The Main Stage Cosplay Contest provides an opportunity for participants to showcase various elements of cosplay on the main stage! This contest includes awards for craftsmanship, runway walks, skits, and the Naka-Kon X Holiday Matsuri Winter Cosplay Championship (“WCC”) Delegate Award. Please read below for more details about the types of events available.
We have some exciting updates this year–video backdrop capabilities! Read below for more information.
- All contestants must adhere to all applicable General Cosplay Contest Rules.
- This is a Japanese culture convention, so cosplays should be based on licensed anime, manga, J-rock/J-pop, Japanese video games, etc. Characters/inspiration not rooted in Japanese origin (e.g., The Avengers, Genshin Impact or Disney characters as you might find in Kingdom Hearts) do not meet this requirement. Fanart (original renderings of existing licensed characters) is fine, however, no original characters are allowed.
- No more than five entries are open for licensed non-Japanese characters. An example of this is Batman or Disney princesses. Licensed, non-Japanese entries may enter any of the categories, but are not eligible for the Best in Show award or the Naka-Kon X Holiday Matsuri WCC Delegate Award.
- Cosplays based on unlicensed characters and original characters may not enter the Main Stage Cosplay contest.
- Surprise the audience, not the staff! Please speak to the Cosplay Directors if you have any unconventional plans besides walking on and off the stage.
- We have a stage ninja who can assist with the placement and removal of props before/after the performance, however the stage ninja will not be able to assist with any of the judged components of your entry, such as holding up banners, assisting with costume transformation etc.
- Contestants are only allowed one entry. A contestant may not enter the Main Stage Cosplay Contest with more than one costume, or be part of more than one group.
- Stage time is limited to one minute per entry, unless you are entering as a Skit. Skits are allotted three minutes maximum.
- Tech Rehearsal: All Mainstage Cosplay Contest Contestants will need to attend tech rehearsal. See information below.
- Greenroom: There will be a mandatory meeting for all entrants in the Main Stage Cosplay Contest in Ballroom C on Saturday. This is the Main Stage Cosplay Greenroom. All members of your entry must be present to participate in the contest. Those who are not present or have not cleared their absence/tardiness with the Cosplay Directors in advance will be disqualified.
- Please notify the Cosplay Directors immediately if you need to withdraw your entry.
- Runway music will be provided by Naka-Kon for all Main Stage Contest entries unless the contestant has otherwise provided approved audio before the deadline. See the Technology Information section below for more details.
- Mainstage Cosplay Entries may have 1-2 participants. Entries with 3-6 participants must enter as a Skit.
- Contestants may not bring anyone other than assigned handlers or guardians to the Cosplay Greenroom. Unauthorized individuals in the Greenroom will be asked to leave.
All contestants will self-sort into a class (skill) level. This ensures that each participant is judged fairly among those in their same skill level.
- Beginner: Any contestant who has never won an award in any costume/cosplay contest, or has won two or fewer minor cosplay awards (e.g. a Judge’s Choice award, or Best Beginner Runner Up) should enter this category. At least 50% of the costume must be made by the contestant.
- Intermediate: Any contestant who has won two or fewer major awards in any costume/cosplay contest, or convention cosplay contest (e.g. Best Beginner, or Best Beginner craftsmanship) should enter this category. At least 65% of the costume must be made by the contestant.
- Master: Any contestant who has won three or more major awards in any costume/cosplay contest, or convention cosplay contest, or someone who has income exceeding $10,000 per year from costuming, cosplay, stage performance, sewing, prop construction, wig construction/styling, or any other costume/cosplay-related field should enter this category. At least 75% of the costume must be made by the contestant.
If you are entering the contest with other entrants, your class will be determined by the highest class achieved by the members of your entry (e.g. if you are a Beginner and your partner is a Master, you must enter the Master level). All costumes in any entry must meet the percent-made requirement. For example, if there are two individuals who enter as an intermediate, 65% of each costume must be constructed from raw materials by members of the entry. If you are not sure what class you are in, please contact the Cosplay Directors and we would be happy to help you determine your class. Please note the Cosplay Contest team reserves the right to move you to an appropriate class at any time without prior warning in the interest of the integrity of the contest.
Information
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!
Judging
- 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 area 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.
- Craftsmanship judging will NOT factor in 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 2026.
