San Diego Events
What's actually coming up: conventions, tech meetups, and gaming nights, with dates and official links.
Upcoming
Sep 5–6, 2026
Anime San Diego
animeAnime, cosplay, and pop culture convention downtown. Artist alley, vendors, cosplay contests, and guests.
San Diego Convention Center Official site →
Oct 17, 2026
SDCC 2027 Badge Pre-Sale
conventionReturning-attendee badge pre-sale for San Diego Comic-Con 2027. Open registration for everyone else follows on Nov 14, 2026.
Online Official site →
Late Oct – early Nov 2026
Jousting, period costumes, artisan vendors, medieval food, and live entertainment. Check the site for this year's exact weekends.
Felicita County Park, Escondido Official site →
Nov 2–6, 2026
The region's biggest startup conference, with 5,000+ attendees, 100+ speakers, and 40+ events across five days.
Downtown San Diego Official site →
Nov 13–15, 2026
TwitchCon San Diego
gamingTwitch's official convention returns to San Diego. Streamers, esports, panels, and meet-and-greets.
San Diego Convention Center Official site →
Nov 13–15, 2026
San Diego Anime Con
animeThree-day anime convention with artist alley, cosplay events, screenings, and vendors.
DoubleTree by Hilton, Mission Valley Official site →
Jul 22–25, 2027
San Diego Comic-Con 2027
conventionThe largest pop culture convention in the world. Preview Night is Wednesday, July 21.
San Diego Convention Center Official site →
Dates verified July 2026. Always confirm on the official site before making plans.
Recurring Meetups & Game Nights
Friday Night Magic at Game Empire
Sanctioned Magic: The Gathering events in Draft, Standard, and Commander formats.
Game Empire, Kearny Mesa
Official site →San Diego JavaScript (SDJS)
Monthly meetup for JavaScript and web developers. Talks, networking, and demos, friendly to all skill levels.
Various venues
Official site →San Diego Python
Monthly Python meetup covering web development, data science, machine learning, and scripting.
Various venues
Official site →D&D Adventurers League at Game Empire
Official organized-play D&D. A good entry point if you're new in town or don't have a group yet.
Game Empire, Kearny Mesa
Official site →Looking for arcades and game stores instead? See the gaming page for a full map of local spots.
Events Guides
San Diego Comic-Con: The Ultimate Attendee Guide
Everything you need to know about San Diego Comic-Con: how to get badges, hotels, offsite events, what to expect, and how to enjoy SDCC even without a badge.
Best Nerdy Things to Do in San Diego: The Ultimate Guide
From Comic-Con to arcade bars and escape rooms, a complete guide to the best nerdy activities and experiences in San Diego, CA.