Audible
Audible will have a fun activation at SDCC for those who want to earn some XP out at Audible’s Level Up Lounge
The fun out at SDCC is just starting to ramp up, and it looks as if Audible will be heading out there to help us all level up our game. As long as you can make it out to the area and are looking to lounge it up during the convention weekend. All to help them promote the fun audiobooks for Dungeon Crawler Carl, Heads Will Roll, and Bobiverse. This is all in addition to the various panels and other little bits of fun Audible will be out there with. Things like a fun little food truck filled with Princess Donut's donuts and a place where we can all record our own Crawler Incident Report. Along with having a solid little location to kick back and enjoy some of those good little reads and listens for all of the sci-fi and fantasy one could want out at the massive pop culture convention. Let's get into the details now so you don't miss out on the fun.
The Audible Level Up Lounge will be up and running on Saturday, July 25th from 1 to 4 p.m., so there's going to be a little bit of a limit to it all. Thankfully, for those looking to go, it does look to be open to the public. As it happens with everything out at SDCC, that does mean there will most likely be some level of live and wait to go through, but it will give you access to all of the experiences. If you're not there for that, you will need to keep an eye open for the food truck out there on the streets in the Gaslamp to snag those donut holes. Those who are more interested in the content that Audible will have, there will have a panel for Dungeon Crawler Carl and Heads Will Roll during the weekend, but as of this posting, there isn't a specific date or time. Just know that all of the creatives behind those IPs will be out there for us all to engage with and add a little extra fun to our SDCC experience. Here are all of the finer details we have at this time, and we'll update things as more information flows our way. Now we just need to catch up on all of our audiobooks to be fully ready for the insanity that we'll get to experience out there.
Audible is taking over San Diego Comic-Con in 2026 with two exclusive panels celebrating hit Audible Original series Heads Will Roll and the wildly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks, and alongside Audible’s "Level Up Lounge"—an immersive, interactive player hub inspired by two of Audible’s biggest genre audiobook worlds. The activation allows fans to enter the worlds of the LitRPG sensation Dungeon Crawler Carl and the hit Audible original sci-fi phenomenon Bobiverse. Fans can earn XP (experience points) through interactive experiences dedicated to these series, redeemable for exclusive loot and prizes. Plus, keep an eye out for surprise activations bringing the world of Dungeon Crawler Carl to the streets of San Diego throughout the convention.
Audible’s “Level Up Lounge” Activation
What: The ultimate player hub and immersive fan space inspired by Audible’s biggest LitRPG worlds, Dungeon Crawler Carl and Bobiverse. Attendees will earn XP (experience points) based on their level of participation and engagement, which are redeemable for exclusive "loot". Experiences include:
- A Bobiverse zone inspired by “BobNet,” the interstellar digital communication network
- A Dungeon Crawler Carl survival zone where fans can record a “Crawler Incident Report”
- Cosplay touchups, listening and phone charging stations, and fan photo ops
- Exclusive themed giveaways and prizes
Where: Swing Social, 527 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
When: Saturday, July 25 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Princess Donut Food Truck
What: A fully wrapped Princess Donut-branded food truck will be distributing free donut holes, custom Audible-branded boxes with QR codes, and exclusive merch to SDCC attendees on the streets of San Diego. To the uninitiated, it’s a free snack. To fans, it’s the Donut Holes—the series’ beloved unofficial fan club—made edible and mobile.
Exclusive themed donut holes inspired by the series, including:
- Goddamnit, Donut! (Cinnamon) – A blast of pure cinnamon chaos. Warning: May cause spontaneous explosions, pants loss, and a deep resentment of enthusiastic AI announcers.
- Samantha’s Head (Powdered sugar) – A ghost-white treat that doesn’t come with a body but promises to scream insults at your mother if you eat too many.
- The Desperado Glaze (Vanilla glaze) – A smooth, glossy treat reserved strictly for the dungeon’s high society. Princess Donut approved. If you are a dirty, barefoot biped who hasn’t paid your club dues, put it down immediately.
Keep your eyes open for additional Dungeon Crawler Carl-themed surprises on the streets throughout the convention.
When: Friday, July 24 | 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: 502 7th Ave San Diego, CA 92101
Panel: Audible’s Dungeon Crawler Carl
What: Audible Presents: Goddamnit, Donut: A Totally Professional Panel with Matt Dinniman & Jeff Hays. Step into the wildly entertaining world of litRPG as Dungeon Crawler Carl author Matt Dinniman and narrator Jeff Hays take the stage together. From the explosive success of the DCC audiobooks on Audible to the art of transforming irreverent, high-octane storytelling into unforgettable audio performances, this conversation dives into the creative chemistry between writer and voice actor. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, insights into building a devoted fanbase, and a look at how humor, heart, and chaos come together across page and performance. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the series, this panel promises laughs, surprises, and a deeper appreciation for the craft behind the madness.
Who: New York Times bestselling author of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series Matt Dinniman, Dungeon Crawler Carl series audio narrator Jeff Hays, moderated by Maude Garrett.
When & Where: Date & Time TBA | Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Room TBA
Panel: Audible’s Heads Will Roll
What: Heads Will Roll: Kate McKinnon & Emily Lynne on Crafting Audible’s Hit Medieval Comedy Series. Join comedy powerhouses and real-life sisters Kate McKinnon (SNL, Barbie) and Emily Lynne as they take you behind the scenes of their hit Audible Original comedy series Heads Will Roll. With season two, Heir Apparent, now available, Kate and Emily will share the creative chaos of building their absurd medieval world — think Game of Thrones meets What We Do in the Shadows — where a raven turns into a toad, queens face demonic reproductive deadlines, and nothing goes according to plan. This conversation will reveal how these siblings transformed their shared sense of humor into a New York Times bestselling audio series. Kate and Emily will discuss their creative process, share stories from recording with an all-star cast including Carrie Coon, Sam Richardson, Megan Mullally, Richard Kind, Patti LuPone, and more, and explain why audio storytelling gave them the freedom to create their most unhinged fantasy comedy adventure yet. Expect laughs, chaos, and insight into what happens when you give two comedy siblings complete creative control.
Who: Kate McKinnon (Co-Creator, SNL, Barbie), Emily Lynne (Co-Creator), moderated by Executive Producer of Broadway Video, Britta
When & Where: Date & Time TBA | San Diego Convention Center, Room TBA
Will you be out at SDCC and aiming to check out Audible's Level Up Lounge? Will the limitation of the day keep many from getting a chance to check it all out? Are you more here for the panels and listening to the creatives talk about their work? How many donuts will you be trying to stuff into your mouth as you spot the truck around the area? Let's hear it all out in the comment section down the page here. We'll have more for SDCC as it comes, and hopefully some updates for Audible's panels soon. You can keep an eye on the site for those updates, or follow all of our socials to see when the info goes live. If you're not able to make it out to SDCC, we'll have all of the coverage live there, so that might be worth a follow as well.
