Convention - SDCC 2026 : Mattel Brings Eight Exclusive Collectibles and a Packed Fan Experience

By Mulder, 14 july 2026

Mattel is once again preparing one of the biggest collector destinations at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, returning to booth #2945 in Hall D of the San Diego Convention Center with an ambitious mix of exclusive collectibles, creator panels, cosplay events, signings, product reveals and interactive experiences running throughout the convention from July 22 to July 26. Long considered one of the show's most popular toy exhibitors, the company has built a reputation for transforming its booth into more than just a retail space, offering fans a chance to meet the designers behind their favorite brands while unveiling the next generation of collectibles. This year's lineup continues that tradition by celebrating several milestone anniversaries, major entertainment licenses and some of Mattel's most successful in-house franchises, while also embracing newer pop culture phenomena that have rapidly developed passionate fan communities.

Collectors will find eight convention exclusives spanning nearly every corner of the Mattel portfolio. Among the highlights is the WWE Elite 3-Pack celebrating the unforgettable crossover between professional wrestling and pop music with Cyndi Lauper, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Captain Lou Albano. The release pays tribute to the "Rock 'n' Wrestling" era of the mid-1980s, a period that helped propel the then-World Wrestling Federation into mainstream popular culture through Cyndi Lauper's involvement alongside wrestling icons, forever changing sports entertainment. The automotive lineup continues Mattel's recent emphasis on entertainment licenses with a Hot Wheels KPop Demon Hunters Porsche 911 GT3 R, a Hot Wheels Stranger Things 10th Anniversary Hawkins Van celebrating the enduring success of Netflix's flagship supernatural series, and a Hot Wheels Top Gun 40th Anniversary Set, commemorating four decades since the release of the blockbuster film that transformed naval aviation into a global pop culture phenomenon. Dinosaur fans will also be able to purchase the Jurassic World Hammond Collection 25th Anniversary Collector Edition Velociraptor, while animation enthusiasts can look for the KPop Demon Hunters Ramyeon 3 Pack, demonstrating how quickly the recent Netflix property has become part of Mattel's growing collector strategy. The fantasy side of the portfolio receives one of its most humorous exclusives with the Masters of the Universe Gym Bro Skeletor figure, while horror collectors will undoubtedly be lining up for the Monster High Skullector Lagoona Blue doll, continuing the highly sought-after Skullector series that has regularly sold out shortly after release.

Beyond exclusive products, Mattel has assembled a schedule designed to immerse fans in every major franchise represented at the booth. Preview Night on Wednesday, July 22, officially launches the festivities before a full slate of programming begins the following morning. Thursday opens with a Mattel Brick Shop design presentation teasing future building projects, including a major reveal for Halo fans, followed by the WWE Elite Squad Reveal Panel, a Monster High cosplay gathering, a WWE Superstar meet-and-greet complete with exclusive collector posters and pins, and a design discussion dedicated to the creation of this year's Lagoona Blue Skullector release. These presentations have become increasingly popular because they offer something rarely available to collectors: direct access to the designers responsible for translating beloved entertainment properties into premium collectibles while explaining sculpting techniques, packaging concepts and the creative decisions that shape each release.

Friday continues the momentum with one of the convention's strongest schedules. Monster High collectors will receive an exclusive first look at future Skullector dolls before Mattel and Universal designers gather for an extensive Jurassic Design Panel hosted by Trisha Hershberger, joined by designers Raf Bencosme, Chloe Mun, Zoe Bjerke and Mike Vazquez, alongside Britt Shotts from Universal. The panel promises new product reveals while exploring the evolution of dinosaur sculpting, decoration techniques and collector expectations within the Hammond Collection. Later in the day, Monster High fans can meet the creative team behind the convention-exclusive doll during a signing session in the Sails Pavilion, while recurring Jurassic World Aquilops Handler photo opportunities allow attendees to experience one of the franchise's newest dinosaur additions in an interactive setting.

Saturday broadens the focus with activities spanning multiple generations of fans. Masters of the Universe enthusiasts are invited to participate in a Skeletor Cosplay Pose-Off celebrating the franchise's most iconic villain before Mattel's designers unveil new additions to the DC Premier Series during another in-depth design presentation. One of the day's biggest entertainment events will undoubtedly be the Apple TV+ panel devoted to Matchbox: The Movie, inspired by Mattel's legendary die-cast vehicle brand. Directed by Sam Hargrave, the film stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris and Arturo Castro, following a group of childhood friends drawn into a globe-spanning mission after one of them, now an undercover CIA operative, unexpectedly returns home. The film is scheduled to premiere globally on Apple TV+ on October 9, 2026, making Comic-Con one of the first major promotional stops before its release. The afternoon concludes with a Mattel x KPop Demon Hunters Charm Bar, where attendees can create personalized bracelets and collectible keychains inspired by the Netflix franchise, reinforcing how quickly the property has become one of Mattel's newest merchandising successes.

