Cosplay is a huge part of our community and we have two cosplay contests dedicated to those who put time and effort into their costumes. If you are interested in competing, click the links above for how to apply and the rules for each contest! If you are a cosplay lover and just interested in watching the competition, check out the details on each contest below.
Main Cosplay Contest
This is our flagship cosplay contest and is for those that wish to compete on the main stage. This competition is open all skill levels and accounts for performance, showmanship and stage presence. This contest has pre-qualification rules, a limited number of open spots and includes segments for both walk-ons and skits. If you’re looking to compete on the big stage, this is the competition for you.
When: Saturday Evening, TBD
Where: Embarcadero Building @ Fair Park
Awards: Awards are issued immediately following a brief intermission after the contest. Entertainment will be provided during intermission, so make sure to stay put and see if your favorites won!
This is our craftsmanship only contest and is for cosplayers and costumers who want to compete solely on their craftsmanship. This competition is open to all skill levels, requires less of a time commitment than the main contest, and has no stage requirements. This contest has no pre-qualification rules to participate and is open to as many competitors as can be judged in the time allotted. Because this contest is not a stage contest, there are no walk-on requirements or skits allowed. If you’re looking to see how you measure up, but want a stage free, casual experience with more time to enjoy the event, this is your contest!
When: Friday and Saturday, TBD
Where: Cosplay HQ
Awards: Awards are issued after the main cosplay contest intermission. Entertainment will be provided during intermission, so make sure to stay put and see if your favorites won!
Are you wanting to compete in the the Hall Cosplay Contest? Signups will be available on-site at the event on Friday and Saturday in Cosplay HQ.
General Guidelines
The following guidelines and requirements apply to both the main and hall cosplay contest. Any exceptions to these guidelines will be listed in the specific guidelines for each contest.
Please make sure you read these carefully along with the contest specific rules below before you signup to compete.
General Contest Rules
You must purchase and be in possession of a valid A-Kon badge in order to participate in either contest.
If you are 13 years or younger, you must be accompanied by a legal guardian at all times.
You are required to check-in at Cosplay HQ prior to pre-judging (for the main cosplay contest) or judging (for the hall cosplay contest). Check-in will be at Cosplay HQ onsite during open hours. When you check in, you should let us know how many handlers/family you will be bringing backstage with you so we can make sure enough seats are available.
You must wear underwear and/or supportive garments underneath revealing or skin-tight costumes.
75% of your cosplay must be constructed or altered by you. If you are modeling a cosplay that is purchased, commissioned, or made by someone else, you must declare this when you signup and the constructor MUST be present during pre-judging (for the main cosplay contest) or judging (for the hall cosplay contest) to be eligible for an award.
The skill division is strictly enforced. If you are deemed above the skill level of the division you have entered by the judges you will be automatically moved up to the next division.
You may enter both the Hall Cosplay Contest and the Main Cosplay Contest as long as you do not enter the same costume in both events.
Be respectful to other competitors, staff and judges. Unruly or disruptive behavior during pre-judging, backstage, or during the contest will not be permitted or tolerated.
If you wish to compete with a costume that has previously won a nationally recognized costume competition, you must declare this upon registration and at least 60% of the costume must be altered or remade. Additionally, your costume must also be entered into a higher skill division, if applicable.
Your cosplay contest entry must be accompanied by reference images. Please bring at least one color reference image of your cosplay for pre-judging (main cosplay contest or judging (hall cosplay contest). References can be on paper, phone, tablet, or any other visual format provided they are easily accessible. All references images will be checked before going into the judging room, and those without references cannot be judged. Progress portfolios are HIGHLY encouraged as they include photo documentation of your work from start to finish.
Reference images and progress binders used as part of craftsmanship presentations must be picked up after the contest or by 1pm on Sunday. If you have not made arrangements or claimed your materials by this time, your materials will be destroyed.
If you are a professional cosplayer you ARE WELCOME to enter any of our contests. By our definition, a professional cosplayer is anyone who makes a significant portion of their income from costume design, construction, sales, or feels they are a master of their craft. All professionals MUST enter into the MASTER category.
We reserve the right to refuse, disqualify or re-categorize any entry at our sole discretion for any reason. We don’t like doing this and it doesn’t happen often, but, when it does, it’s usually for a very good reason.
