Main Stage Cosplay Contest

The Craftsmanship element of the Mainstage Cosplay Contest is an opportunity for you to show off  how well you have executed the crafted elements of your costume. You will be judged on fit, finish, costume complexity, creativity, and how well you demonstrate the skills utilized to create your piece. You will also be assessed on the fidelity of your costume to your reference image. Assessment is based on how well your costume stacks up to other entries in the contest–not previous awards or other accolades.

Craftsmanship judging is required for all entries unless they are opting to compete as a Skit entry where Craftsmanship judging is optional.

Craftsmanship judging will occur ahead of the Main Stage Cosplay Contest through prejudging on Saturday at-Kon. Prejudging time is determined by your cosplay class via block scheduling. Several contestants will be in the same block, but are still judged individually. As a result, the judging time sent to you may not be the exact time you will be judged. While it is important for you to be on time to your judging slot, block scheduling allows for some flexibility in case there are issues that prevent you from being ready at an exact judging time. We understand life happens! If accepted into the contest, you will receive information about your judging time with your confirmation email, which should come to you no later than three weeks before the show.

Before or after your judging time, you are free to enjoy the rest of the convention as much as possible!

• Entrants are assigned a time slot based on their class. All craftsmanship judging will take place on Saturday of the convention before the stage presentation.
• Judging will take place at the craftsmanship judging table in Ballroom C. You will be called up to meet with the judges.
• Entries with 1-2 participants will have 5 minutes with the judges, and entries with 3-6 entrants (Skit entries who opt for craftsmanship judging) will have 7 minutes with the judges. This time will be used to discuss how the costume was made and answer any questions the judges may have. Be prepared for the judges to look closely at your work such as seams, paint job, wig styling and detailing.
  • NOTE: Judging is minimally invasive, however we know some contestants may feel uncomfortable with the judges touching them/their costume. Please let the Cosplay Directors know if this is the case so we can make accommodations. A trusted handler may attend your judging to flip seams, or additional reference pictures may need to be added to the progress book so the judges can see the interior parts of the costume.
• Factors not considered in craftsmanship judging are race, gender, disability status, sexuality/ religious or non-religious identities, how much money or time is spent, etc. Assessment is based on execution of the costume. As such, no fully purchased costumes may be judged on craftsmanship.
• Be sure to tell the judges about things you’d like to highlight on your costume. Likewise, please tell the judges about any elements on your costume you did not make.
• Contestants may opt to have their work modeled by another person, however the award will be given to the creator of the costume, and we’ll leave it to you to divide up any awards you receive. Both the creator and the model must be registered attendees of Naka-Kon 2025.
• All members of your entry must be present for the full length of the judging session.
• Entrants who are not present at their judging time slot may be disqualified from the Main Stage Contest. Entrants are encouraged to show up for judging 5 minutes before their scheduled time.
• You must bring a progress book that contains at least one printed character reference photo and at least 5 printed progress photos to judging. Front and back reference photos are highly encouraged! Your progress books will be returned to you after the contest. Please label your progress books.
• Reference photos must be printed and bound in some way (binder clips, staples, glue, safety pins…) No photos from your phone/tablet/computer will be accepted. This is because the internet is not consistent and the judges may want to look at your progress books after your judging time slot. We do not want to hold on to your devices.

For the runway element of the Main Stage Cosplay Contest, contestants will be able to walk the stage and pose at several points on the stage. Feel free to make your stage presentation/entrance creative so long as it fits in with all cosplay and Naka-Kon rules/guidelines. This is an opportunity to show off your ability to pose as your character would, and enchant the audience with your walk on the stage. Keep in mind that this is a judged portion of the Main Stage Cosplay Contest, so you will have up to 1 minute to hit the audience and judges with the ol’ razzle dazzle! The Runway portion of the contest is open to all entries except Skit entries.

Runway entries are welcome to provide their own audio. Audio must be submitted at the time of online registration via email: cosplay@naka-kon.com. See the Main Stage Cosplay and Skit Contest General Rules section for more information about required audio format.

Runway time is limited to one minute. If you need more time than that, you must enter as a Skit. Please see the Skit entry rules for more information.Runway tech rehearsal will occur on Saturday of the Convention in advance of the Mainstage Cosplay Contest. Attendance is mandatory for all contestants.

• The Runway element of the cosplay contest will be judged as the contestant makes their way across the stage.
• You will be judged on how well you embody the character/ theme.
• If you opt to use their own audio, you are encouraged to make audio selections that will highlight the character/ theme you wish to portray.
• The use of assistive devices will not impact the contestant’s score. Please make your way across the stage in the way that makes the most sense to your health and wellness. If you have questions about accessibility, please email cosplay@naka-kon.com.
• If you do not provide your own audio, generic audio will be provided by the Cosplay staff. You will not be able to change your audio after the application closes, and no audio will be accepted on-site or.

