San Diego’s great weather and proximity to Los Angeles have long allowed the San Diego Comic Con to attract major studios and actors to promote their newest projects. This prestige, in turn, attracts massive crowds, many of whom don’t even have badges and instead enjoy the activations and fanfare outside the convention center. All of which results in a chaotic, larger-than-life street scene that’s entirely unique to the convention.
Here are some of the strange things we spotted at the 2026 SDCC that you’re unlikely to witness anywhere else:
Food From Your Favorite Cartoons
Ever wonder if the drinks at Planet Espresso really are out of this world? Or if Bobby Hill’s cooking really lets you taste the meat, not the heat? I’m here to tell you, yes, and yes. In fact, while I usually avoid coffee, I would instantly say “shut up and take my money” for another lavender latte from Futurama.
As for Bobby’s yakitori, that boy is right when it comes to cooking, but watch out for the Alamo beer —it’s so watered down it may as well be sparkling water.
An Intergalactic Night Club
It’s not every day you get to drink a cosmically tasty cocktail while listening to an Andorian DJ, but thanks to the Paramount+ Lodge, Star Wars fans could beam into a truly unique nightlife experience designed to promote the upcoming season of Strange New Worlds that aired the first day of the con.
Perhaps the strangest part, though, was leaving this fully immersive experience and suddenly finding myself back on a busy San Diego street.
Changes to Local Landmarks
Of course, this part of San Diego doesn’t even look like its usual self. The Gaslamp Quarter sign is one of the most iconic symbols of Downtown San Diego —so naturally, a promotional team at SDCC paid to transform it into an ad for the upcoming Avengers Doomsday release. This year marks the first time the sign has ever been modified during Comic Con.
Illegal Building Wraps
It’s common knowledge amongst SDCC fans that local hotels break the law every day of Comic Con. The law in question? A local ordinance prohibiting the large colorful wraps seen on practically every hotel near the convention center. In fact, it costs the hotels around $1,000 a day in fines to display the ads, with the city collecting over $19,000 in fines in 2025. Even with these fees, though, the property owners are still collecting enough ad revenue to make the massive displays profitable.
Real Life Hot Wheels
Mattel went all in on the marketing of their SDCC exclusive Derpy Kitty Hot Wheels toy sold in the convention itself by creating a full-size version of this pop-culturized Porsche. It’s not every day you see nerds and car fans geek out on the same object, but this was one purrfect vehicle.
Custom Modded Cars
Pizza Planet may not be real, but their delivery truck sure is – complete with Buzz and Woody dangling from the back of the trunk. Funny enough, while this was a fan vehicle and not an ad, it is also available as a collectible Hot Wheels toy.
Wookie-Driven Pedicabs
He may not be able to make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, but this wookie could get you where you need to go in style. I admire his dedication, considering it was 80 degrees with 67% humidity that day.
Real-Life Mario Kart
While relaxing on a smaller side street, this Luigi came out of nowhere, threatening to shell us before looping through a hotel driveway and speeding back to the finish line a few streets over.
Mario Fencing Battles
The Society for Creative Anachronism is a group dedicated to re-enacting historical skills and combat of old. The local Barony of Calafia always does demonstrations at the convention, but this year, they decided to make the matches even more con-friendly by incorporating a little Mario flair into their garb.
Seeing Mario, Luigi, Bowser, a Chain Chomp, Princess Daisy, Bowsette, Waluigi, and more fence in a battle royale was like watching a live-action Super Smash Bros.
Incredible Wheelchair Cosplays
Anyone can cosplay at SDCC, and there are plenty of talented wheelchair users who incorporate their chair into their costume. But even beyond the attendees, there are also always spectacular wheelchairs on the floor, courtesy of the Magic Wheelchair charity. This talented group of volunteers donates their time to transform children’s wheelchairs into something magical — like this breathtaking Battle Cat.
Or this charming One Piece ship.
Absolutely Unexpected Cosplays
Sure, you might see a Deadpool, Mario, or Wonder Woman at any convention, but it takes real creativity to bring out something truly surprising at SDCC. That’s why one of the most talked about cosplays of the weekend (outside of Ryan Reynolds cruising the con dressed as Denim Deadpool) was possibly the Trogador the Burninator in the Masquerade. Outside the convention, this Inflatable Tube Man was getting just as much attention as some of the more impressive superhero costumes. Creativity truly is king when it comes to cosplay!
Pennywise Getting a Touchup
Maybe he’s born with It… maybe it’s Maybeline. Well, this monster may not have looked like a Cover Girl after his little liner adjustment, but he certainly got a little mood boost from his beauty treatment —and isn’t a makeover supposed to make you feel like you’re floating?
Lesser-Known Legends
A lot of people may not recognize anyone in this photo. But the guy on the left is Lloyd Kaufman, the creator of Troma Entertainment. That might not mean much to you, but his studio not only made hits like the Toxic Avenger (seen at right), but also distributed Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s first film, Cannibal! The Musical, way before South Park ever aired. And decades before he wrote and directed Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn wrote and served as the associate director of Kaufman’s Tromeo and Juliet.
The man next to Toxie? Only Hunter Jackson, though metalheads are more likely to know him by his stage name, Techno Destructor —the co-founder and original costume/prop designer for GWAR. He’s with Lena Fumi, a contortionist and dancer whom he regularly performs with in his more recent gig as a pro-wrestler in Los Angeles.
If you’ve ever attended SDCC, tell us some of the coolest or weirdest things you spotted. Couldn’t make it this year? Catch up on our coverage of the event.