Skill Level Guidelines
Here are some guidelines to help you figure out your skill level and where you should be placed. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out and ask our team. You can reach them here (just select Cosplay Contests from the drop down) or onsite in our Cosplay HQ.
Novice: The Novice division exists to encourage people who are new to costuming, competitive cosplay and masquerades to compete.
This skill level is for you if:
You are new to costuming, have never competed before, or are not a professional costumer.
You have won a major award in the Novice division less than three times.
You have not yet competed or won an award at a Journeyman or Master skill level.
Journeyman: The Journeyman division is an interim division for costumers who have consistently won awards in the Novice division, but who feel they are not yet ready to compete in the Master division.
This skill level is for you if:
You have been cosplaying for a number of years but do not yet feel like a master of your craft or are not a professional costumer.
You have won more than three major awards in the Novice division or less than two in the Journeyman division.
You have not yet competed or won an award at a Master skill level.
Master: The Master division is open to any competitor who wishes to enter.
This skill level is for you if:
You have been cosplaying for a number of years and feel like you are a master of your craft.
You are a professional costumer.
You have won Best in Show, Best Youth, or Best Journeyman in a nationally recognized contest.
You have won more than three major awards in the Journeyman division.
You have already competed or won an award at a Master skill level.
Please note that any division receiving fewer than four [4] entries will be omitted from the contest and entries will be moved to different divisions as appropriate for their level.
Main Cosplay Contest
The following guidelines and requirements apply to the Main Cosplay Contest. Please make sure you read these, and the general contest guidelines carefully before you signup to compete.
Main Contest Guidelines:
You must attend a pre-meeting and rehearsal prior to the Main Cosplay Contest. This meeting will be approximately two hours before the contest starts. Arriving late or missing this pre-meeting will result in removal from the contest.
You must be able to enter and exit the stage quickly. If necessary, you may bring a handler with you for assistance. If you have any accessibility needs or considerations, please notify our cosplay team when you fill out the signup form.
Your costume/prop must be able to make it onto the stage.
You may compete as part of a group, but competing in multiple groups is not allowed. The maximum number of people allowed per group is 8.
If you are competing as part of a groups, the group must enter at the skill level of the highest placing member.
You are only allowed one signup per contest, so you may not compete solo and as part of a group in this contest.
If you are signing up as a group, your group must select a main point of contact who will fill out the signup form for the entire group.
Craftsmanship judging (also known as pre-judging) will take place in Cosplay HQ. Please arrive a few minutes early if possible in order to check in, as entries for each block will be judged in the order they arrive. If you arrive late, you may not have the chance to be rescheduled. If you find out in advance that you will not be able to make your time slot, please contact us (just select Cosplay Contests from the drop down). Entries that do not show up for judging will be automatically disqualified.
During pre-judging, each entrant will be allowed approximately 2 minutes to present their cosplay. To remain fair to all contestants, groups will be allowed to same amount of time per person. So a group of 8 will receive approximately 16 minutes. Please be courteous to your fellow cosplayers and to your judges by keeping your presentation brief!
Pre-judging is NOT open to the public. Only participants, handlers, and parents/guardians of contestants under the age of 14 will be allowed in pre-judging areas.
To allow everyone to better manage their event schedule, there will be Friday and Saturday judging for this contest. Friday entries who do not pre-check into their slot by stopping by Cosplay HQ and picking up their entry packet before the sign up table closes may be dropped from the contest and have their slot handed to someone on the wait list. Saturday entries may pick up their packets on either Friday or Saturday.
You may not use a microphone on stage. Any audio material you need must be pre-recorded and submitted as a skit entry (see below).
Everything you, or your group, bring onto the stage during a skit or walk-on entry must be removed at the end of your time limit.
You may not bring any messy substances including, but not limited to, confetti, glitter, flower petals, and water on the stage.
You may not use pyrotechnics or special effects such as fireworks, flash paper, or smoke machines.
You may not throw anything off the stage or into the crowd.
You may use non-firing toy weapons or similar props while on stage without peace bonding. All props must be compliant with the A-Kon weapons policies and pass inspection before being allowed on stage.
You may include stage fighting or acrobatics in your performance. For your safety and the safety of others, you will be required to safely demonstrate any stage fighting or acrobatics during pre-judging.
Any entry or exit to the stage from any method that is not approved by staff is strictly prohibited. This includes but is not limited to climbing onto or leaping off the stage.
