Cosplay

2025 Cosplay Contest & Masquerade

There are four craftsmanship spots available for the Cosplay Contest. They will be available first-come-first-served from 2pm on Friday 04/11.

Cosplay Judges:

Cosplay Masquerade Policies

Cosplay Masquerade applications open on Thursday January 30th at 6pm and will close when full. We will accept 24 craftsmanship entries and 10 skit entries.

The Masquerade is a Saturday evening Main Event comprised of skit performances, craftsmanship presentation, and a non-competitive showcase. Costumes will be judged based on accuracy, construction skill, and overall presentation. Skits will be judged on audience engagement, stage presence, and overall presentation. You can also model your costume in front of an audience by entering as an exhibition walk-on.

• The Masquerade is held on Saturday in the Main Events Hall. Performance and report times will be available closer to the date of the event. Handlers are permitted to accompany, but no spectators will be admitted prior to the event..
• For 2025, a maximum of 24 craftsmanship, 10 skits, and 15 exhibition entries will be accepted. An announcement will be made if we close online signups early due to capacity.
• Entrants can compete in both performance and craftsmanship if desired. Categories will be judged separately.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Craftsmanship judging will take place on Saturday of the event, at a time yet to be announced. Please stay tuned for more information soon.

All entries will undergo a closed interview with the judges. This time will be for you to explain your process, details, etc and allow the judges to look over your costume up close.

• Costumes CANNOT be judged for craftsmanship if they were primarily store-bought or commissioned. If modeling someone else's work, the person who constructed the costume will be considered the entrant and they must be present.
• You must provide a reference for your costume. (We prefer paper references that we can keep.) The judges are not familiar with every series or video game. References are needed to check accuracy.
• Entrants will only have 5 minutes per judging session (up to 10 minutes for larger groups).
• The judges will ask you questions about your costume. Be prepared to answer truthfully and accurately.
• You DO NOT have to be in character while being judged.
• Please arrive for your judging appointment a few minutes early. If you miss your appointment we will likely not be able to reschedule.
• Remember to try your best, be courteous, and have fun!
• Build books are encouraged, but not required. This is a reference guide to be left with the judges that includes reference images, your progress, and any details you wish to showcase that may not be visible during judging.
• A preview of the judging rubric will be available. Please check this page for updates.

SKILL LEVEL CATEGORIES:

• Novice: Cosplayers with no prior awards, minimum of 40% self-made
• Advanced: Cosplayers with 1-5 awards, minimum of 70% self-made
• Youth: Cosplayers age 12 and under
• Exhibition: walk on only with no judging

PERFORMANCE

• Skit entries are encouraged to be from any source media. However, to allow for variety of entries, a maximum of 5 dance cover performances will be accepted.
  
  • This will be on an entry order basis, and additional entries will be waitlisted.
  • We encourage dance entries to participate in the K-Pop/J-Pop Dance Competition.
• Performances will be allotted a maximum run time of 2:30 min and will be judged live during the show.
• Entrants are required to submit audio, scripts, and stage cues prior to the convention. The deadline for this material will be March 29, 2025 to cosplay@sekaiguild.com.
  
  • Groups with three or more participants are highly recommended to pre-record audio to ensure being heard by the audience and judges
  • Audio files must be submitted as .mp3; scripts can be submitted in email or text document.
  • All of your audio must be fully edited and prepared when submitted. We CANNOT edit audio in any way.
  • Please label the file clearly with your skit title, group name, and series.
• Entrants will have a rehearsal block on Saturday morning. This will serve as both pre-screening and an opportunity to familiarize your group with the stage. Please check this page for updates.
  
  • During skit approval, our staff will evaluate skits for time and content. They are not judges, they are simply checking for time and content only.
  • It is okay if one of the people in your skit group can’t make it to approval.
  • You DO NOT have to be in costume for skit approval.

SKILL LEVEL CATEGORIES:

• Novice: Cosplayers with no prior awards
• Advanced: Cosplayers with 1-5 awards

AWARDS

• The Best Overall winner(s) will win FREE ADMISSION to Sekaicon 2026.
• Additional prizes will be announced prior to the event. Please check this page for updates.
• Anticipated awards will include the following. The additional awards may be given at the discretion of the judges.
  
  • Best Novice Craftsmanship
  • Best Advanced Craftsmanship
  • Best Overall Craftsmanship
  • Best Youth
  • Best Novice Performance
  • Best Advanced Performance
  • Judges Awards/Runner Up

SIGN UPS

Sign ups will open Thursday, January 30th at 6PM EST.

Costume and Prop Policies

GENERAL COSPLAY RULES

• Costumes must comply with the Sekai Guild Clothing and Costume Policies and all entrants are subject to general Sekaicon policies and rules.
  
  • Shoes must be worn in public areas of the convention for your own safety.
  • Realistic weapon props may be peace bonded at the discretion of Public Safety or Masquerade staff.
  • Props should be carried and posed with in a way that does not inconvenience or risk injury to other attendees.
• A full list of all costume and prop policies is available here.

GENERAL MASQUERADE RULES

• Entrants must be registered attendees of Sekaicon.
• Costumes or skits that have won a major award at other events are ineligible to win another award at the same rank.
• Costumes from all media sources are permitted, so long as a design reference can be provided. This includes anime, games, comic books/manga/manhwa/manhua, music artists, etc.
• Fanart alternative designs for established media, such as NoFlutter or Hannah Alexander, etc, are permitted. Specific reference image(s) must be provided. Original characters regardless of media are not permitted.
• Skits must be suitable for a general audience (“PG-13” or milder), and groups may not exceed 8 people.
• Electronic flashes are permitted only if okayed by Masquerade staff. An announcement will be made to attendees at the start of your skit.
• Modifications to designs for personal comfort or accessibility will not factor into your score.