Guide to Game of Thrones at San Diego Comic-Con 2016

The San Diego Comic-Con International kicks off tonight. Well, technically it kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, but Preview Night is tonight. Thus begins a massive five-day celebration of all things pop culture, and Game of Thrones is a big part of it. Here’s your guide to the show’s presence at the con.

Game of Thrones cast and crew panel

The big event is the Game of Thrones panel, where actors and producers will talk about Season 6 and beyond. It’ll be held on Friday at 2:15 p.m. in Hall H, the biggest hall the San Diego Convention Center. As of this writing, 3272 people have signed up to attend. Hall H has a capacity of 6,130 people, so it’s filling up quick. If you want to attend, get in line early.

Here’s who’s on this year’s panel:

• Executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
• Director Michael Sapochnik (“Battle of the Bastards,” “The Winds of Winter”)
• John Bradley (Samwell Tarly)
• Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos Seaworth)
• Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei)
• Isaac Hemptstead Wright (Bran Stark)
• Conleth Hill (Varys)
• Faye Marsay (The Waif)
• Kristian Nairn (Hodor)
• Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton)
• Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark)

Unfortuantely, big names like Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), and Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) are missing, but it’ll be nice to pick Benioff and Weiss’ brains after they sat out Comic-Con last year.

The panel is being moderated by Rob McElhenney of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. (Benioff and Weiss wrote an episode of that show for its ninth season, and longtime Always Sunny director Matt Shakman will be directing at least one episode of Game of Thrones Season 7). The panelists will sign autographs at 4:15 p.m.

Your moderator

CONAN panel

As he did last year, Conan O’Brian will be filming a number of shows straight from Comic-Con. Fresh from their appearance in Hall H, Game of Thrones cast and crew members will stop by the show on Friday. Many of the same people will show up for CONAN, including John Bradley, Liam Cunningham, Nathalie Emmanuel, Conleth Hill, Faye Marsay, Kristian Nairn, Iwan Rheon and Isaac Hempstead Wright, and executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

A Song of Ice and Fire: Game of Thrones fan discussion

There are other Game of Thrones-related panels afoot. On Saturday at 4:00 pm, Song of Ice and Fire fans will gather at the Neil Morgan Auditorium in the San Diego Central Library for a discussion about “popular and obscure fan theories,” and to compare the books to the show. Panelists include Amin Javadi (Podcast of Ice and Fire, Bastards of Kingsgrave), Ashley Mitruk (Podcast of Ice and Fire), Kyle Maddock (Podcast of Ice and Fire, AfterBuzzTV), and Tara Lynne (The Geekiary). There’ll be a general Q&A, too.

The House of Black and White experience

At 628 L Street, across from the Omni Hotel, HBO has set up its very own Hall of Faces, supervised by Game of Thrones costume czar Michelle Clapton. Fans can have their picture taken with a custom app and then have their face rendered on the infamous Wall of Faces, alongside all the other dead of this world. They can also check out costumes from the show, pose with Needle, Arya’s sword, and even sit the Iron Throne. Jewelry from Clapton’s new line, much of it based on Daenerys Targaryen, will also be on display.

Merch, Merch, Merch!

Naturally, there will be a ton of Game of Thrones-related merchandise at Comic-Con. There’s so much that HBO is taking advantage of it and throwing a “scavenger hunt,” which involves sending fans scurrying around the convention snapping selfies of themselves next to various pieces of GoT merch, and then entering themselves into a raffle to earn a bag of swag. Here’re the details, including how to enter the raffle and what you could win.

And there’s more! Here’s some of the other pieces of Game of Thrones merchandise you’ll find on the floor.

Composite Effects – Booth #2944

• The Night King Mask and Gloves

Dark Horse – Booth #2615

• The Night King Bust (Silver)
• The Night King Pin
• Son of the Harpy Figure
• The Night King Figure
• Stannis Baratheon Figure

Factory Entertainment – Booth #2647

• Direwolf Cub Plush Box Set II (features Shaggydog, Lady and Summer)
• The Red Keep Relief Sculpture
• The Royal Crown of King Robert Baratheon
• The Wall and Castle Black Limited Edition Desktop Sculpture

Funko – Booth #5341

• Dorbz Three-Pack – White Walker, The Hound, Joffrey
• Mag the Mighty 6” Funko Pop!

USAopoly – Booth #1017

• CLUE®: Game of Thrones™ Convention Exclusive: Expansion Pack
• CLUE®: Game of Thrones™
• MONOPOLY®: Game of Thrones™ Collector’s Edition
• Risk®: Game of Thrones™

Insight Editions – Booth # 1703

• Pop-Up Guide to Westeros Book
• Astrolabe Collectible
• Sigil Stationery Sets
• Journals
• Poster Book Collections

Living Language – Booth #1034

• Living Language Dothraki

Chronicle Books – Booth #1506

• Inside Game of Thrones: Seasons 1 & 2
• Inside Game of Thrones: Season 3 & 4

Think Geek – Booth #3351

• Game of Thrones Dragonclaw Goblet Replica
• Game of Thrones House Sigil Journals
• Game of Thrones House Sigil Wine Charms

We’ll be reporting on the events as they happen. Have fun and stay safe!