A chance to get San Diego Comic-Con tickets is coming up, but it might not be for the faint of heart.
Comic-Con will hold its annual open registration on Oct. 26 for a chance at one of the coveted 130,000 tickets. It requires participants to create a name and to get into its online ticket portal. Comic-Con veterans probably already have an .
Keep in mind that the pop culture juggernaut already held something called returning registration in late September. That was for people who had purchased tickets to SDCC this year and were given first crack at 2025. The organization has not said how many tickets are left.
To participate in the open registration, SDCC says participants should have created their ID before the sale starts. A virtual waiting room will begin at 8 a.m. on Oct. 26, with the actual sale starting at 9 a.m.
“Since badges are limited and interest is always high, be prepared — this process can be quite competitive,” Comic-Con warned participants on its guide to registration.
The organization recommends having a payment method pre-saved in your profile. Tickets can be for all four days (including preview night) or for individual dates, so it helps to have a backup plan if your first choice is sold out.
Of course, fans aren’t just competing with other fans for a ticket. StubHub and other secondary ticket markets become flooded with tickets at triple the price, and more, in the weeks before the event. Even in 2023 when the actors and writers couldn’t come because of a strike, tickets were selling for as high as $1,450.
Tickets through Comic-Con are much cheaper. Badges for preview night, the Wednesday before the convention, are going for $61, or $31 for military, seniors (60 years old and up) and what the organization calls “juniors” (13 years old to 17 years old).
The main days, Thursday to Saturday, run for $80 a day or $40 for seniors, military and juniors. The final day, Sunday, costs $60 or $30 for military, juniors and seniors. Sunday is typically a much slower day with few s, but activities for children.
Tickets for children who are 12 years old or younger are free if they are accompanied by a paying adult.
Participants in open registration can buy badges for two other people. However, those people must also create a member ID, which must be plugged in to the online form (along with their last name) during the purchase.
Before the big day, Comic-Con gives participants the option to sign up for email communication, or follow them on social media, to have the most up-to-date information.
