SDCC 2026: FANGORIA Brings the Chainsaw Awards to Comic-Con International with a Must-See Horror Panel

For nearly five decades, FANGORIA has occupied a unique place in the horror landscape. Founded in 1979, the legendary American publication has grown far beyond the pages of a magazine, becoming one of the genre's most influential voices while chronicling the evolution of horror cinema through groundbreaking filmmakers, iconic franchises, innovative practical effects, and emerging talent. This year, during Comic-Con International: San Diego 2026, the brand will once again celebrate the horror community by dedicating a major panel to its prestigious FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards, just months before the fan-voted ceremony streams exclusively on Shudder.

Taking place on Friday, July 24, from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM in Room 23ABC at the San Diego Convention Center, First in Fright with FANGORIA promises to be one of the convention's premier horror events. Moderated by Sean Abley, the panel will feature acclaimed actor Devon Sawa, whose recent work includes Final Destination, Heart Eyes, and Shudder's Hell Motel: Murder at Red Mountain. Joining him will be several key members of the FANGORIA editorial team, including Angel Melanson, Digital Editor; Michael Varrati, writer and director of the Chainsaw Awards; and Kimberly Leszak, Community & Content Manager. As has become a hallmark of FANGORIA presentations, attendees can also expect surprise guest appearances, adding an extra layer of excitement to what is already shaping up to be one of the convention's most anticipated genre panels.

The timing of the panel is particularly significant, arriving just days after voting closes for the 2026 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards, with ballots remaining open until Wednesday, July 15 at 11:59 PM PT. Since their inception, the Chainsaw Awards have remained one of the few major genre awards decided directly by horror fans, recognizing excellence across horror cinema and television while celebrating performances, filmmakers, writers, and craftspeople who often fall outside the scope of mainstream awards recognition. During the panel, attendees will receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at this year's ceremony, explore the award categories, witness room-only announcements and sneak peeks, and participate in a live Q&A with the guests before the awards premiere exclusively on Shudder on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

First launched in 1992, the FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards have become one of horror's most respected annual celebrations. Unlike traditional industry ceremonies, the Chainsaw Awards have consistently championed bold, visionary genre filmmaking while shining a spotlight on artists who frequently go unrecognized elsewhere. Over the years, winners have included legendary filmmakers such as Wes Craven, George A. Romero, and Jordan Peele, alongside acclaimed performers including Lupita Nyong'o, Elisabeth Moss, and Mia Goth. Today, the awards serve both as a snapshot of horror's evolving creative landscape and as a launchpad for the genre's next generation of innovators.

That enduring credibility stems from FANGORIA's own remarkable history. Founded in 1979, the magazine initially focused on fantasy cinema before quickly pivoting toward contemporary horror after discovering readers' overwhelming enthusiasm for behind-the-scenes coverage of groundbreaking makeup effects by artists such as Tom Savini. As the slasher boom of the 1980s exploded, FANGORIA became the definitive publication covering icons including Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, Michael Myers, and Jason Voorhees, offering exclusive interviews, production photography, and special effects coverage long before the internet made such content widely accessible. For generations of horror fans, the magazine became the definitive source for everything happening within the genre.

Over the decades, FANGORIA successfully expanded its brand far beyond publishing. The company launched conventions, produced feature films, created comic books, hosted radio programs and podcasts, published novels, and developed numerous live events celebrating horror culture. Although the publication faced significant challenges during the mid-2010s, culminating in the suspension of its print edition before being revived in 2018 under Editor-in-Chief Phil Nobile Jr., the brand ultimately found renewed stability. Since its acquisition by Tara Ansley and Abhi Goel in 2020, FANGORIA has continued publishing its quarterly magazine while further strengthening the profile of the annual Chainsaw Awards, reaffirming its position as one of horror entertainment's most influential brands.

With First in Fright with FANGORIA, Comic-Con International: San Diego 2026 offers horror fans much more than a promotional panel. It is set to become a celebration of nearly fifty years of genre history, bringing together filmmakers, journalists, performers, and fans to honor horror's past while looking ahead to its future. Guided by FANGORIA's enduring philosophy that "Everyone screams in the same language," the event underscores the publication's continuing role at the heart of a passionate global community and builds anticipation for one of horror's biggest nights when the 2026 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards stream this October.

First in Fright with FANGORIA
Where: Room 23ABC, Upper Level, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026, from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
What: An official Comic-Con panel dedicated to the 2026 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards, featuring Devon Sawa, Sean Abley, Angel Melanson, Michael Varrati, Kimberly Leszak, and surprise guests. Attendees will enjoy exclusive announcements, first-look previews, a live audience Q&A, and behind-the-scenes insights into the fan-voted awards ceremony, which will stream exclusively on Shudder on October 25, 2026.

(Source : press release)