THE FAN EXPO Cleveland COSPLAY CRAFTSMANSHIP CUP

Contest entrants must have a valid ticket for entry to FAN EXPO Cleveland on the day of the competition.

Entrants must be 13 years of age or older. Cosplayers 12 and under may compete in the Children’s Cosplay Contest on Sunday, March 23rd.

Participation in the FAN EXPO Cleveland contest is restricted to contestants who complete the online registration. Online registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and is limited to 40 entries, individual or group. Once the cap has been reached, the remaining entrants will be placed on a Standby list and notified only if and when a spot opens up.

Registration reserves a spot in the contest; contestants are still required to complete a prejudging appointment earlier on the day of the event.

Online registration will require the following information for each participant:

• Legal Name
• Cosplay Name (optional)
• Age
• Division
• Character
• Each additional name, age, and character of group members
• A brief intro for the emcee to read as you appear on stage. Max 50 words.

The following criteria must be met to avoid disqualification:

• In order to compete, entrants must have made or significantly altered at least 50% of their costume. Costumers may elect to have a model wear their costume during the contest but must be present for both the pre-judging appointment and the on-stage event.
• FAN EXPO reserves the right to disallow any contestants based on the appropriateness of their costumes. FAN EXPO Cleveland is a family-friendly convention. Nudity and simulated nudity are strictly prohibited. Costumes that are deemed to be racist, obscene, or otherwise derogatory will not be allowed to compete. Costumes with hate symbolism, such as swastikas, KKK hoods, etc., will not be allowed to compete.
• FAN EXPO HQ staff has the final say on all entries. Their decisions may not be appealed.
• Entrants must be able to wear their costumes for 2+ hours without incurring medical distress such as overheating, lacerations, excessive strain on muscles, etc. Entrants who are deemed to be in medical distress by EXPO staff will be removed from the competition and escorted to first aid. This decision cannot be appealed.
• All special effects and props must be pre-approved by the Expo staff prior to the day of the contest. Please surprise the audience, not the staff. All information supplied to FAN EXPO will be held in the strictest of confidence. Any electrical effects must be self-powered. FAN EXPO retains the right to disallow any prop for any reason.
• Any prop or weapon must have passed inspection and be approved by the Weapons and Prop Compliance Team prior to the contest.
• Entrants must leave the stage as clean as it was when they first walked on it. Glitter, confetti, silly string, etc., will not be allowed on stage.
• Due to fire regulations, absolutely no flames or pyrotechnical props are permitted. FAN EXPO’s primary concern is public safety.
• FAN EXPO cannot accept lighting requests, e.g., turning the lights off or down.
• Individual music will not be permitted.
• Posing only. No skits permitted.

To ensure fairness to all contestants, entrants will be split into skill divisions.* Please ensure that you select the appropriate category to compete in. Group entries must enter the skill division for which their most experienced member meets the criteria. The costume contest director and the judges retain the right to bump a contestant into a higher category if they feel a costume deserves to be recognized at a higher skill level.

Novice – professional costumers** may not enter the Novice division

1. A cosplayer who has never entered a contest

2. A cosplayer who has NOT won an award in any costume competition at the adult level

Journeyman - professional costumers** may not enter the Journeyman division

1. Costumer who has won one (1) but less than three (3) awards in adult competitions such as Best Costume, Best Skit, Best Workmanship, First Place, etc.

2. Costumer who has NOT won a "Best in Show" or "Best in Class" award at the Journeyman level

3. Costumer who has NOT won any kind of award at the Master level, including Runner Up or Honorable Mention prizes

4. Any Novice who wishes to compete as a Journeyman

Master - for advanced costumers and professionals** in the costuming field

1. Costumers who have won three (3) or more awards in adult competition

2. Costumers who have won a "Best in Show" or "Best in Class" award at the Journeyman Level

3. Costumers who have won ANY kind of award at the Master level

4. Any costumer, regardless of experience or past awards, who wishes to compete as a Master

* FAN EXPO reserves the right to combine or split skill divisions as required for any reason and without notice to meet the needs of the competition.

