P-CS will be attending New York Comic Con 2026 this year as Press. While the most exciting part of con for us is always the show floor, panels matter. We can’t focus on ALL panels though, just what catches OUR personal interest. There’s already overlap and press sessions and any show floor appointments might end up trumping any panel or signing. Just how schedules go. Off the bat though, Thursday has a wild amazing announcement, so this is exploration is in order of announcement on the panels page. If you want full details or all the panels go to the Panels and Screenings page yourself and get lost in the wildness.
THURSDAY
Alice Cooper in Conversation with Stevie Van Zandt, Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: This ticketed event will be presenting Alice’s memoir and buying the book gets you into the panel for sure.
Form Your Con Crew: Find Your People IRL – Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM: We have needed to find NEW people as our people have passed on, moved away or turned toxic. This might be a perfect thing to attend if you are in the same situation and would love to find a new friend to come to future events with or as it is on Thursday be your crew for the weekend.
DC’s Vertigo + Black Label, Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: The Vertigo and Black Label books have been excellent. If time allows I’d want to attend for not just info, but hope of promotional items.
Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation, Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 4:15 PM – 5:45 PM: This Empire Stage panel will be where almost everyone will want to be. Having it be on the Thursday afternoon is pretty wild, but it would also be the perfect way to make sure the convention is making the news circuits, which is as important as attendance in terms of everything.
The Art of Imagining: A conversation with Disney Legend, Imagineer Joe Rohde, Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM: Followed by a book signing, this panel will be perfect for those who couldn’t get into MCUTV panel, didn’t get to go to D23 and/or those who love the Disney Parks.
Crystal Lake: Exclusive First-Look Screening, Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Another HUGE Thursday panel for the newest in the F13 franchise. Empire Stage means they expect a huge crowd for this A24 screening and Q&A.
ABRAMS Spotlight Panel, Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 6:45 PM – 7:30 PM: Major overlap here for me as Abrams is one of my favorite publishers and this will be a focus on 2027. Lots of decision making to be done, and s mentioned in the opening paragraph, show floor schedules and press sessions will change everything for us.
3rd Annual NYCC Poetry Slam! Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM: As this at 7:45 and I do have a little history with the host and a LOT of history with the NYC Poetry Slam scene (albeit it being a long time since I was deep in) I feel I’ll need to squeeze this in. Maybe my seasoned veteran status will help.
Coney Island Variety Show, Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Yet, overlap conflict right here. The Coney Island theme was a big part of even attending this year’s 20th Anniversary. Them bringing the side show to the Javit’s is not miss. There are other sessions, but we shall see. This is going to a convention.
FRIDAY
WAYNE BRADY: IMPROV NERDVANA (18 and up), Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: A mind-blowing, music-fueled improv experience starring Wayne Brady, blending the chaos of Comic-Con fandom with the genius of unscripted comedy. It’s part concert, part sketch show, part cosplay love letter, and 100% made up on the spot.
IDW Publishing: You’ll Want to Be in This Room, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM: New Title announcements and more. Scheduled for the panel-Christopher Cantwell, Mariko Tamaki, Matthew Rosenberg, Patrick Horvath, Tony Fleecs
SUPERGAY with Frankie Grande, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Frankie in the Pride Lounge with his book in talk with Michael Musto with a book signing to follow. ERHAGAWD.
Inside Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM: Creative Supervisor Jason Weber, the Shop Director Melissa Crichton, and puppeteers and builders from the Shop’s newly launched tour will talk about the history of this iconic must-see hub of imagination. The panel will also share a peek into the Shop’s exclusive location and answer the burning puppet-building questions we all have: How does a monster eat all those cookies? How does a Fraggle swim in a pond? And many more!
Rocky Horror Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again! Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM: They haven’t named who from the Broadway show is on the panel but I am definitely intrigued.
Celebrating 50 years of Interview with the Vampire, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: This event is ticketed through getting the anniversary edition of Interview, but Anne’s son Christopher knows the lore and J.R. Ward knows vampires so this should be a very cool talk. It was also one of the first things NYCC locked down on announcements.
The Cast of Clair Obscur, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Ben Starr, Jennifer English, Ashley Robinson, Rich Keeble and Kirty Rider talk working the award winning video game.
PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks | Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM: Behind-the-Scenes of the New Animated Series with Exclusive Screening, plus promised giveaways
20th Century Studios and Imagine Entertainment present “Whalefall”, Fri, Oct 9, 2026 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Director/co-screenwriter/producer Brian Duffield and author/co-screenwriter Daniel Kraus join Austin Abrams for a deep dive on the epic and emotional survival thriller about a young man’s encounter with a massive sperm whale. Based on the acclaimed novel, the visceral, immersive, cinematic event of The Fall opens exclusively in theaters October 16.
Marvel Comics: Bullpen Bulletins! with Stephen Wacker, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: This page in Marvel comics was/is always great. Can’t imagine what it’ll be like live, but intrigued.
Skybound Comics: Vision for the Future, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM: A great line-up- Stephen Graham Jones, Leandro Fernández, Tate Brombal, Matt Emmons , Doug Mahnke, Ben Abernathy and Alex Antone present what’s coming for Skybound.
The Harvey Awards Presents the 2026 Hall of Fame, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM: As the title of the panel states. More details to come but a panel to keep an eye on. The overlap here is extreme especially with the next panel.
Oni Press: The Loudest Thing in Color Since 97, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM: Oni Press is turning 30 next year and they start the celebration here!
BLUMFEST 2026, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: A HUGE Empire Stage presentation. Violent Night 2 will be highlighting and then surprises.
TITMOUSE Spotlight, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM: Chris Prynoski, Ben Calina and who knows. Titmouse works and has worked on your favorites and are working on a cartoon I am super excited about. Hoping maybe they reveal more here on it.
Cyanide & Happiness, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 6:45 PM – 7:30 PM: One of two announced sessions from the crew. This one is 18+.
Common Side Effects: Season 2, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: World Premiere Screening and Panel with the creators and cast.
PRH Presents: Buzzy Books 2026, Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 9:00 PM – 9:45 PM: An after hours presentation from Penguin Random House of a variety of the books that are attracting the most attention from readers and more.
SATURDAY
Bob’s Burgers and Futurama Animation Panel, Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Take notice here, this is two panels back to back on the Main Stage with no clearance in between. All of Bob’s Burgers will be there, all of Futurama too. This is one of the biggest ones of Saturday that is of TV/Movies, just know it’ll be a long ride.
DC’s Next Level & Beyond, Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: This is a big one too. DC has other panels among the convention and I’m sure will have stuff in booth but they may be keeping some still unannounced series for this.
Nicolas Cage Spotlight, Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12 PM: And not to be outdone, this is also at the same time as the other two panels. No announcement on moderator, but who knows what stories Nic might choose to span over the over. It could be anything from Vegas to Treasure to Spider Noir to MADDEN.
Murray Hill in Conversation with Peppermint, Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: All those panels are at the same time and then there’s this. Murray Hill is someone I have seen perform in the past and love them getting this great opportunity at NYCC.
Cyanide & Happiness, Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM: The other session with the team. This one is not marked 18+.
Kyle MacLachlan’s Fictional Selves (Book-with-Ticket), Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM: I want to read Kyle’s memoir and am a fan of his career so I may need to make time for this.
Marvel Comics: House of Ideas, Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Marvel will be dropping their news series here.
“BALLS: The Monster-Catchin’ Musical Comédy” (leaked Bootleg World Premiere), Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM: A screening of last years major panel, this is your Saturday night part. Hosted by Stuart Zagnit. This should be a blast!
SUNDAY
NCIS: NEW YORK Panel, Sun, Oct 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: LL Cool J and Scott Caan, the NCIS veterans who are the cast of the new show will there and Byron Balasco, the show runner as well.
The Baby-Sitters Club: 40 Years of Friendship, Sun, Oct 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: This panel being overlapped is really going to make NYCC hard. Raina Tegelmeier and Gale Galligan will be on it and I’m sure will talk their history with the series as much as the new GN they made together.
EINSTEIN Screening & Panel, Sun, Oct 11, 2026, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM: I love me some Matthew Gray Gubler, he was a sweet heart when I met once for his children’s book, he was such a performer. This show is gonna be fun, love the chance to get on the ground floor.
25 Years of Artemis Fowl, Sun, Oct 11, 2026, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: The overlap here is really hard. I’ve met Eoin Colfer and seen him talk a few time and it’s always great, one of my favorite writers and there’s a book signing after.
There’s a bunch of unannounced panels that may throw ALL of this out wack. The show floor could too. For anyone who was looking the Autographing and Photo-Ops list for NYCC and going where’s the big stuff? It’s here In the panels. After this write up I started looking at the panels even more and noticed tons I missed. NYCC 2026 has it all and this isn’t even close to everything. So much to come.