San Diego Comic-Con has officially launched into high gear with its first full day of madness! While the floor is currently buzzing with thousands of eager pop-culture lovers, the real talk of the con started last night during Preview Night. Among all the booths, interactive displays, and off-site setups, it was Paramount’s massive multi-platform activation that unequivocally stole the show.
Navigating the Paramount Experience: Survival Tips & Highlights
If you are heading down to check out the Paramount experiences over the weekend, here is what you need to know before stepping into line:
Shade & Accessibility: The outdoor wait can be intimidating, but there is good news! Lines are actually pretty shaded—especially the ADA Line, where organizers set up a separate area directly under the trees.
Worth the Wait: Standby lines for the outdoor activations can get extremely long and move slowly. However, if you are a big Star Trek or Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, it is 100% worth it once you get inside to experience the crisp, glorious indoor air conditioning.
Beat the Heat: While waiting outside, come prepared! Please bring SPF, an umbrella, and a hat to protect against the San Diego sun.
Personalized Merch Heads-Up: The option to get personalized merchandise is a fantastic, high-quality touch, but keep in mind that it slows things down considerably and can create congested bottlenecks. Plan your time accordingly!
Showstopper Entertainment: While every franchise gets its moment, the Star Trek entertainment is clearly where the most thought, budget, and creative effort went. Overall, it’s a fun, cool, AC-filled haven amidst the Comic-Con chaos.
Step Into Worlds of Avatar: The Last Airbender, South Park, and More
San Diego Comic-Con has always been where fandom comes to life. Across the convention center and throughout downtown San Diego, beloved franchises will leap off the screen through immersive worlds, exclusive sneak peeks, can’t-miss panels, interactive games, and unforgettable fan experiences that celebrate some of Paramount’s most iconic brands.
Whether you’re stepping into the Four Nations, exploring the U.S.S. Enterprise, getting slimed with Nickelodeon, battling through an arcade game inspired by your favorite Paramount+ series, or discovering what’s next for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paramount’s presence at Comic-Con is designed to immerse fans in the stories they love.
On the Show Floor & The New Children’s Museum Park
Inside the convention center, Nickelodeon’s Fun-ergy Factory invites guests to generate “fun-ergy” through interactive challenges that build toward a nearly 20-foot-tall Slime Surge. Fans can also “Enter the Splat,” a fully immersive environment featuring surprise photo and video moments, pose alongside the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles inside a sewer lair photo opportunity, and browse exclusive merchandise, including TMNT x G.I. Joe collectible figures, the Boss Logic x Avatar Legends™: The Fighting Game limited-edition art print, and the Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book 3: Fire vinyl soundtrack album. Talent appearances and giveaways add to the excitement.
Outside the convention center, Nickelodeon is expanding the fun with Fun Flows Here at The New Children’s Museum Park. Families can enjoy interactive stage shows inspired by PAW Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Thundermans, and Star Trek: Scouts; pose with photo installations celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the Kids’ Choice Awards; create their own slime, explore hands-on activities, and even step inside Nickelodeon’s iconic slime booth. The celebration continues with a family movie night featuring The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants on July 25, while museum members will receive exclusive access to a preview event on July 23.
Interactive Gaming & The Paramount+ Lodge
Paramount+ also returns with multiple ways for fans to play and explore. The Press Play Arcade offers an interactive gaming experience where visitors can compete in custom games inspired by Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Among Us, and South Park for branded prizes.
Outside the convention center, the Paramount+ Lodge returns to Happy Does in the Gaslamp District to offer fans interactive experiences inspired by hit series and fan-favorite franchises. Guests can explore the U.S.S. Port Galley from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, view the original U.S.S. Enterprise model provided by the Roddenberry Estate, wander Republic City Marketplace from Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, visit South Park, and unlock exclusive photo opportunities and free swag. And just a few blocks away, fans can cool off at the Diarra From Detroit Ice Cream Truck on July 23 ahead of the season 2 premiere of the Paramount+ Original series on July 29.
Pop-Ups, Partnerships & SDCC Badges
Comic-Con also marks Pluto TV’s debut on the convention floor with What’s in Store, a futuristic video store where fans can walk through immersive sci-fi, supernatural, and anime-themed infinity rooms inspired by Pluto TV’s expansive content library before leaving with a custom poster.
