LA JOLLA, CALIF. – June 12, 2026 – Calling all storytellers, dreamers, gamers, and fans! UC San Diego sets the stage in La Jolla and downtown San Diego this Comic-Con season with The Science of Story, a six-day celebration and exploration of storytelling in all its forms. From July 21-26, enjoy a lineup of concerts, workshops, immersive experiences, and cross-cultural talks from UC San Diego campus partners, including ArtPower, MAVERiC Studio, Park & Market, Indigenous Futures Institute, UC San Diego Library, and the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop.
Get in on the Comic-Con Action with The Science of Story– No Badge Required
Though The Science of Story happens alongside San Diego Comic-Con, a Comic-Con badge is not required to attend any events. Tickets for each event, where required, can be purchased at artpower.ucsd.edu/scienceofstory-2026/.
Events for The Science of Story are held across the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla and at the Park & Market location in downtown San Diego. With both free and ticketed events, The Science of Story explores the art, craft, and cultural power of storytelling, from speculative fiction and graphic novels to interactive role-playing and reinterpreted musical scores of beloved films and TV series. Each event illustrates how storytelling fills the space between the known and the unknown, ultimately revealing the power of stories to move us.
“Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, gamer, or just a fan of gripping storytelling, The Science of Story delivers events that give you the chance to deeply engage with the very idea of story, helping you discover the connective tissue of narrative experiences,” said Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of campus performances and events at ArtPower. “There’s no better way to get into the Comic-Con mood than by attending one or all of the events we have planned. Even if you’re not attending Comic-Con, you’ll find something to love at The Science of Story.”
UC San Diego Offers Lodging Accommodations Throughout Comic-Con
Those traveling to San Diego for Comic-Con 2026 can also take advantage of UC San Diego’s exclusive weekend accommodations. With an on-campus MTS UC San Diego Blue Line trolley stop that takes visitors directly from the La Jolla campus to downtown San Diego, the campus is a gem for alternative Comic-Con lodging. Available for July 22-26 or July 23-27, this room offers a single-occupancy bedroom in a shared suite, fully furnished with a twin XL bed, a dresser for storage, a work desk, and free Wi-Fi. Each room reservation includes a complimentary hot breakfast buffet. Reservations can be made at conference.ucsd.edu, starting at $845 per person for the four-night package.
The Science of Story Events
Schedule subject to change. Visit artpower.ucsd.edu/scienceofstory-2026 for details
Comics of Care: Healing Through Graphic Medicine | Exhibit
June 29-Sept. 13, 2026 | Sally T. Wong Avery Library Breezeway | Free
UC San Diego Library’s Graphic Medicine Collection brings together comics, graphic novels and memoirs that teach us about care, health and healing. These stories explore complex health experiences – from chronic illness and mental health to end-of-life care – through vivid art and storytelling. They offer revealing and personal perspectives that help us better understand ourselves, others, and the many dimensions of health and care. Our librarians – Jeffery Loo, Karen Heskett, and Zemirah Ngow – curated these works to deepen empathy, open conversations on difficult topics and spark meaningful discussion among healthcare students, faculty, clinicians and patients.
We invite you to explore the exhibit and the online collection to learn how graphic medicine nurtures compassion and connection in healthcare. Learn more at lib.ucsd.edu/events.
Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Masterclass
Tuesday, July 21, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | The Loft | Free
The Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Masterclass invites the public into a day-long exploration of the craft and power of speculative fiction — free with registration. Writers, readers, and the simply curious will discover how science, imagination, and storytelling collide, learning the fundamentals of the form directly from acclaimed authors and artists.
Leading the day are faculty and recent alumni of the selective Clarion Writers’ Workshop, including Abbey Mei Otis, T.K. Rex, and Maya Beck. Since 1968, Clarion has served as the premier proving ground for writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. For one day this July, that legacy opens its doors — giving attendees rare access to these instructors, their approaches to craft, and the deep knowledge of the field they carry. Registration is free and open at artpower.ucsd.edu/scienceofstory-2026/.
Shredding the Multiverse: Music from Cobra Kai, The Penguin, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and More
Tuesday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. | Epstein Family Amphitheater | $30–45
A night of cinematic rock, where the screen scores of Mick Giacchino (“The Penguin,” “The Muppets Mayhem,” and beyond) meet the guitar-driven anthems of Zach Robinson & Leo Birenberg (“Cobra Kai,” “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”). Tickets start at $30 atartpower.ucsd.edu/scienceofstory-2026/.
Up Close: A Conversation with Brad Bird and Michael Giacchino
Wednesday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. | Epstein Family Amphitheater | $35-$80
For the third year running, Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning composer Michael Giacchino returns to host an intimate conversation with one of Hollywood’s most beloved filmmakers. Brad Bird is a two-time Academy Award winner whose films — “The Iron Giant,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” and “Incredibles 2” — have a way of sneaking up on you emotionally, no matter how many times you’ve seen them. Giacchino’s scores are inseparable from the worlds Bird creates; if you’ve felt your heart lift during the opening of “The Incredibles” or found yourself unexpectedly moved by a rat making soup in Paris, that’s Michael’s music doing its quiet, powerful work.
Together, they trace the arc of a filmmaking life that began with a handmade short sent to Disney at age fourteen and has never stopped reaching for something extraordinary — and along the way, share stories from over two decades of creative partnership that you won’t have heard anywhere else. Funny, candid, and deeply felt, this is an evening for anyone who has ever loved a movie. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at artpower.ucsd.edu/scienceofstory-2026/.
2026 Indigi-Con
Thursday, July 23, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Park & Market | Free
Back for the second year, Indigi-Con brings together Indigenous comic book creators from Tribes throughout America to share their work and celebrate the power of sequential art and storytelling to convey Indigenous experiences. Drawing together an array of creators, culture-bearers, and impassioned academics, the evening features electrifying panels, vibrant exhibitions, and powerful conversations about Native futurism and ancestral storytelling. Indigi-Con is a space for Native voices to be discovered, echoed, and heard. Indigi-Con registration is free. For more information, visit indigi-con.com
MAVERiC Studio Night Market: The Year of the Game Master
Friday, July 24, 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. | Park & Market | Free
Join MAVERiC Studio for the return of the Night Market, this year celebrating The Year of the Game Master in collaboration with the San Diego Table Top RPG Alliance. The 2026 showcase features the premiere of the studio’s first original cinematic short, “Dice Goblins.” This short and companion mixed-reality experience was developed by MAVERiC Studio and Sony Group Corporation, inviting attendees to master the game with immersive technology. The evening also boasts a wide array of industry guests, panels, shows, and activations all night long. The Alumni Arcade returns with all new experiences and for the first time ever, a community-led “Tavern of Tables”, which will transform UC San Diego Park & Market into a massive Table Top & Immersive gaming hub. Celebrate the studio’s third anniversary, as the STUDiO Players return to Park & Market’s Guggenheim Theater and close the evening with the studio’s signature series, the Dragon City Chronicles actual play. Registration is free at mavericstudio.ucsd.edu. Support the show with VIP tickets available for $75.
ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF STORY
Now in its third year, The Science of Story is a UC San Diego signature experience. Hosted with partners across the university, this immersive six-day event series explores the art, craft, and cultural power of storytelling from speculative fiction to science communication, graphic novels to groundbreaking social commentary. The Science of Story invites writers, readers, fans, and thinkers to come together and dive into the many dimensions of narrative. Learn more about The Science of Story at artpower.ucsd.edu/scienceofstory-2026/.