Do you need more time than a minute to showcase your talent on the stage? This is the event for you! Skits usually contain some element of pre-recorded dialogue and/or music, where individuals act out a scene. This is also the category for you if you have more than 2 members in your entry. Should you choose to opt for craftsmanship judging, you will be judged based on the member of your Skit with the highest class (e.g., if your Skit is made up of three Beginners and a Master, your craftsmanship judging will be judged at Master level). If you do not enter in the craftsmanship category, you will not be eligible for Best in Show or the Naka-Kon X Holiday Matsuri WCC Delegate Award.

• All skits must adhere to the General Contest Rules and applicable Main Stage Contest rules listed above.
• Skits are limited to 6 people.
• Skits are limited to 3 minutes in length.
• All content/dialogue must adhere to a PG rating. Skits are an opportunity to tell a narrative story through an acting performance.
• This means each entry must demonstrate some form of storytelling. As such, no dance-only performances, or lip-sync singing or Karaoke only performances will be accepted.
• An entry may include dances and/or lip-sync singing as part of the overall skit, but a dance or a lip-sync singing element must encompass no more than 60% of the overall time on stage.
• All audio needs to be pre-recorded. There will be no live microphones available, and the audience will not be able to hear your unamplified voice.
• Scripts and audio must be submitted along with your pre-registration application. Audio must be submitted at the time of online registration via email: cosplay@naka-kon.com. See the Main Stage Cosplay and Skit Contest General Rules section for more information about required audio format.  
• Remember, do not surprise the cosplay staff, only the audience. We promise we won’t spoil your Skit. We just need to know what is happening so we can plan accordingly!
• Skit scripts do not need to be in any particular format, however we will need documentation of all stage action and dialogue performed.

• Skits will be judged based on how well the entrant is able to convey a particular narrative on stage, especially those who may not be used to the original source material.
• Any props, backdrops and audio will also be assessed during the performance to determine how well the entrant utilizes the items they brought on stage.
• Contestants will also be assessed on their use of the stage.
• The use of assistive devices will not impact the contestant’s score. Please make your way across the stage in the way that makes the most sense to your health and wellness. If you have questions about accessibility, please email cosplay@naka-kon.com.
• Craftsmanship judging is optional for Skit entries. If you wish to be judged on craftsmanship for your skit, you are also subject to craftsmanship requirements listed above.

Naka-Kon is thrilled to announce our partnership with Holiday Matsuri to provide Naka-Kon Main Stage Cosplay Contest participants with an exciting competition opportunity!

Holiday Matsuri hosts the WCC, a series of qualifier cosplay competitions to various national and  international contests. Naka-Kon will be awarding one entry of this year’s Main Stage Cosplay Contest with a trip to Holiday Matsuri 2024 to compete in the WCC!

Winners will receive: 

• Credentials to attend Holiday Matsuri 2024
• A guaranteed slot in the Winter Cosplay Championship for the preliminary contest of their choice
• Round trip tickets to Holiday Matsuri for up to 2 individuals
• Lodging and airport pick up accommodations for arrival at Holiday Matsuri 2024

CosFest Singapore: A craftsmanship only competition with prizes for both solo and pair entries. Competitors will be judged on their craftsmanship and have the option to perform or showcase their costume in a walk across the WCC stage. Winners of this contest will travel to Singapore to participate as a featured guest in one of Singapore Cosplay Club’s many events.

The Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival (GICOF): A Craftsmanship and performance competition for pairs of cosplayers. The winning team will become the  GICOF Team USA and travel to South Korea to represent the United States at the Annual Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival.

The Nordic Cosplay Championship (NCC): A contest for solo competitors with a breakdown of 50% craftsmanship and 50% performance. This event is held at NärCon Sommar in Linköping, Sweden. The NCC is a unique contest which has been held annually since 2012.

The Extreme Cosplay Gathering (ECG): The European Cosplay Gathering has now become the Extreme Cosplay Gathering! The ECG is a contest for soloists, duos, and trios (with the option of a stage ninja) or a team of four (with no stage ninja). The winners will travel to Japan Expo in Paris, France to take the stage with cosplayers from around the world in a contest unlike any other!

The Holiday Matsuri Cultural Exchange Cosplay Program: Winners of this contest will receive a trip to attend a cosplay event in a country outside the United States including flights, badges, and hotel stay to experience cosplay outside the United States and meet other cosplayers from around the world.

Find out more information about the various cosplay contests offered through the WCC 2023. When information for 2024 is available, we will update this link.

Please note: Contestants interested in competing for the Naka-Kon x WCC Delegate Award must be age 18 or older by December 19, 2025. There may be other requirements for the WCC that may be more or less restrictive than what is required at Naka-Kon, however all entries who are interested in trying for the Naka-Kon x Holiday Matsuri WCC Delegate award must adhere to the Naka-Kon Main Stage Cosplay Contest and/or Skit Contest rules, plus the 18 year or older age requirement. A performance or entry may be modified after reception of the award to compete at WCC if the change is approved by both the Naka-Kon Cosplay Directors and the Director of Cosplay and Main Events at Holiday Matsuri. Read below for details.

