Cosplay Competition
Showcase your latest cosplay in our annual main stage competition.
Each year WasabiCon celebrates the creativity and craftsmanship of fan-made costumes by hosting our annual Cosplay Competition.
Have you been making something amazing? Looking for an opportunity to show off your work to the community? Well, this is your chance! We are very excited to see all of the imaginative creations our attendees will bring to this year’s WasabiCon.
Registration and pre-judging will take place on-site this year, so please read all of the rules in advance to make sure expectations are clear. Space is limited, with only twenty (20) finalists selected to appear on stage. If you have any questions, please email us: JAX@WasabiCon.com.
What to Expect
Judging
Contestants will be judged on craftsmanship, overall presentation, creativity, character portrayal, stage presence, and the overall impact of their cosplay. Judges may also consider construction techniques, attention to detail, and how effectively the finished costume reflects the contestant’s chosen character or design. Four (4) winners will be selected.
BEST OF SHOW (Over $500 in cash and prizes)
$100 Cash
$150 Arda Wigs Gift Card
$50 UMAMI Curry Gift Card
$25 Keg & Coin Arcade Gift Card
One (1) 3-Day Pass to Holiday Matsuri 2026 ($110 Value)
One (1) 3-Day Pass to WasabiCon 2027 ($75 Value)
One (1) Family Pass, 2 Adults & 2 Children, to Catty Shack ($56 Value)
Mehron Paradise AQ Build Your Own Palette (12 Colors) Kit ($100 Value)
THREE (3) JUDGES’ AWARDS. Each winner will receive:
$100 Sandbox VR Town Center Gift Card
$25 Arda Wigs Gift Card
$25 UMAMI Curry Gift Card
One (1) 3-Day Pass to Holiday Matsuri 2026 ($110 Value)
One (1) 3-Day Pass to WasabiCon 2027 ($75 Value)
Competition Rules
- Registration for the Cosplay Competition is available on-site only. Advance and online registration will not be accepted.
- You must be a registered attendee of the convention on the day of the competition in order to compete.
Attendees who are registered as part of a Community Group, Featured Talent, Influencer, or any other “Guest” status may not compete. - The competition is for individual participants only. No group entries will be accepted. A group is defined as more than one (1) person.
- Only one (1) costume may be entered per cosplayer.
- The Cosplay Competition is a family-oriented event. Please keep all costumes to a “PG-13” rating. This includes, but is not limited to, nudity or overly revealing attire, explicit words or images on the costume, or anything that would be considered inappropriate in a public setting.
- The competition is open to all ages. However, contestants under the age of eighteen (18) are required to have a parent or guardian with them at all times during the competition process.
- At least 80% of the costume being entered must be original construction by the contestant or credited creator. Purchased components are permitted but must be disclosed during registration and judging.
- All weapons and props must conform to our convention policies, the rules of the host venue, and local laws concerning carrying a weapon. If there is a question or doubt, don’t bring it. You can read our event rules, including our Props Policy, online at https://jax.wasabicon.com/policies/
- Cosplay handlers are not allowed in pre-judging or backstage areas. This does not, however, apply to parents or guardians of underage contestants.
- This competition is a showcase where contestants walk on stage and present their work. Skits, music cues, and lighting requests are not permitted.
- Contacting the judges in advance of the competition to discuss your entry—or the competition itself—is grounds for disqualification.
- Green Mustard Entertainment, Inc. reserves the right to modify, update, or amend these rules at any time.
2026 Prize Sponsors
Arda Wigs
Catty Shack
Holiday Matsuri
Keg & Coin
Mehron Makeup
Sandbox VR
UMAMI Curry