No food, animals, or remote control devices will not be allowed on stage.
Walk-On Guidelines:
You will not be able to submit your own music and will be assigned runway-style music selected prior to the event.
You will be given approximately 30 seconds on stage for your solo or group walk-on.
You are required to attend craftsmanship judging to be eligible as a walk-on for this contest.
Skit Guidelines:
You will be primarily judged on performance and visual impact. Craftsmanship judging is completely OPTIONAL. You may opt-in for craftsmanship judging for your skit when you fill out the signup form.
If you choose for your skit to be judged for craftsmanship, you will additionally choose a craftsmanship division and become eligible for craftsmanship based awards.
Your skit audio must be pre-recorded, including all dialogue, music, and sound effects. Audio tracks and a written description must be submitted as part of your signup for us to review. Audio tracks must be no longer than 3 minutes.
A video or written script must be submitted by the signup deadline that includes all speaking parts and stage directions. Surprise your audience, not your staff or judges. Skits that do not submit both a visual/written script and an audio will not be accepted.
Should a soundtrack or skit be deemed inappropriate, entrants will be allowed to re-record it once. After audio has been approved, it may not be changed or resubmitted for ANY reason.
Skit performance teams are limited to 8 people. This includes handlers and set crew (“stage ninjas”).
Purchased or commissioned costumes will be permitted as part of a skit, if permission is granted by the creator. If the skit is also being judged for craftsmanship, the general guideline rules apply.
Awards:
Best in Show – This award is to be granted to the entry that shows an overall exceptional degree of craftsmanship and execution. This award may be given to an entry in any division.
Best in Division- Given to an entrant who has shown an exceptional degree of craftsmanship and presentation for their division.
Best Craftsmanship – Given to an entry which displays an exceptional degree of craftsmanship.
Best Performance- Given to an entry which demonstrates exceptional performance and execution.
Judges’ Awards – Each judge may grant an award to an entry that they feel is exceptional.
NOTE: Only trophies will be handed out on stage. Any other prizes must be picked up by the winners immediately following the cosplay contest.
Signing Up:
Online sign-ups for the Main A-Kon Cosplay Contest will be open from April 5, 2019 to May 4, 2019. All entries are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
This year sign ups will take place primarily online. Slots that do not fill by May 4, 2019 will be available on-site in Cosplay HQ on Friday and Saturday or until all spaces are full.
Skits will not be accepted on site due to the approval process required.
On-site spaces, if available, will be extremely limited, so it is suggested that you sign up online. You will be required to check in before your judging time or risk forfeiting your space to someone else. On site sign-up times will be released closer to the con.
When filling out the entry form, you will select a one-hour block during which you or your group will come in for judging. After reviewing the signups, we will notify you if your first choice is full and you will be asked to choose another time slot.
Hall Cosplay Contest
The following guidelines and requirements apply to the Hall Cosplay Contest. Please make sure you read these, and the general contest guidelines carefully before you signup to compete.
Hall Contest Guidelines:
You may enter this contest on-site at Cosplay HQ on Friday or Saturday. Times are TBD and will be made available soon.
If you are signing up as a group, your group must select a main point of contact who will fill out the signup form for the entire group.
Each entry, group or solo, will be allowed 3 minutes to talk to the judges and show off their work.
At least 2 reference images must be submitted with each entry at the time of craftsmanship judging, either printed or easily accessible on a phone, tablet, or computer.
What to expect:
Show up at Cosplay HQ and fill out a simple form during open hours wearing the cosplay you want to be judged in. All information on the form is kept confidential and destroyed after the contest.
Answer questions and talk to the judges right at the table. Photos may be taken to use as a judging reference later.
OPTIONAL: Come to the Main Cosplay Contest on Saturday where the winners will be announced. If you aren’t there to receive your award, we will contact you using the information you provide at signup.
Awards:
Best in Hall – This award is to be granted to the entry that shows an overall exceptional degree of craftsmanship and execution. This award may be given to an entry in any division.
Best Novice – Given to an entrant who has shown an exceptional degree of craftsmanship and presentation for the Novice division.
Best Journeyman – Given to an entrant who has shown an exceptional degree of craftsmanship and presentation for the Journeyman division.
Best Master – Given to an entrant who has shown an exceptional degree of craftsmanship and presentation for the Master division.