** A Professional Costumer is defined as any individual who is hired for pay on a part-time or full-time basis to create costumes for any kind of studio or theatrical organization, OR who obtains more than 25% of their yearly income through commissioned costumes for other individuals.

Prejudging times and location will be emailed to all registered participants prior to the contest. Prejudging must be concluded within the assigned time frame. Contestants are encouraged to arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled prejudge time.

Participants must bring their build books to their judging appointment. Your build book is a visual representation of your costume’s construction. Please include reference photos, work-in-progress photos, close-ups of detailed work, written descriptions of your process, materials lists, etc. Build books can be collected at the end of the stage portion of the competition. Books that are not collected will be disposed of. Questions about your build book? Email katiem@fanexpohq.com.

Each contestant will have a 3 minute time limit with the judges, please prepare accordingly.

Competitors must be in full costume at the time of judging.

Judging is based on the following criteria:

Fabrication: Clean edges, paint job, seam work, construction and durability, attention to detail, innovative construction methods. Props and accessories included.

Materials: Fabrics, leathers, etc., are believable to the costume, as is the innovative use of unconventional materials, the functionality of the design, and the execution of simulated materials.

Fit and Presentation: The costume is tailored and scaled to the cosplayer, the complete character (makeup, wigs, and prosthetics), and the overall presentation of the character.

Adaptation: Accuracy to the reference material (photos, drawings, literary descriptors, references to variants, mash-ups, etc.). Original designs will be judged on the believability of the costume based on the character described in the reference material.

Contestants who wish to be considered for the Sustainability Award will also be evaluated based on the use of recycled/repurposed materials, low-energy-consumption construction methods, use of environmentally friendly/green-certified supplies, and other sustainable elements.

All contestants are required to appear on stage. Contestants will be lined up as per their assigned order determined at check-in. Each contestant (individual or group) will have a maximum of 30 seconds of stage time. Should entrants exceed the time limit, they will be disqualified from the contest.

Only registered entrants are allowed in the staging area. Please be aware that this means friends, children not participating in the contest, and animals (with the exception of certified service animals) are not to accompany entrants. Costumes must allow freedom of movement to navigate stairs. Contestants in costumes who cannot safely navigate stairs may be asked to walk in front of the stage instead.

There are no change areas available for entrants. Contestants are to arrive at the staging area in costume. No sewing, gluing, spray painting, soldering, or welding is allowed in the staging area.

What to expect on stage:

• The emcee will read the submitted introduction as each contestant approaches the stage.
• The Expo will provide a soundtrack for the walk-on performances.
• Microphones will NOT be available for use by contestants.
• Contestants will walk from their entrance on one side across the stage to the opposite side exit.

Contestants will appear on stage in front of a panel of judges who will be scoring each entry on the following criteria:

Costume: complete head-to-toe character, fit and scale, accuracy to the source material or believability as an original creation, overall visual impact, creativity, and originality of the costume

Presentation: appearing in character, Q&A, stage presence, overall preparation

Audience Impact: fun factor, audience response (we understand that not everyone is an actor often a good pose is sometimes enough to “sell” the character)

Best in Show – The FAN EXPO Cleveland Cosplay Craftsmanship Cup, $500.00, and a VIP pass to FAN EXPO Cleveland 2026

Best Masters - $100.00 and a VIP pass to FAN EXPO Cleveland 2026

Best Journeyman - $100.00 and a VIP pass to FAN EXPO Cleveland 2026

Best Novice - $100.00 and a VIP pass to FAN EXPO Cleveland 2026

The Costume Contest director or representative of FAN EXPO HQ has full authority to eliminate anyone from the competition on the grounds of unsportsmanlike conduct witnessed backstage, violation of the rules, or any other reason deemed sufficient. There is no appeal. Arguing with the director or representative may result in further action taken, such as a lifetime ban on participating in any future FAN EXPO HQ Costume Contests.

Contestants are expected to obey all local, provincial/state, and federal laws and bylaws governing FAN EXPO and the venue location. Those who do not comply will be removed from the premises, and their badge will be revoked without prior warning. If the nature of the infraction is severe, the proper authorities will be contacted.