- 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 with your name.
- Progress book 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.
Information
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 or video. Audio and video must be submitted at the time of online registration via email: cosplay@naka-kon.com. Runway time is limited to 1 minute. If you need more time than that, you must enter as a Skit.
Judging
- The Runway element of the cosplay contest will be judged as the contestant makes their way across the stage.
- Contestants will not be able to leave then re-enter the stage.
- You will be judged on how well you embody the character/ theme.
- If you opt to use your own audio/video, 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 for 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.
Information
Do you need more 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.
- Contestants will not be able to leave then re-enter the stage.
- If your entry opts to use video, video may be used to enhance your performance, not replace it. At least one member of your entry must be on stage performing for at least 90% of the performance.
- 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/video must be submitted at the time of online registration via email: cosplay@naka-kon.com. See below for required technology formats.
- 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. This is due at the time of application.
Judging
- 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 familiar with 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 for 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 the craftsmanship requirements listed above.
Mainstage Cosplay Contest contestants are allowed to provide their own audio, and new for the 2026 contest, their own video!
- If you wish to use your own audio:
- Audio must adhere to a PG rating (this applies to any language that your audio is in!)
- Audio must be submitted in MP3 format.
- Audio must be submitted at the time of online registration via email. Please label your music by the name you wish to be announced on stage, e.g.: “Tomo-chan Cosplay.”
- If you wish to use video:
- Video must contain the following specs:
- Video must be in an MP4 container.
- Video must be 1080p (16:9) resolution.
- Acceptable codecs: AVC (h264), HEVC (h265). Other codecs may not be playable.
- The physical dimensions of the display are 6,000mm x 3,372mm or approximately 19.5 ft x 11 ft.
- If you wish to use both video and audio: provide one MP4 file containing exactly one video and one audio track with the above specifications.
- Video must adhere to all other applicable Mainstage Cosplay Contest Rules.
- No audio or video submissions will be accepted on-site.
- New to providing audio/ video? Here is a guide!
Naka-Kon is thrilled to announce our continued partnership with Holiday Matsuri to provide Naka-Kon Main Stage Cosplay Contest participants with an exciting competition opportunity!
Holiday Matsuri hosts the Winter Cosplay Championship, 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 2026 to compete in the WCC!
Winners will receive:
- Credentials to attend Holiday Matsuri 2026
- 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 2026
WCC Events
Find out more information about the various cosplay contests here.
Please note:
- Contestants interested in competing for the Naka-Kon x Holiday Matsuri WCC Delegate Award must be age 18 or older by December 1, 2026.
- Those interested in competing for this award may not be judges at other WCC qualifier events or Cosplay Contest organizers at WCC qualifier events.
- 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 rules, plus the 18 years 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.
Delegate Judging
- 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
Online Registration will be open Tuesday, January 6, at 6:00 p.m. until Tuesday, February 3, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
- Sign up here.
No entries will be accepted before the application open date.
The Naka-Kon Main Stage Cosplay Contest uses a juried format rather than a first-come-first serve basis. This eliminates the stress of being fast enough to submit an entry ahead of everyone else.
In a juried format, all applications received by the deadline will be 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.
All applications will be reviewed by the Cosplay Directors and 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 Holiday Matsuri WCC Delegate Award
- The Naka-Kon X Holiday Matsuri WCC Delegate Award applicants must also be prepared to answer a short essay about why they should be selected. The essay may be factored in determining a winner.
- Contestants who win the WCC Award must also be able to confirm the following:
- Eligibility to legally travel nationally and internationally
- Availability to attend and compete at Holiday Matsuri 2026 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 2026
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. For example, saying “I made the hat out of thrifted fabric, sewed the jeans from a self-drafted pattern, finished a 3D print with sanding and paint” is more detailed, descriptive and helpful to the jury than “I made all of it.”
DO NOT submit more than one application. Contestants who submit more than one application may be 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 three weeks before the show.
There will be no on-site registration for the Main Stage Cosplay Contest.
Check In
- Check-in for the Main Stage Cosplay and Skit Contests are on Friday at-Kon from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 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 Cosplay 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!
Tech Rehearsal
Tech rehearsal is 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 your audio and/or video. You don’t need to be in costume, but you may want to bring anything bulky or 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!
