San Diego Comic-Con 2026 is in the books! Thousands of attendees had the opportunity to venture through the show floor, listen and cheer at panels covering all-things pop culture. But if you weren’t lucky enough to score a badge to get inside, there were still ways to be part of the celebration in the form of “activations”.
Activations are off-site temporary pop-ups put together by studios to promote their latest movies and or series. These are placed in seemingly every open area around the convention center. As simple as a photo op or as complicated as a carnival ride inside a dome, these activations provide the general public the opportunity to immerse themselves into some of their favorite movies or series.
At this year’s edition of San Diego Comic-Con, I had the opportunity to take part in a number of activations. We’ll go through some of them I enjoyed, wrapping up with my favorite. Also if you visit our Instagram page, you can watch videos of all of these activations!
ADULT SWIM ON THE GREEN
After years of missing out, I was finally able to make my way to the “Adult Swim on the Green”. I got a small prize using tiny hands at the eight-foot tall Marshall fountain inspired by “Common Side Effects. Then feeling brave I put my hand in a “free hole” that promised gifts, I got a kite.
Speaking of feeling brave, my second favorite part of the Adult Swim activation was climbing on top of Mr. Boss from “Smiling Friends” and hanging on as he swings round and round until I got thrown off. Only then to have the chance to join Charlie and Pim for a picture.
The activation favorite has without a doubt, the “Rick and Morty” one-of-a-kind scrambler ride renamed, “the RAMbler”. To reach the ride you have to enter a 26-foot-tall Rick head. Once inside and locked into the ride, you’re transported in a music and strobe light-filled world that won’t stop spinning. It was so much fun!
COMICS CENTER OF PASADENA
As a huge fan of “The Big Bang Theory”, getting the opportunity to visit Stuart’s shop was quite the treat. This of course in promotion of the new HBO Max series, “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe”. After getting your very own membership card to the shop, you quickly learn that the machine from the series is in the shop and you’re going to need to find it.
The problem is that you’re going to try and help save a number of worlds to find it. After traveling through a tunnel you find yourself in another part of the comic shop, with windows into other worlds that are activated with your membership card. There are many located around the room that allow travelers to have unique experiences. But in the end just like Stuart, you’re going to fail to save the universe.
Once you complete three missions you head to the final room where you find the missing device. You switch that bad boy on, get a quick message from Stuart, take a photo, and head to the final reward area. For your troubles the activation gives you a cool “Comic Books Are My Superpower” shirt, Red Vines, a comic book, and a collectible trading card in a card slab, determined by which character you’ve been assigned to based on your membership card. This was a solid experience that delivered on entertainment and goodies alike.
THE PERCY JACKSON EXPERIENCE
Percy Jackson and his Olympians are back in San Diego. Their activation was right in between the Convention Center and the entrance to the Gaslamp Quarter. As you enter the line you are asked to choose one of three paths pertaining to a specific god which include Percy, Annabeth, or Thalia. I chose Thalia or Zeus, which at the time I went was not a popular choice.
After a quick intro video you venture into the bottom of the trident walking through a forest, leading to a gate where you are separated by your choice. My journey took me to a photo op where I was able to conjure the lightning power of Zeus and hold a spear that also conjures thunder. As you walk through the end of the trident, you’re handed a blind pin and offered a photo off with the title of the series. It’s very simple but well designed.
HULU ANIMAYHEM: THE FANDOM FUEL UP
The Hulu Animayhem activation was a little different this year. In the past it has been a massive activation located behind the convention center by the bay. This year, it was located at the Palm Trees Garden near the Gaslamp Quarter. There the highlights are the two food trucks inspired by “Futurama” and “King of the Hill”.
You first encounter Planet Espresso, where you can get a sip of caffeine to get your Comic-Con day going with Fry’s 100 Days of Cold Brew. On the other side is Bobby Hill’s Robata Chane truck where you can try his yakitori. There is also a station where you can grab an Alamo or Plant Espresso hat and several spots for a fun photo. While still a good time, past Hulu Animayhem offerings leave this one looking a bit small.
MANNY’S WINNER: LANTERNS: TRAINING HEADQUARTERS
DC Studios’ “Lanterns”, is being released next month on HBO Max. It’s been a while since we have seen the Green Lantern Corps in live-action and a big part of the current DC Universe. So it makes sense that they would bring their training headquarters to San Diego Comic-Con.
Here participants were split into four groups, which were transported into the world of Rushville, Nebraska to prove their fearlessness and willpower. One by one the groups snuck through a farm that would shoot any intruder on sight. That is followed by weapons training, where you try and hit a set of targets with four shots. Finally our group snuck into the Sheriff’s office where it was our job to uncover a password.
After succeeding our mission, all four teams meet in the courtyard and meet with a Guardian, who gives us the good news that we are all worthy of being a Green Lantern. You are then presented with a Green Lantern ring to take with you. But before you go, you all together take the oath as the room lights up green. In the final area, you are also awarded with a Heineken beer and a cool virtual photo. Before you leave, you can also buy exclusive merchandise.
As a fan of DC, I feel that this activation put me right into the show that I would want to be in. The sections felt immersive and entertaining, leading up to the prize all DC fans would want, the ring.
Overall the activations were fun, giving me the opportunity to learn more about some properties I hadn’t seen yet, and enjoy moments from some that I cherish. The best part, if you want to take part next year, you don’t even need a badge. Just remember that ahead of San Diego Comic-Con some of these activations sometimes offer RSVP via so keep up with the studio’s social media pages. While others, just get in line early.
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