Cosplay Contest Interest Form
Interested in participating in the Comicpalooza 2025 Cosplay Contest? Fill out the interest form below and you will be notified once applications are open.
The annual cosplay contest rolled out the red carpet to aspiring and professional cosplayers who want to show off their best and greatest creations for the chance to be awarded the best in their category. Fans are encouraged to cheer on their favorite cosplayer (no heckling allowed) and enjoy a halftime show, last year fans enjoyed live performances by dance group KLOVR. For children 12 and under looking to take part in the competition, learn more about the Kids Cosplay Contest
COSPLAY INFORMATION (2025 Information coming soon)
The cosplay contest has two divisions: Catwalk (Walk On) and Skit.
Catwalk competitors have 30 seconds on stage and include the following categories:
- Beginner (Novice) is for contestants who have just started making their own costumes and are new to costume competitions. Contestants in the Beginner field must have never won an award in Beginner(novice) or higher at another major convention. The percent of the costume that must have been made by the contestant(s) is 60%.
- Intermediate (Journeyman) is for contestants who have been cosplaying for a few years and/or have made a number of intermediate-level costumes. You must not have won more than 2 major awards at other contests. The percent of the costume that must have been made by the contestant(s) is 70%.
- Advanced (Masters) is for contestants who have been cosplaying for many years and/or have made a number of advanced-level costumes. The percent of the costume that must have been made by the contestant(s) is 80%.
- Showcase is for outfits that are ineligible for an award but contestants would like to walk the stage. This can be outfits made by someone else or may have already won an award, or any other reason they are ineligible
Skits have 3 minutes and 30 seconds on stage.
WINNERS
Winners are announced after the halftime show and brought back on stage. Categories include:
- Best in Beginner and Beginner Runner Up
- Best in Intermediate and Intermediate Runner-Up
- Best in Advanced and Advanced Runner-Up
- Best in Skit and Skit Runner Up
- Best in Show
Please be advised that signing up for the cosplay contest is an affirmation that you agree to adhere to the rules presented on the Comicpalooza website as well as any decisions made by cosplay staff prior to, or during, Comicpalooza.
All cosplay events/panels have the potential to be photographed/filmed/recorded in some fashion. These recordings may be used in future galleries or promotions. Signing up for, and/or attending, any cosplay event is done with the understanding that recording could occur at any time, and permission is tacitly given for the participant’s likeness to be used.
PRIZES
$1000 – Best in Show
$500 – Advanced Best in Category
$200 - Advanced Runner up
$300 – Intermediate – Best in Category
$100 – Intermediate – Runner up
$500 – Skit Best in Category
$200 – Skit Runner up