Sunday shifts attention toward speed and spectacle as Hot Wheels takes over the Track Stage for the entire day while additional Jurassic World Aquilops Handler photo sessions provide one final opportunity for fans to capture memorable convention moments. Although the final day traditionally sees fewer headline announcements than the previous three, Mattel has increasingly used Sunday to maintain visitor engagement while allowing collectors a last chance to purchase exclusives before remaining inventory moves to the Mattel Creations online platform, where available quantities typically disappear rapidly following Comic-Con.

One of the defining characteristics of Mattel's Comic-Con presence has always been its emphasis on the people behind the products. Rather than limiting the experience to retail exclusives, the company consistently brings sculptors, packaging artists, designers and brand teams directly into the spotlight, allowing collectors to understand how premium figures evolve from early concepts to finished collectibles. This behind-the-scenes philosophy has helped strengthen the relationship between Mattel and its collector community over the past decade, particularly across brands such as Monster High, Jurassic World, Masters of the Universe and Hot Wheels, where fan feedback increasingly influences future releases. Combined with entertainment partnerships ranging from Netflix to Universal, Apple TV+, WWE and classic film licenses, Mattel's 2026 San Diego Comic-Con presence reflects the company's continuing transformation from a traditional toy manufacturer into a global entertainment company built around storytelling, nostalgia and premium collectibles.

Event Recap

Preview Night
Where: San Diego Convention Center, Booth #2945, Hall D, 111 Harbor Drive, San Diego, California.
When: Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
What : Fans will get their first opportunity to visit Mattel's booth and purchase convention exclusives while supplies last.

Mattel Brick Shop Design Panel
Where: Mattel Booth #2945, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 10:30 AM–11:00 AM.
What : A behind-the-scenes look at future Mattel Brick Shop projects, including a new Halo reveal.

WWE Elite Squad Reveal Panel
Where: Room 6A, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 11:15 AM–12:15 PM.
What : New WWE collector reveals and discussions with the Mattel team.

Monster High Cosplay Meet-Up
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM.
What : Cosplayers gather for group photos, contests and prizes.

WWE Superstar Meet-and-Greet
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 1:15 PM–2:15 PM.
What : WWE Superstars meet fans, with exclusive SDCC posters and pins available in limited quantities.

Monster High Ghouls Rule Lagoona Design Panel
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 3:00 PM–3:30 PM.
What : Designers discuss the creation of the SDCC-exclusive Lagoona Blue Skullector doll.

Monster High Skullector Reveal
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026, 10:30 AM–11:00 AM. First reveal of upcoming Skullector dolls.

Jurassic Design Panel
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM. Hosted by Trisha Hershberger, featuring Raf Bencosme, Chloe Mun, Zoe Bjerke, Mike Vazquez and Britt Shotts, with new Jurassic World reveals.

Masters of the Universe Film Storytelling Panel
Where: Room 6A, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026, 11:45 AM–12:45 PM. 
What : A discussion exploring storytelling within the Masters of the Universe film universe.

Monster High Designer Signing
Where: Sails Pavilion, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM. 
What : Meet the creative team behind the convention-exclusive Lagoona doll.

Jurassic World Aquilops Handler Photo Experiences
Where: Mattel Booth area, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Friday (12:30 PM–1:30 PM and 2:00 PM–3:00 PM), Saturday (12:00 PM–1:30 PM), and Sunday (12:00 PM–1:30 PM).

Masters of the Universe Skeletor Cosplay Pose-Off
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026, 10:45 AM–11:30 AM. 
What : Fans of every age are invited to compete with their best Skeletor pose.

DC Design Panel
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM. M
What : attel designers present the 2026 DC Premier Series with new product reveals.

Apple TV+ x Matchbox: The Movie Panel
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM. 
What : A spotlight on the upcoming Matchbox: The Movie, starring John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris and Arturo Castro, ahead of its October 9, 2026 Apple TV+ premiere.

Mattel x KPop Demon Hunters Charm Bar
Where: Mattel Booth #2945.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026, 3:30 PM–4:30 PM. 
What : Fans can create custom bracelets and keychains inspired by the Netflix franchise.

Hot Wheels Track Stage Takeover
Where: Mattel Booth #2945, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Sunday, July 26, 2026, throughout the day. 
What : A full-day celebration dedicated to Hot Wheels with demonstrations and fan activities.

(Source : press release)