotel, adjacent to the Convention Center on the Hall A side. Events are in Pacific Ballroom 14–16, 17–19, 21–22, and 23–26. The Marriott Marquis serves as the headquarters hotel for games and the Hospitality Suite.
As attendance at Comic-Con events has grown, so has the number of people attending the programs. To make everyone’s programming experience as safe and pleasant as possible, please follow these guidelines. While they apply to all events and rooms at Comic-Con Special Edition, including anime, film screenings, and games, they are particularly important in the larger programming rooms. These procedures are for safety purposes and to help ease line and crowd control issues. They include:
- Some of the larger rooms have specific areas for lining up. When you’re in a room, please watch the presentations on the screens that occur between events for directions for leaving once a program is over. Also, look for signage that will help you locate the correct line for each programming room.
- Comic-Con Special Edition has a break between programs in Room 6DE. This break is to help get attendees in and out in a timely manner. The room will not be cleared during these breaks. (The programs in the other rooms—2, 5AB, 7AB, 8, 9, 23ABC, 24ABC, 25ABC, 26AB, 29AB, and 32AB—will still run back-to-back without breaks.)
- In addition to following current health-care and governmental guidelines, everyone attending Comic-Con Special Edition will be required to wear an approved face covering regardless of vaccination status at all times, even while sitting. Face coverings should completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of the face, and not have any gaps.
Please keep in mind . . .
- Seating in all event rooms at Comic-Con Special Edition is on a first-come, first-served basis. Because of the number of attendees, simply having a badge does not guarantee a seat in programs and events or an autograph from a specific celebrity. If there is a specific program or presentation you would like to see, it’s always a good idea to plan accordingly and arrive early.
- Seating is limited in each room, from the smallest (256 seats) to the largest (1,000). To help everyone, please:
- Do not put your bags, food, or other items on the seat next to you.
- Please do not save seats.
- Don’t leave gaps in seating. Please fill in all seats.
- If you are standing in a room, you may be asked to move or to find a seat. This request is for safety reasons and is under the jurisdiction of the Fire Marshal. Standing in any programming room at any time is not recommended.
- There is no reserved seating for press. Press badges do not guarantee entry to any event.
- Rooms will not be cleared between programs. You are permitted to stay in the same room for multiple programs (with certain exceptions; if a room is to be cleared, it will be announced).
- Full rooms: Rooms filled to capacity will be closed, and no additional attendees will be admitted. This policy is under the jurisdiction of the Fire Marshal.
- Recording of any of the video footage or images projected onto the screens in any of the rooms is strictly prohibited. Panel presenters go to great lengths and expense to bring these special presentations for Comic-Con Special Edition. In many cases, they are exclusive, specifically for you, the Comic-Con Special Edition attendees. Recording of any of these presentations, by any means, including cameras and camera phones, is a violation of copyright law. Please don’t ruin it for everyone! Comic-Con has an exemplary record in this regard, and that’s why you’ll continue to see exclusive material only at our events, but only you can make sure that continues.
- Photography: Each program has its own set of rules, and sometimes photography is allowed. When taking pictures, please keep these guidelines in mind:
- Keep flash photography to a minimum.
- Take photographs from your seat.
- Selfie sticks, GoPro poles, or any device that extends your camera or phone away from your hand are not allowed.
- Follow the rules of each particular panel. Some events will not allow photography of any kind. An announcement will be made if that is the case.
- Q&A: When asking questions of the people on stage, please be courteous. Because of time constraints, sometimes not everyone who gets in line will be able to ask a question. In the bigger room, 6DE, your question will be screened before you can ask it.
- Cell phones: Just like in a movie theater, please silence all cell phones when you enter any programming room. If you must take a call, please leave the room to do so, but be advised that if the room is full and closed, you may not get back in. At all times, please be courteous to your neighbors.
- Trash: Please take your trash with you. Remember that other people will also be attending events in the room following you. Do not leave trash on the chairs or in the area around your seat.
- Cancellations: In rare instances, a panel will have to be cancelled because of a situation out of Comic-Con’s control. Keep in mind that all programs, events, and listed appearances are subject to change.
WonderCon, Comic-Con International, SAM, and Comic-Con Special Edition have the best attendees in the world and everyone in the pop culture industries knows this. That’s why Comic-Con events have the most incredible guests and programs of any convention. We know you’re here because you love this stuff as much as we do. We are all fans. Please keep the above guidelines in mind at all times, and everyone will have a safe, courteous, and fun time at the show!
Click on a panel below to view more information.
Note: The times listed are based on your current time zone.