You’re here to have fun. We’re here to make it possible for you to have that fun. For all that to happen, Comic-Con has a few policies that are necessary for the safety and comfort of everyone. Please comply so that you and everyone else can enjoy the convention. These convention policies are for Comic-Con 2019.

These policies are subject to change.

Airspace (Balloons, Drones, etc.)

No devices may be flown or tethered within the confines of the Exhibit Hall or at any Comic-Con function in the San Diego Convention Center and on Convention Center grounds. This includes drones, helium balloons and helium-filled products, or any lighter-than-air objects either powered or unpowered.

Badges

To help prevent scalping and counterfeit badges, Comic-Con badges are once again enabled with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags. However, this year you will no longer have a separate RFID card in addition to your paper badge! A complete Comic-Con badge is made up of two pieces only: the plastic badge holder with an RFID sticker attached and your daily or 4-Day paper name badge(s).

At various points of entry to the San Diego Convention Center, Hall H, and the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel, you will encounter gates with a “SCAN HERE” indicator near the top of the gate. All you need to do is tap your badge briefly to the indicator. When you do, you’ll get a green light that indicates you’ve been validated and are okay to enter. When you leave, you MUST tap your badge out so you may re-enter when you return.

It is extremely important to remember to tap your badge when you leave, or you could be denied re-entry! If you forget to tap out or if you experience an issue with your RFID sticker, please visit one of the RFID Badge Help Desks located in Lobby A, D, and G of the San Diego Convention Center or visit the Registration Area located upstairs in the Sails Pavilion and look for the Attendee Badge Solutions desk. If you are sent to an RFID Badge Help Desk to resolve a badging issue, you will need a photo ID to validate that you are the badge holder of record.

Always wear your badge and hang on to it! You will need your badge to attend any Comic-Con function, including all daytime and nighttime panels and events at the San Diego Convention Center and other program and event locations around downtown (including the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Omni hotels, plus the Horton Grand Theatre and the San Diego Central Library) and, of course, browsing or shopping in the Exhibit Hall. Keep your badge visible so guards do not stop you. If you’re asked to show your badge and photo ID, please do so. Badges are nontransferable. Please do not give your badge to a friend or to people outside the Convention Center when you leave Comic-Con. Security will perform random ID checks throughout the convention, so make sure the name on your badge matches your photo ID!

You will need to show your badge—or your badge confirmation email—to get onto Convention Center property, from Hall A through Plaza Park on the south end of Hall H.

Badge Privacy Notice

Your event badge is encoded with a number that allows exhibitors to obtain your full name, company name, address, phone number, and email address. If you allow an exhibitor to scan your badge using RFID or the barcode, they can get this information. If you do not want exhibitors to have your contact information, do not allow your badge to be scanned and do not give your badge to anyone else.

If an exhibitor scans your badge and obtains your contact information, they may contact you, send you information or share your information with others. Comic-Con does not rent, sell, lend, or give its mailing list to anyone other than parties that need the information to assist in producing our events (e.g., the registration and housing companies).

Code of Conduct

Attendees must respect commonsense rules for public behavior, personal interaction, common courtesy, and respect for private property. Harassing or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Comic-Con reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the membership and badge of any attendee not in compliance with this policy. Persons finding themselves in a situation where they feel their safety is at risk or who become aware of an attendee not in compliance with this policy should immediately locate the nearest member of security or staff member so that the matter can be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Comic-Con Information Desks are located in the lobbies of Halls C and D of the San Diego Convention Center. During show hours you can always find a Comic-Con staff member or security guard at the Information Desks. Please stop by there if you have any questions or concerns.

Costume Props Policy

No functional props or weapons are allowed at Comic-Con. Simulated or costume weapons are allowed as a part of your costume, subject to prior approval by security and compliance with the following:

All costume props and weapons must be inspected at one of the Costume Props Desks.

There are two locations: one near the outside door in the lobby of Hall E, and the second in Lobby C2, between the escalators.

All costume props and weapons must conform to state and federal law.

Projectile costume props and weapons must be rendered inoperable.

Functional (real) arrows must have their tips removed and be bundled and zip-tied to a quiver.

Costume swords must be tied to your costume in such a way that they can’t be drawn.

Costumes featuring stilts must be approved at the Costume Props Desk.

At certain times, due to crowds and safety issues, people in oversized costumes may be asked to leave the Exhibit Hall.

After your costume props have been checked, they will be tagged by security, and you will be given a wristband to wear to designate that your props have been checked.

Security will escort you to the Costume Props Desk for inspection if your costume prop is not tagged.

If you do not want to have your costume props inspected or tagged, or if you are not willing to comply with these policies, please do not bring your costume weapons to Comic-Con.

All costume props and weapons must be inspected at the Costume Props Desks.

No Handouts

No handing out of anything—including flyers, stickers, cards, or any promotional item—is allowed in any area inside or outside the San Diego Convention Center, except from within a booth in the Exhibit Hall or when preapproved for placement on the Freebie Tables in the Sails Pavilion.

No Bicycles, Scooters, and Hoverboards at Comic-Con

Scooters and bicycles are not allowed on the San Diego Convention Center grounds, including inside the building. By order of the Fire Marshal, hoverboards are not allowed at Comic-Con, including all inside or outside areas of the San Diego Convention Center, and additional venues featuring Comic-Con events.