At Marriott Marquis, the Products & Experiences division created Star Trek: Boldly Built, bringing together the LEGO Group and Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering for a one-of-a-kind Star Trek photo experience and promotional card giveaway. And throughout the convention, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will also take over the official San Diego Comic-Con badges with artwork featuring the U.S.S. Enterprise soaring above the convention center. The design will also appear in the official Comic-Con Digital Souvenir Book and on a limited-edition T-shirt available exclusively through the Official Comic-Con Merch Shop.
Big Reveals from Beloved Casts of Ghosts, Eternally Yours, Star Trek, and More
Beyond the immersive experiences, Paramount’s biggest stars and storytellers will take center stage throughout Comic-Con.
July 23: The festivities begin with Star Trek: The Collector Frontier, celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary alongside Paramount Products & Experiences, the LEGO Group, and Magic: The Gathering. Fans can expect exclusive product reveals, creator conversations, and giveaways.
July 23 (Hall H): Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender heads to Hall H, where filmmakers Bryan Konietzko, Michael DiMartino, and Lauren Montgomery will join voice cast members Dave Bautista, Eric Nam, Jessica Matten, Dionne Quan, and Roman Zaragoza for an in-depth conversation moderated by Janet Varney. Attendees can expect exclusive sneak peeks and news about Avatar Legends™: The Fighting Game.
July 24: The Avatar celebration continues with an exclusive screening of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, giving fans an early look at the new adventure before its Paramount+ premiere.
July 24 (CBS & CBS Studios): Back-to-back excitement with Ghosts & Eternally Yours. Starts with a panel featuring Ghosts stars Utkarsh Ambudkar, Asher Grodman, and Román Zaragoza, followed by a first-look screening of Eternally Yours with stars Ed Weeks, Allegra Edwards, Jaren Lewison, Helen J. Shen, and Parker Young.
July 25 (Star Trek Hall H Takeover): Hall H hosts a massive celebration spanning six decades of the legendary franchise. Introduced by Rod Roddenberry and moderated by Scott Mantz, the event features cast members from every era, including George Takei, Michael Dorn, Robert Picardo, Cirroc Lofton, Connor Trinneer, Doug Jones, Michelle Hurd, Jerry O’Connell, Christina Chong, and Karim Diane.
Season 4 Preview: The celebration then shifts to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Paul Wesley, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Christina Chong, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, and Alex Kurtzman for a preview of Season 4, alongside free screenings at the Balboa Theatre on July 24.
Paramount Games Studio & Consumer Products
High-Octane Gaming
Gaming fans will have plenty to explore as Paramount Games Studio spotlights Avatar Legends™: The Fighting Game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, and Star Trek Fleet Command.
Launching July 23, Avatar Legends™: The Fighting Game will be playable throughout the weekend at the IGN Gaming Lounge across 25 demo stations. Meanwhile, TMNT fans can dive deeper into the upcoming TMNT: The Last Ronin game during their dedicated creator panel alongside PlatinumGames. Star Trek Fleet Command will also celebrate the franchise’s 60th anniversary with an archive experience featuring official memorabilia, a Holodeck VR experience, and souvenir cards.
Bringing Fandom Home
The excitement extends to Paramount Products & Experiences, offering exclusive collectibles, panels, and first looks:
TMNT Mondoverse: Mondo’s Toy Talk Panel on July 23 offers a behind-the-scenes look at packaging and concept art, featuring guest artist Ben Bishop.
Publishing Panels: Packed lineups including Dark Horse Comics (Avatar Legacy), BOOM! Studios (Garfield), WEBTOON Entertainment (Star Trek), and Nacelle’s Build-A-Bridge panel unveiling a new Star Trek action figure.
Floor Exclusives: Thunder Bay’s Avatar Paint with Water giveaway, a NECA booth signing with Ciro Nieli, and Thrilljoy’s reveal of new Ferris Bueller and Avatar products.
The Verdict
From first looks and exclusive screenings to immersive activations and can’t-miss panels, the week ahead promises to showcase the power of fandom at its very best. If Preview Night was any indication, Paramount has set the bar high for SDCC! Just remember your sunscreen, pack your patience for the merchandise lines, and get ready to soak in the air-conditioned sci-fi magic!
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