Cosplay Contest

Contestants in the Cosplay Contest will display their craftsmanship and performance prowess on the Main Stage! Join us for an opportunity to show off your cosplays to our panel of expert judges and meet other contestants who are just as passionate about cosplay as you are. Whether you are new to cosplay contests or a seasoned competitor, the Kumoricon Cosplay Contest is for YOU!

NEW FOR 2025:

  • For Craftsmanship entries, please be 50% finished at time of form submission. Reference and WIP photos will be submitted via a shared Google Drive folder. Please see the “ENTRY FORM INFORMATION” section for further information and examples
  • Stage display (aka “walk-ons”) required for Craftsmanship entries. 45 seconds maximum. Custom audio is allowed!
  • Awards changes:
    • Performance awards are now based on skill division, not performance genre (Best Performance: Novice, Journeyman, Master).
    • “Original Design” is no longer a separate category or award; any original designs will be judged within skill divisions.
  • The show is capped at 48 entries, 16 per division (not including Youth).
  • “Costume Construction” now called “Craftsmanship” entries. “Skits” now called “Performance” entries. Competing in both to be eligible for Best in Show is a “Dual” entry.
  • Skill division criteria changes. (Please see “Skill Divisions” below.)

INFORMATION

General Information:

  • Submission forms will open on August 24, 2025 at 3pm Pacific and will close on September 24, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific. No on-site entries will be accepted.
  • Reference photos and work-in-progress photos are required at the time of submission to show at least 50% costume completion.
  • You may enter individually or as a group. Group maximum is 9 people. Each contestant may only compete once.
  • Entry options: craftsmanship only, performance only, dual (both craftsmanship and performance).
    • Craftsmanship only:
      • Costumes must be 70% hand made by the entrant(s)
      • Entrants must attend pre-judging on Friday
      • Stage display required (45 seconds max)
    • Performance only:
      • Costumes do not have to be handmade
      • Entrants do not need to attend pre-judging
      • Full stage performance aka skit (3 minutes max)
    • Dual entries (both craftsmanship & performance, eligible for Best in Show):
      • Costumes must be 70% handmade by the entrant(s)
      • Entrants must attend pre-judging on Friday
      • Full stage performance aka skit (3 minutes max)
  • There will be a total of 48 entries: 16 Novices, 16 Journeymen, 16 Masters. (Not including youth)
    • This includes craftsmanship-only, performance-only, and dual entries.
    • Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, up to 16 per division. All submissions received after this entry cap will be placed on a waitlist.
    • If the number of entries for any division is not met by the submission deadline, additional entries from the waitlist will be added to the other division(s) in order to equal 48 total entries. (i.e. If 16 entries are not received for the Journeyman division, additional Novices and Masters entries would be accepted.)

Skill Divisions

  • Group entry category is determined by the most experienced member of your group. (This means if you’re a Novice and someone in your group is a Master, your group must compete in Masters.)
  • You may compete at a “higher” division level, but you may not “compete down.” Those with professional costuming experience must compete in Masters.
    • Youth: 13 years old or younger
    • Novice: 0–1 major awards
    • Journeyman: 2–4 major awards
    • Master: 5+ major awards or those with professional costuming experience
  • Judge’s Choice, Audience Choice, Director’s Award et cetera are not considered major awards for division placement. Any category of major award (i.e. performance or craftsmanship) counts towards your total, regardless of entry type. For any division clarification, please contact us at cosplay@kumoricon.org.)

Craftsmanship information

  • Craftsmanship entries must be 70% handmade by the entrant(s). Commissioned, purchased, rented, or commercially-made costumes are not eligible.
  • Reference images for pre-judging are required. These should be printed out to present to the judges, not on a phone or other device.
    • For original designs, concept sketches or other reference drawings are required.
    • Build Books are recommended.
  • Pre-judging will be on Friday, 5 minutes for individuals, 10 minutes for groups. Time slots will be determined at a later date.
  • Stage display for craftsmanship-only entries: 45 seconds maximum. You may submit custom audio, or you may utilize the general contest-provided audio. This audio will be submitted at a later date.