No Handcarts, Trolleys, Rolling Luggage, or Oversized Strollers in the Exhibit Hall

Please be aware that, for safety reasons, no handcarts, trolleys, rolling luggage, or oversized strollers are allowed in the Exhibit Hall. Attendees found on the exhibit floor with these items will be asked to leave the Exhibit Hall.

No Live Streaming of Any Program or Event at Comic-Con

The usage of live streaming apps and software on any electronic device (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) is not allowed in any official Comic-Con program and event rooms, both onsite at the San Diego Convention Center and in other Comic-Con venues.

No Market Research at Comic-Con

Comic-Con does not allow market research, surveys, or information-gathering in any public area—indoors or outdoors—of the San Diego Convention Center, or any other venue featuring Comic-Con events.

No Paging

Please keep in mind that there will be no personal pages over the P.A. system. Set a time and place to meet with your family and friends and communicate with them via text or phone when necessary. There is also a message board available at Comic-Con in Lobby C, where you can post written messages.

No Pets Allowed

If you have pets, including iguanas, parrots, boa constrictors, or other nonhuman critters, please leave them at home. The San Diego Convention Center will not allow animals into the building except for service animals. If your service animal is not wearing any kind of ID identifying them as a service animal, you may be stopped by security. For your convenience, please stop by Disabled Services in the lobby of Hall A for Service Animal Stickers for your Comic-Con badge.

No Retail Sales Unless Exhibit Space Has Been Purchased

No retail sales are allowed anywhere in Comic-Con unless you purchased or were allocated exhibit space. This includes the Exhibit Hall, common areas such as lobbies, program rooms, and outside venues, such as the San Diego Convention Center grounds, and any venue featuring official Comic-Con events. Retail sales are strictly limited to the exhibitors in the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall. In addition, there is no solicitation of tips, fees, or donations for any reason, unless you have a booth, table, or official space allocated by Comic-Con.

No Selfie Sticks or Similar Devices at Comic-Con

Selfie sticks, GoPro poles, stilts, or any device that extends your camera or phone away from your hand or body are not allowed at Comic-Con. If you’re seen with one of these devices, you will be asked by security to put it away and not use it at Comic-Con. This includes all of the San Diego Convention Center: Exhibit Hall, programming and event rooms, etc., and on Convention Center grounds outside, and any official Comic-Con events outside the Center, including the hotels, theaters, and the Library.

No Sitting in Exhibit Hall Aisles

By order of the fire marshal, sitting in the Exhibit Hall aisles is not allowed. Lounges are located throughout the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall and near food concessions for your convenience.

No Smoking, Including E-cigarettes and Vaping Products and Devices

No smoking is allowed at any Comic-Con event at any time and in any location. No smoking at Comic-Con includes traditional cigarettes, pipes, cigars, or E-cigarettes and any vaping product or device. This policy includes the Exhibit Hall, all the Programming rooms, and event spaces at the San Diego Convention Center and additional Comic-Con venues. You are welcome to step outside the Convention Center to smoke in designated smoking areas only, but please be considerate of others when you do. This policy is in place not only for the comfort of attendees but also to comply with San Diego city ordinances prohibiting smoking at public events near any doorway, entrance, exit, or operable window. Please comply with this policy; noncompliance may result in ejection from the convention.

No Strollers Allowed in the Programming Rooms

By order of the fire marshal, strollers are not allowed in any of the programming rooms. Stroller parking is located in various areas in the San Diego Convention Center; see the map on pages 6 & 7 in the Quick Guide publication. Stroller parking will be free of charge and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note: Comic-Con will not provide security or check-in/check-out for the strollers.

No Video or Audio Recording of Panels for Public Display

Cameras and recording devices are permitted in program and panels rooms but cannot be used to reproduce the presentation and must not interfere with other fans' enjoyment of the presentation. Any recording of panels or programs is allowed only for personal use and not for broadcast in any form. No video or audio recording is allowed of the footage on the screens during movie and television panels. The footage shown in these panels is exclusive, brought to us by the studios and networks. Please respect their rights and allow us to continue to show this type of material to our attendees.

Prohibited Items

Alcohol or alcoholic beverages are not allowed inside the San Diego Convention Center or at any of our official offsite events. Bag searches may be performed at various entry locations. Wanding and metal detectors may be used at some locations as well. Make sure to leave your drones, helium balloons, helium-filled products, fireworks, handcarts, trolleys, rolling luggage, and pets (excluding service animals) at home. Absolutely no functioning props or weapons are allowed. Only active on-duty police officers may carry firearms within the Convention Center. All other persons are strictly prohibited regardless of license or status.

Wearable Cameras/Video Recorders/Camera Phones

Remember that recording of footage on the screens during panels is prohibited (see above: No Video or Audio Recording of Panels for Public Display). This includes any recording device, digital, analog, or otherwise, including wearable cameras. You cannot wear these devices during footage viewing in any program room.

Also, please turn off your devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) and put them away during the screening of panel footage. Not doing so interferes with everyone’s viewing quality and causes security to think you’re recording the clip.

Comic-Con reserves the right to change or modify any policy or rule at any time and without notice.