• Contestants can enter any of the contests to opt for the WCC Delegate Award, but the contestant must choose to be judged on craftsmanship.  
• Contestants will need to answer a short essay question in the application that explains why they would be a good candidate to represent Naka-Kon at Holiday Matsuri. This answer may be used to help determine a winner of the award.
  • The essay question is not an academic paper, so do not worry if you are not the best writer. Grammar, punctuation, syntax and spelling are reviewed, but the important element of the essay question is what your answer is. We want the winner to be a good representative of Naka-Kon, as well as someone who can conduct themselves professionally in a potential international setting, so please use the space in the application to explain how you can do so.

Online Registration will be open Tuesday January 7th, at 6:00 p.m. CT until Tuesday, January 28th at 6:00 p.m. CT.

No entries will be accepted before this time!

In order to make the application period easier on contestants, the Naka-Kon Main Stage Cosplay Contest will be moving to a juried format rather than a first-come-first serve basis. This will eliminate the difficulty of making sure you are in front of the screen at just the right time to apply for the Main Stage Cosplay Contest.

In a juried format, all applications received before the deadline will be reviewed by an impartial team and assessed on the following criteria:

• Adherence to the General and Main Stage Cosplay Contest Rules and requirements
• Competitiveness against the other entries submitted
• Closeness toward completion of the costume
  • There will be slight preference for entrants who can provide evidence that their costumes are 50% or more complete. This particular metric tends to reduce the number of last minute drops from the Main Stage Cosplay Contest.

All applications will be reviewed by the Cosplay Directors as well as other experienced and impartial reviewers to ensure that the application review is fair and complete. This reviewing team is separate from the judges who will be judging your costumes at-Kon.

As part of your application, you will need to provide the following:

• Contestant information
• Character/Fandom information
• Information about how much of your costume you made and how much was purchased
• A folder that contains the following:
  • At least one reference photo
  • At least five work in progress photos
  • Please make sure that the folder has permissions for cosplay@naka-kon.com to view the files! If we cannot view your files, we cannot review your entry.
• Whether or not you wish to be considered for the Naka-Kon X WCC Delegate award
  • If you wish to be considered for the award, you must also be prepared to confirm the following:
    • Eligibility to legally travel nationally and internationally
    • Availability to attend and compete at Holiday Matsuri 2024 in Orlando, Florida
    • Which WCC contest you would like to participate in
    • Willingness to deliver on contractual obligations such as media and promotional events at Holiday Matsuri 2024

The more details you provide in your application, the easier it will be for the jury to determine the eligibility of your costume. We recommend being as detailed as possible when answering the questions about the components you have made or purchased. Saying “I made all of it” is not as helpful in determining your eligibility as it would be to explain what specific elements you have crafted from raw materials, or explain what elements you have altered.

DO NOT submit more than one application. Contestants submitting more than one application may have both entries disqualified. If you would like to change your entry, please email the Cosplay Directors at cosplay@naka-kon.com.

If the form indicates that your response was accepted after you hit submit, that is your confirmation that your application was received. There will not be a separate email sent that confirms your application was received. Contestants will be alerted of their acceptance no later than ten days before the show.

There will be no on-site registration for the main stage contest!

• Check-in for the Main Stage Cosplay Contests on Friday at-Kon from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CT in Ballroom C. This is where you will confirm your participation in the Main Stage Contest. If you cannot make it at this time, please let the directors know.
• You do not need to be in costume for check-in. Come in, check in, then be on your way to enjoy the convention!

Main Stage Cosplay Contest Craftsmanship judging times: You will be assigned a judging time block no later than ten days before the convention via email, within the larger block of time designated for your class level. Please show up to your judging time at least five minutes early!

Tech rehearsal: If you provided your own music or want to practice your stage walk ahead of time, please show up to tech rehearsal which will be noted in your acceptance email. This will be in Ballroom C. You don’t need to be in costume, but you may want to bring anything bulky/tricky so you can adjust your presentation if needed. Tech rehearsal is required for anyone who provides their own audio. Please note that rehearsal may run concurrent with your judging time block--this is okay! The Cosplay Directors will ensure that there is time for both. We may run your audio before or after your judging time.

As always, please email if you have any questions! We are excited to see what you bring to the Cosplay Contest this year!

New this year: Tech rehearsal will be mandatory for all contestants. Information about the time will be sent to you in your acceptance email. This is a time for you to check out the stage, and review your performance with audio. You don’t need to be in costume, but you may want to bring anything bulky/tricky so you can adjust your presentation if needed. Tech rehearsal will not be a time for you to practice in depth, but our MCs and other staff will be in attendance to give minor pointers to assist you with making your stage walk shine.

As always, please email if you have any questions! We are excited to see what you bring to the Cosplay Contest this year!