Ai-Kon features one of the largest costume contests in the province! See characters from anime, video games and media come alive as they showcase their talents.  Performers will present themselves on stage for judging in design, costume, prop and makeup before our judges panel. Our contestants are judged on a wide range of criteria, including craftsmanship, creativity, use of material and more. Cosplayers will compete on their ultimate expressions of their talent and possibly win the prize of Best in Show!

Sign-ups for the contest are done on site, and all forms must be submitted to the Cosplay Desk (2nd Floor, Carlton Concourse, South Building) by 12:00 PM, Saturday July 12th. 

Judging for contestants begins at 3:30 PM in the Green Room (Showing Room B, Main Floor, North Building). All Youth and Out of Show entrants are to arrive no earlier than 6:00 PM.

The Cosplay Contest begins in the Main Showing Room (Main Floor, North Building) at 6:00 PM. Seating is limited and done on a first come-first served basis! 

Divisions: 

Depending on experience and overall skill level of entries, contestants who wish to be judged will be placed into separate divisions (Beginner, Intermediate, or Masters). Entrants will be asked in their submission to choose the division they feel they are most suited for and eligible to compete for the prize at that division, however are up to the discretion of the Cosplay Department Staff. All contestants must have made a minimum of 70% of their costume, including wigs and other props to be considered an entrant otherwise they will be categorized as Out of Show. 

Youth – cosplayers who are under the age of 13, costumes do not have to be made by the entrant.

Beginners – new cosplayers, those who have not made more than 3 costumes and those who have not received a cosplay contest award.

Intermediate – cosplayers who have some experience, made more than 3 costumes and may have won previous awards.

Masters – Experienced cosplayers who may have made more than 5 costumes, may have industry experience in the field or won previous show awards.

Best in Show – This is not a division, but is the award reserved for the Judge’s Choice for all-around best costume. This award can be presented to any category.

Ai-Kon’s cosplay contest is not a look-alike contest, and costumes and props are all thoroughly judged on craftsmanship and skill. 

All costumes and props will be judged / graded based on: 

• Accuracy: Did the contestant match character(s)’s garments/props/style well? Were there any changes done to personalize it, and how effectively was this done? If the character is an original character, your entry will be judged largely on construction factors instead.
• Polish: Is the construction clean, well-fitted and with good proportions? Are garment/foam seams finished, 3d prints sanded? Are all connections for armor hidden? 
• Difficulty: What level were the techniques used and well were they executed? A more complicated build may not necessarily guarantee a higher grade. 
• Build percentage: How much of the full costume was made by the contestant? How much was modified? 
• Impact: This is the “wow” factor of the cosplay. How does it look overall as a complete package? Is it cohesive or disjointed? In what ways did the contestant go above and beyond?

Entrants may create a physical portfolio to present to the judges to display the work done on the costume. It may also include media of the character that was used to replicate the costume/props and work in progress shots. This will assist in the judging process.

Contest Information

We ask that entrants show up on time and be ready to go on stage with little notice. The cosplay contest runs from 3:30 to 9:30 PM. 

Contestants under the age of 13 must be accompanied by ONE adult backstage. This guardian must remain backstage with the contestant during the entire duration of the competition. Ai-Kon is not responsible for the supervision of minors. 

Entrants are expected to bring their own snack / drink supplies if they are required. These must not pose a risk of damaging other contestants’ costumes or property. Keep the area clean, as failure to do so may result in hazards for others. Leave the area as you found it.

If you are experiencing overheating or any medical issues, please notify backstage Cosplay Department Staff immediately. 

The judging will start with the “Youth” category. Judging will continue with the “Masters” category, progress to the “Intermediate” category and end with the “Beginners” category. 

When backstage and on stage we ask that all entrants remain quiet and respectful of others at all times. The audience can hear you, and we stress that the quieter you are the smoother the contest will go. 

Respect the M/C and all staff. Do not insult the M/C if they make missteps in the pronunciation of names/characters. Anyone found to be physically or verbally abusing the M/C, staff, or other attendees may be removed from the contest and barred from entering future events.

All entrants have the potential to be photographed/filmed/recorded in some fashion. These recordings may be used in the future for convention promotions. All participants understand that photography / recording could occur at any time, and permission is implicitly given for the participant’s likeness to be used.

Contestants are asked to consider the size of their overall costume and props, as the entrance from the Green Room to the stage is a single door. This includes large wings, props, or stilts. Cosplay Department staff will be on hand to assist entrants to get on and off the stage. Hazardous/dangerous costumes may be excluded from the contest.

The Cosplay Department and Backstage Staff have limited flexibility in regards to your individual appearance on stage. This includes lighting cues, lighting colour, the use of the microphone. We do not allow individualized music, set dressing or skits to keep the show running smoothly and fairly. Do not perform ‘surprise’ elements without notifying the Cosplay Department Staff. 

The term sandbagging is used in the cosplay community when a contestant someone enters and wins an award with one costume multiple times OR is knowingly competing in a division that is below their actual skill level. 

Sandbagging: Not every convention enforces this rule, however Ai-Kon believes it’s important to make space for new creations and creators and we wish to encourage people to continue to make things. You are welcome to wear an award-winning costume, however we do ask that you do not enter it into the cosplay competition and instead enter as Out-of-Show. 

Cosplay Contest Rules:

1. Entrants must have created/modified a minimum of 70% of their costume to be eligible for judging and must abide by both Costume and Weapon Policies set forth by Ai-Kon. Found or modified parts, such as repainted shoes, gloves or undershirts must not consist of more than 30% of the overall costume. Failure to disclose the accurate amount of work and effort put in by the entrant may result in disqualification and barring from future events.
2. Entrants are not permitted to throw items (including themselves) on or off stage. Any acrobatic stunts are done at the risk of the performers. 
3. All costumes must be self-contained, meaning that they do not require any external assistance aside from going up and down the stage, this includes the use of pyrotechnics, electrical outlets etc. 
4. Entrants are not permitted to modify their costumes/props backstage
5. Entrants must keep their props/costumes/outfits/poses as PG-13 as possible. Ai-Kon is a family friendly convention, and nudity, profanity or inappropriate behaviour on or off stage is not permitted. Body-paint entries are not allowed.
6. Entrants may only enter the contest once and only in one division.
7. If your costume/props emits light/sound/haze etc. you may be asked to turn off your device at the request of backstage staff. 
8. All entrants have the potential to be photographed/filmed/recorded in some fashion. These recordings may be used in the future for things such as promotions. Signing up for, and/or attending, is done with the understanding that recording could occur at any time, and permission is implicitly given for the participant’s likeness to be used.
9. Entrants may NOT enter a costume/prop for any of the following reasons:

• If it has won at a previous cosplay contest at a major cosplay contest. Some exceptions may apply, such as if it was a day-award, if significant work was done between the last award, or if the entry is made in a division same or below the award won in the last competition. 

– If a costume was made by a different crafter, and the crafter is not present for the judging/award process. If the costume wins, the crafter will be presented the prize, not the model. 

– If they are members of the Ai-Kon Staff or are invited guests.

10. Some exceptions may apply, consult the Ai-Kon Cosplay Department for any questions or concerns