Performance Information

  • Pre-recorded audio is required, 1 file in mp3 format. “Audio” includes music, sound effects, dialogue, etc.
    • No live mics will be available.
    • All audio must be submitted by the entrant(s) through the official tech form (to be sent to accepted entries at a later date).
    • No audio will be played from online sources. (no YouTube, no Spotify, etc)
    • We recommend bringing a physical backup copy of your audio file to the convention—a USB drive, an SD card, etc., just in case of extenuating circumstances (such as file corruption).
  • No complex lighting. The default lighting cue is lights up, audio starts, come on stage, go off stage, audio stops, lights down. Slight modifications can be made through the tech form (sent to accepted entries at a later date).
  • Performance time limit: 3 minutes maximum.

Required Events for Contestants

  • Friday meeting for ALL contestants
  • Friday pre-judging for craftsmanship and dual entries
  • Saturday morning tech rehearsal for ALL contestants
  • Saturday afternoon contest for ALL contestants
  • Sunday feedback with judges (optional but highly encouraged)

JUDGING

Awards

Judges may award more or fewer awards than those listed here at their discretion.

Judge’s Choice(s)
Audience Choice
Best Youth

Best Craftsmanship: Novice
Best Craftsmanship: Journeyman
Best Craftsmanship: Master

Best Performance: Novice
Best Performance: Journeyman
Best Performance: Master

Best in Show (only dual entries are eligible)

Craftsmanship Judging Criteria

  • Creativity and interpretation: How did you translate the character’s design into real life? What materials or techniques did you choose and why?
  • Quality of construction: How well-executed is each technique?
  • Accuracy: How well does your cosplay represent the design? Did you include elements from the references into your costume? (This is NOT about if you look like the character. You can always make modifications for comfort, safety, and functionality.)

Performance Judging Criteria

  • Quality: Is your performance entertaining, moving, or inspiring? Is it well-prepared?
  • Stage presence: Do your character’s actions and emotions read well from the audience? Is the space utilized well? Does your performance command attention?
  • Content: Does your performance convey an idea that the audience can understand (even if they do not know your source material)? Is your audio clear and easily understood?

RULES

Eligibility

  • All participants must have a valid Kumoricon membership to participate.
  • Any costume previously worn in a Kumoricon Cosplay Contest is ineligible.
  • Costumes that have won a Major Award at a different convention are ineligible to compete at Kumoricon unless significantly modified.
  • Kumoricon staff members may enter the contest as long as staff-related commitments are fulfilled.
  • Board members may not compete in the Cosplay Contest.

Stage Rules

  • You may surprise the audience, but never surprise the crew.
    • Any props/scenic elements that are larger than handheld need to be submitted for approval. Please contact us at cosplay@kumoricon.org
    • All elements of a performance must be presented during the Tech Rehearsal.
  • Leave the stage as clean as it was when you set foot on it. Arrange to remove all items you brought onto the stage at the end of your presentation. (If you have a particularly intricate presentation, we recommend that you recruit your own stage ninjas, maximum 3.)
  • Do not incorporate anything dangerous, damaging, or disruptive.
  • No fire, flame, smoke, fog, dry ice, wind machines, lasers, pressurized gasses, or liquids.
  • No messy substances—wet, dry, or oily—in the green room or on stage.
  • No oppressive odors—no excessive perfume/body spray, no stink bombs, etc.
  • No jumping on or off stage—please use the designated stage entrances and exits.
  • No throwing anything into the audience.
  • Contestants must abide by the convention weapon policies in the Code of Conduct.
  • Contestants may not use stage time to make political, religious, insulting, or other demonstrations not related to their entry.
  • Contestants who violate any of our performance rules may have their performance stopped and may be disqualified.

