Else Beekman
Málaga is about to make history. The city will host the first-ever San Diego Comic-Con outside the United States, turning it into a must-visit destination for fans of comics, video games, and science fiction.
According to town officials, this move places Málaga firmly on the global entertainment map. They compare it with how the Latin Grammy Awards boosted Seville’s international reputation in 2024.
A Comic-Con (short for Comic Convention) is a large event dedicated to pop culture. It focuses primarily on comic books, movies, TV series, video games, and science fiction & fantasy genres. For fans, creators, and industry professionals, the panel discussions, workshops, exclusive premieres, and opportunities to meet celebrities and artists will be very attractive.
The San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) is the most famous and influential Comic-Con in the world, held annually in San Diego, California. It showcases major entertainment industry announcements and sneak peeks at upcoming films and series and is a hotspot for cosplayers—fans who dress up as their favourite characters.
The Málaga Comic-Con will be the first official European branch of the San Diego event, bringing the same high-energy experience to Spain.
How Málaga won the bid
For almost a year, local authorities and Comic-Con organisers have been working behind the scenes to bring this world-class event to Málaga. The Andalucian regional government, through Turismo Andaluz and the Agencia Digital Andaluza, joined forces with Málaga City Council to make it happen. A team from San Diego recently visited the city to check out the venues, infrastructure, and transport links. In the end, Málaga’s strong international connections and hospitality industry made it the perfect choice.
What to expect
The event will take place at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos and other venues. The whole city will come alive with panels, workshops, and exclusive film, book, and video game premieres. Major players like Disney, Netflix, and HBO are expected to take part, bringing top-tier content and big-name guests. If the San Diego event attracts 130,000 visitors each November, Málaga’s version is set to be just as massive.
A city ready for the challenge
Málaga already has a thriving geek culture. Think of events like FreakCon, which recently moved to Torremolinos and pulled in over 45,000 visitors. Now, with Comic-Con on the way, the city is preparing for an even bigger crowd. The combination of Málaga’s international airport, excellent transport links, and high-quality accommodation made it the ideal candidate for hosting such a major event.
The big announcement
On Monday, 10 March, the official launch of Málaga Comic-Con will take place at the prestigious Hotel Miramar. During this presentation, organisers will reveal the dates and further details of the Comic-Con in Málaga. The Spanish actor and director Santiago Segura will host the event. Well-known figures in the film and TV industry, including Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, Icíar Bollaín, Carlos Areces, Paco Plaza, Álex de la Iglesia, and Joaquín Mazón, will accompany him. Their involvement highlights just how important this convention will be for Europe’s pop culture scene.
What it means for Málaga
The economic boost from hosting Comic-Con could be enormous. Seville’s Latin Grammy Awards brought in nearly €50 million and over 10,000 visitors. Given Comic-Con’s broader appeal and open ticket sales, Málaga is likely to attract even more international guests. Hotels, restaurants, and local businesses can expect a surge in visitors. This will further establish Málaga as a top destination for major global events.