Comic Con International has officially announced the cancelation of both the San Diego Comic-Con and Wonder Con for 2020. The announcement comes along with ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, with a statement confirming that both conventions will not be rescheduled for 2020, but will instead push ahead for new plans in 2021. SDCC 2021 will take place across July 22-25, 2021, while WonderCon has been scheduled to take place March 26-28, 2021.
The official statement reads:
For the first time in its 50 year history, the show will not go on. Comic-Con International announced that there will be no San Diego Comic-Con in 2020 — and the next planned event will be July 22-25, 2021.
Badge-holders will receive an e-mail in the coming week with instructions on how to either request a refund for their 2020 badge, or to transfer their badge to Comic-Con 2021. For anyone who had purchased an Early Bird hotel through onPeak, hotel reservations will be cancelled and refunded, despite being “non-refundable” when booked. Please have patience on this process — it may take a few days, but there is no need to take any action.
“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,” Comic-Con International said in a statement.
Additionally, while initially WonderCon — which was originally set for April 10-12, 2020 — was announced as being “postponed”, it is also now officially cancelled for the year. Organizers hope it returns to the Anaheim Convention Center on March 26-28, 2021. The Comic-Con Museum opening is also being delayed, with more information coming in the upcoming months.