The four-day pop culture celebration, nerd-fest, fan convention held each July in San Diego has officially been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. This is the first time in 50 years that SDCC has been cancelled. While there will not be an event in 2020, Comic-Con will return to the San Diego Convention Center from July 22-25, 2021. 

In a statement on their website, SDCC states “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.” Those who have already purchased badges can request a refund or transfer their badges to the 2021 event. 

This is a huge disappointment for fans who spend the year looking forward to the convention, saving their money, and perfecting their cosplays. Not only is this a blow for fans but it’s also a blow to the local San Diego economy. According to CNN, the convention regularly draws about 125,000 attendees to SDCC and the greater San Diego area. There are also dozens of artists and creators who make a large portion of their income from exhibiting at the show. 

“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.”

Over the years, SDCC has become the biggest celebration of pop culture from comic books to movies to TV shows. Actors, fans, creators, and artists come together to geek out over the things they love and the things that inspire them. Major movie studios like DC and Marvel also use SDCC as the place to announce their biggest news, including upcoming movies and other projects, something everyone always looks forward to. 

We’ll miss SDCC this year, but we respect the steps the organization has taken to protecting everyone involved including fans, actors, and artists.