Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, has been inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame during San Diego Comic-Con 2026. The honor comes 38 years after the Eisner Awards were established, recognizing Toriyama's lasting impact on manga, comics, and global pop culture.

Toriyama entered the Hall of Fame through the Voters' Choice category alongside Colleen Doran, Jeff Smith, and Chris Ware. He had previously been nominated in 2019 but was not selected that year.

The Japanese artist is best known for creating Dragon Ball, one of the most influential manga and anime franchises of all time, as well as Dr. Slump. His work has shaped generations of creators through its distinctive art style, action choreography, storytelling, and character design. Beyond Dragon Ball, Toriyama also created series such as Sand Land, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, and Neko Majin.

The 2026 Hall of Fame class also includes legendary manga creator Go Nagai, who was inducted through the Judges' Choice category. Nagai is the creator of iconic series including Devilman, Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, and Cutie Honey, all of which have had a major influence on the manga and anime industry.

Toriyama's induction follows another posthumous honor he received in 2024, when he was added to the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame. The latest recognition further cements his legacy as one of the most influential manga creators in history and highlights the growing recognition of Japanese artists by major international comic awards.

San Diego Comic-Con 2026 returns from July 23 to July 26, bringing together major studios, streaming platforms, and publishers for one of the year's biggest pop culture events. Fans can expect exclusive trailers, cast appearances, and first looks at upcoming movies, TV series, and other entertainment projects.

One of the first major panels on July 23 will spotlight Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, with the voice cast expected to share new details ahead of the film's July 25 premiere on Paramount+. 

The same day also features Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the new The Big Bang Theory spin-off launching on HBO Max, alongside panels for Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3, Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2, Hope, and Onslaught.

The spotlight shifts to DC and Amazon on July 24. HBO will showcase Lanterns, offering new footage from the upcoming Green Lantern series starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler. 

Amazon is expected to preview both Blade Runner 2099 and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, while The Walking Dead: Dead City returns with a panel dedicated to its third season. 

Additional presentations include X-Men '97, The Vampire Lestat, and My Adventures with Superman.

Marvel takes center stage on July 25 with its traditional Hall H presentation. While the studio has only promised an "exclusive look at what's next," fans are widely expecting the first full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, along with updates on other upcoming Marvel projects. 

The same day will also feature panels for Reacher Season 4, its spin-off Neagley, Carrie, Apple TV+ titles including Silo, Dark Matter, and Widow's Bay, as well as The Rookie, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, and a special screening of House of the Dragon Season 3.

Programming for July 26 has not yet been announced, with additional panels expected to be revealed closer to the convention.

As in previous years, San Diego Comic-Con is expected to serve as a major showcase for new trailers and first-look announcements, making it one of the biggest entertainment events of the summer.