Tickets

Cosplay Showcase

The incredible talent behind every cosplay deserves to be celebrated, even if a stage isn’t your thing.

Location
Cosplay HQ – Ideation Room 1

Cosplay Showcase

It's all in the Details

The Cosplay Showcase is all about craftsmanship, dedication, and the joy of bringing a character to life. This is your chance to show off all your hard work in a relaxed, low-pressure environment. It’s a non-spectator event, so the only people you’ll meet are our judges and your fellow entrants. You’ll get to have a conversation about your creation with people who truly appreciate the craft, from intricate hand-stitching to custom-made props.

The Costume Shoppe
Official sponsor for Otafest's Cosplay Showcase

Awards

  • Advanced Winner
  • Advanced Runner Up
  • Intermediate Winner
  • Intermediate Runner Up
  • Beginner Winner
  • Beginner Runner Up
  • Photographers' Choice
  • Prop/Armor or Judges' Choice x 2*

*If there are no prop-only entries then we will assign the awards as Judges’ Choice Awards.

Eligibility

  • The costume must be from a recognizable, referenceable character from a source material, such as an anime, manga, comic book, video game, movie, TV series, or similar source of media.
  • Self created characters are not permitted in this contest due to costume accuracy to the source character being a part of the judging criteria. Please contact the Cosplay Team if you have any questions.
  • You don't have to wear your cosplay, you can have a friend model it for you if that's your preference.
  • You must have made 80% or more of your cosplay yourself.
  • There is no performance component to this contest and no audience.
  • We strongly recommend that you pre-register, it saves us time and you'll be called up before the day-of registrants. Day-of registration spots are limited, and if we reach capacity, we will turn people away. Please arrive early on the day of the contest to secure your spot.
  • Due to capacity limitations in the room, we may ask friends and non-accessibility-related companions to wait outside if the space becomes too crowded.

Format

The Cosplay Showcase runs for three hours, during which time you’ll check in, meet with our judges, have a photo taken with your amazing work, and be told if you’ve won!

Checking In & Your Number

The first thing to do is get yourself checked in at our registration table. We’ll give any pre-registered entrants a chance to check in first. After that, we’ll ask everyone else to form a line and sign up if there are any spots left! Once you’re signed up, you’ll be given a number to hold onto, that’s how the judges will call you. You’ll also be assigned a category (Prop, Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced) based on your past experience. Please note that the judges may move you into a different category at their discretion!

While You Wait

We know waiting can be a long process, but we strongly suggest you stick around in the room so you don’t miss being called. You can bring something along to keep you occupied. If you want to minimize your wait time, be sure to pre-register and show up promptly!

The Judging Process

Once your number is called, head over to the judging table. Our judges are experienced costumers, and in some cases, professional guests! They’ll have a three-minute chat with you and ask some questions about your cosplay. They love to hear all the details about your hard work, so be honest and proud of what you’ve created. After your time with the judges, we’ll take a quick photo of your cosplay, and then you’re all set to go.

What’s Next

After the judges have seen everyone, they’ll announce and present the awards. You don’t have to be on hand to get your award, but we’d love for you to be there.

Registration

Click here to Register