General Rules

  • All convention policies must be upheld during the entirety of the Cosplay Contest. Anyone breaking Kumoricon rules will be disqualified and reported to Operations and Programming Departments.
  • Harassment and any behavior that disrupts another person's experience is prohibited. Disallowed behavior includes unwanted physical contact, threats, heckling or jeering, or any other form of rude, offensive, or disruptive behavior.
  • Participants are not allowed to perform sexist, racist, culturally-insensitive, or ableist acts while on stage or presenting during the event. This policy applies regardless of whether the behavior is aimed at a specific person.
  • Kumoricon is an all-ages-friendly event. Content should not go beyond mild PG.
    • Offensive language of any kind is not allowed. No racial or sexual epithets; no profanity, etc.
    • No excessive violence.
    • No sexual activity or contact, real or implied.
    • All sexual jokes must have a non-sexual interpretation that is at least as obvious as the sexual one.
    • No nudity—all costumes must adhere to the official Kumoricon Code of Conduct.
    • No age 18+ source material (NC-17, AO, or “adults only”).
      • M- or R-rated source material is ok as long as the costume/performance meets the above mild-PG-content rules.
    • Be clever, not crass! If you think your costume or presentation might be too risqué or offensive, it probably is. If you have a question about your content, please contact us at cosplay@kumoricon.org
  • You must have some kind of foot covering. Shoes or boots are required. Be aware of safety concerns. If your character does not wear shoes, the lack of accuracy will be forgiven; consider flesh-toned or clear shoes.
  • All health and safety rules established by Kumoricon or the convention center will be upheld.
  • If for whatever reason one contestant is removed from competition for any violation, the entire group may be disqualified as well, depending on the situation. Egregious rule-breaking may be grounds for contestant(s) being banned from future contests.
  • All decisions made by the Cosplay Coordinators or Director of Programming are final and may only be changed by a formal challenge through Programming.
  • By entering the Cosplay Contest, all participants agree to allow Kumoricon to use their images for promotional purposes, including videos and photographs from entry submissions and at the convention. Photographs of winning entries may be shown at Kumoricon Closing Ceremonies, on the website or social media, and/or elsewhere.

ENTRY FORM INFORMATION

Submissions will open on August 24 and close on September 24!

Please be sure to have all required information when submitting the form! Applicants with missing information will be contacted and will have to resubmit the form. Only the CORRECTLY COMPLETED form’s timestamp will apply.

Please only fill out one form per person or per group. (For groups, please remember to select the Division based on the highest level within your group.)

Script, emcee entry intros, and tech information (including lighting and audio) will be requested at a later date! Please do not include these on the form.

For your preparation, here is what the form will require:

Entry information: Entry Name (individual or group) This is the name you’d like announced for your entry on stage
Contact email address—this is the email address that will receive contest correspondence. (Groups will only receive informational emails to this address, not to each group member.)

Entry type
  • Craftsmanship only
  • Performance only
  • Dual (both Craftsmanship and Performance)
Entrant information:
Number of entrants (1–9)
Information for each entrant: (repeats to match selected number of entrants)
  • First name
  • Last name
  • Public name / handle
  • Pronouns
  • Age (14+ or >14)
  • Character
  • Series
Division:
  • Novice (0–1 major awards)
  • Journeyman (2–4 major awards)
  • Master (5+ major awards or professional costuming experience)
  • Youth (can only be selected if all entrants are under 14)
General summary of performance (if applicable)

Google Drive link containing reference photos and WIP photos to show 50% completion (see below for additional information)

(Comment box for any additional comments)

Google Drive Submission Requirements

Before submitting your form, please create a Google Drive folder with the specifications below. You can see an example folder here:
Link to Example Google Drive Folder

  • Please name your folder with your entry name—the name you wish to be announced on stage.
  • ALL entries: include 1–3 reference images, with filenames “ref1,” “ref2,” etc.
  • Craftsmanship/Dual entries: include 1–3 work in progress photos displaying at least 50% costume completion
  • Share with cosplay@kumoricon.org OR set sharing permissions to “anyone with the link can view.” Then copy the sharing link and paste it into the entry form.
    • If you need help understanding how to change sharing settings, check out the following Google help page: Link to How to Share Folders in Google Drive
    • If you do not set up permissions correctly, we can not see your submission folder to verify your entry and you may lose your place in the FCFS line.

This folder will be used later on for submission of other required files for accepted entries. You must use Google Drive; other cloud storage services such as Dropbox, OneDrive, etc. will not be accepted.

You may send any questions about the Kumoricon Cosplay Contest rules and information to cosplay@kumoricon.org. Please be sure to read the rules thoroughly in case your question has already been answered.

Entry Form

Form will open on August 24, 2025 at 3pm Pacific.