COSPLAY CONTEST

THE 2024 COSPLAY CONTEST

The 2024 OCon Expo Cosplay Contest will take place in the main panel room at 6:00 PM on Saturday, June 29th. The Cosplay Contest is always one of OCon Expo’s most popular events, so make sure you arrive early enough for premium seating!

Pre-judging on craftsmanship and detail will be done during the day, so the contest itself will move rather quickly as cosplayers and performers will each showcase their creations on stage for a brief moment with the winners announced after all contestants have been showcased.

Prizes and Awards are outlined below.

If you need special accommodations, be sure to list that in your application.

HOW TO ENTER

You can enter this years contest by clicking the button and filling out the form:

PRIZES

Best in Show:
$750 and Trophy marking your achievement.

Best Craftsmanship:
Best Craftsmanship: $300 and a Trophy marking your achievement.

Best Performance:
$100 and a Trophy marking your achievement.

Division Awards: These awards are given to the best cosplayers in each of the following divisions:

Novice Division:
$150 and a Trophy marking your achievement.

Intermediate Division:
$200 and a Trophy marking your achievement.

Master Division:
$300 and a Trophy marking your achievement.

Youth Division:
$50 and a Trophy marking your achievement.

Judge’s Choice:
A certificate of recognition.

RULES

Cosplayers must be at least 18 years old (or have parental consent) to participate in the contest.
Costumes must be at least 60% handmade by the person competing or altered from their original state unless competing in Exhibition only.
No store-bought costumes are allowed unless competing in Exhibition only.
No nudity or offensive material is allowed.
No real weapons are allowed.
Cosplayers must arrive at the designated time and location for both check-in and craftsmanship judging (Youth & Exhibition is not applicable for craftsmanship judging). Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Cosplayers must be available for the entire duration of the contest and awards ceremony.
Costumes must not have won major awards at prior conventions if competing in the same division. e.g. If you won best Journeyman, and wish to try to compete with it in Masters, that is acceptable, but not if you are still competing in the Journeyman division. Costumes that have won Best in Show or top prize at any prior event are ineligible for competition. If you are uncertain, please reach out to cosplay@theoconexpo.com
If a contestant is found to be misrepresenting their craftsmanship, previous awards, or the nature of their cosplay/performance, they will be stripped of their award and may not be allowed to compete at future events.
Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the judges without input from the convention.
In the event there isn’t a category represented, applicable prizes will not be awarded.
You will not be provided a microphone and we are unable to accomodate custom audio or video.

DIVISIONS

Novice Division: This division is typically for cosplayers who are new to the hobby and have little to no experience in cosplay competitions. Novice cosplayers usually have not won any major awards in previous contests.
Intermediate Division: This division is for cosplayers who have some experience in cosplay competitions and have won awards in the novice division. Cosplayers in the journeyman division typically have moderate experience in costume making and performance.
Master Division: This division is for the most experienced and skilled cosplayers who have won awards in the journeyman division. Master cosplayers have extensive experience in costume making and performance and are usually considered experts in the cosplay community.
Youth Division: This division is specifically for cosplayers who are under the age of 13. Youth cosplayers are typically judged separately from adult competitors and may have different rules or categories to accommodate their age group.
Exhibition Division: This division is for cosplayers who want to showcase their costumes without competing for awards. Cosplayers in the exhibition division are not eligible for division or overall awards but may receive feedback from the judges and are still eligible for judge’s choice awards or best overall performance.

A NOTE ON GROUPS

Groups can either be judged as a single entity (which means you will need to determine how to split the prizes) or individually (each individual is separately judged on craftsmanship and performance).
- If entering individually each member needs to have made their own costume
- If entering as a group, each costume still needs to meet the rules criteria listed under RULES above
If choosing to be judged individually, please include your group name on each entry in the available field (this is so we know to group you together when we line you up)
Groups absolutely can be on stage together!
If entering individually, performance will be judged solo even though you are in a group on stage

CRAFSTMANSHIP JUDGING CRITERIA

Craftsmanship Judging Criteria is conducted across the Novice, Intermediate, & Masters Divisions.

Accuracy: The accuracy of the costume and any armor or props to the original source material will be judged. This includes the overall design, colors, and details of the costume and any additional elements.
Techniques: The techniques used in constructing the costume, armor, and props will be judged. This includes sewing, patterning, foamsmithing, thermoplastics, fabric selection, and use of appropriate materials.
Construction: The construction of the costume, armor, and props will be judged, including the durability and sturdiness of the items. Special attention will be given to the construction of armor and props to ensure they are safe for the cosplayer and others around them.
Finishing: The overall finishing of the costume, armor, and props will be judged, including the quality of the seams, hems, and other finishing details. Special attention will be given to the finishing of armor and props to ensure they look realistic and well-crafted.
Presentation: The presentation of the costume, armor, and props on stage will be judged, including the overall performance, stage presence, and characterization of the character being portrayed.
Creativity: The creativity and innovation shown in the construction of the costume, armor, and props will be judged, including the use of original designs, unique materials, and unconventional techniques.

PERFORMANCE JUDGING CRITERIA

Performance Judging Criteria is conducted across all divisions.

Characterization: How well the cosplayer portrays the character they are portraying. This includes both the physical representation of the character (e.g. costume, makeup) and the performance of the character’s personality and behavior.
Performance: How well the cosplayer performs on stage, including their movements, gestures, and overall stage presence. Special attention will be given to the use of props and any special effects that enhance the performance.
Originality: How original and creative the performance is. This includes any unique interpretations of the character and original choreography.
Entertainment Value: How entertaining and engaging the performance is for the audience. This includes the overall energy level of the performance, the use of humor or drama, and how well the cosplayer connects with the audience.
Stage Presence: How well the cosplayer commands the stage and engages with the audience. This includes how well the cosplayer uses the space available to them and how well they maintain eye contact and engage with the audience.

AUDIENCES RULES & SUGGESTIONS

The contestants that entered the 2024 OCon Expo Cosplay Contest worked hard on their costumes and are excited to show off their work. There are multiple skill levels and categories that will be presented, with contestants in each giving it their all.

We ask that audience members show each and every contestant the respect they deserve while they are showcasing their craftsmanship. If an audience member is found to be rude or disrespectful to any contestants during the contest show, Mid-America or OCon Expo staff may ask those audience members to leave.

If you need special accommodations, be sure to list that in your application

THE 2024 KIDS COSPLAY JAMBOREE

The 2024 OCon Expo Kids Cosplay Jamboree takes place at 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 30th.

There is no pre-judging or formal entry to complete ahead of the celebration. Please just bring your children (ages 2-14) to the appropriate panel room by 11:45 to be included. Costumes will not be judged, but instead cheered by audiences, as each child is given the chance to march across the stage and show off their awesome costume.

Dependent on time and the amount of entries, a small Kids Cosplay Parade might be conducted through the halls of the Mid-America Center shortly after the on-stage activities.

Prizes are still to be determined, but we expect some fun gifts to those that enter.