MASTERS OF COSPLAY: THE LONE STAR QUALIFIER

Entrants must have made or significantly altered at least 50% of their costume to compete. 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 staff, volunteers, and judges are not allowed to compete in the Masters of Cosplay.

Costumes that have previously been awarded a Division Award, Runner-Up, or Best in Show at a previous competition are not permitted to compete.

FAN EXPO reserves the right to disallow any contestants based on the appropriateness of their costumes. FAN EXPO Dallas 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 strict 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 pass 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.

Absolutely no flame or pyrotechnical props are permitted due to fire regulations. 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.

Entrants must respect judges’ decisions.

Unsportsmanlike conduct and talking down to other contestants and/or judges will not be tolerated.

Contest entrants must have a valid ticket for entry to FAN EXPO Dallas on the day of the competition. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older. Cosplayers 12 and under may compete in the Kid's Cosplay Contest on Sunday.

FAN EXPO Dallas contest participation 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 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.

Back this year! FAN EXPO Dallas is happy to continue the Sustainability Award. Contestants who use environmentally friendly methods and materials will be considered for an additional $100.00 cash prize.

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 that their most experienced member meets the criteria for. 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.

• MASTERS DIVISION - entrants in this division have extensive costuming experience, have received formal training in costuming or fashion and/or worked in the industry, or have won Best in Show OR three (3) or more major awards in past cosplay competitions.
  
  
• JOURNEYMAN DIVISION - entrants in this division have moderate costume-making experience and have previously competed in craftsmanship competitions, winning at least one (1) major award or three (3) minor awards. (Contestants are no longer eligible to compete in the Journeyman division if they have previously won Best in Show OR more than two (2) major awards, regardless of whether the competition included craftsmanship judging.)
  
  
• NOVICE DIVISION - entrants in this division have little-to-no prior costume-making experience, have never received formal training, and have never competed before, OR have competed but never won a major award, and have won no more than two (2) minor awards.

FOR DIVISION PLACEMENT PURPOSES: Major awards include Runner-Up to Best in Show, Best in Division, etc. Minor awards include Division runners-up, judges/organizers' awards, etc.

NOTE: Those entering as a duo or group must enter under the division of the highest-skilled cosplayer in the duo/group

NOTE: Contestants may be moved to different divisions based on experience or at the judge's discretion. If you are bumped into a higher division by the judges, you must continue to compete in that division for future contests.

* 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 list, 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.

Each contestant will have a 3-minute time limit with the judges, so please prepare accordingly. Judges may allow for additional time if they deem it necessary.

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, innovative use of unconventional materials, functionality of the design, and execution of simulated materials.

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

Adaptation: Accuracy to the reference material (photos, drawings, or 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.

Those 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 must appear on stage. Contestants are asked to arrive at the designated area one (1) hour before the contest begins. At this time contestants will be lined up as per their assigned order determined at check in.

Only registered entrants are allowed in the staging area. Please be aware that this means friends, children not participating in the contest, and animals (except for certified service animals) are not to accompany entrants. Should a contestant require a handler to accompany them, this must be cleared with the contest organizers in advance.

Costumes must allow freedom of movement to navigate stairs. Should your costume present a safety risk to you, costume contest staff, venue staff and/or equipment, or audience members, you may be asked to walk in front of the stage.

Contestants are to arrive at the staging area in costume. Please, no sewing, gluing, spray painting, soldering, or welding 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. Music requests will not be permitted.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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. The throwing of anything at the audience is not allowed and will result in disqualification from the contest.
  
  
• Once the last contestant has exited the stage, the judges will deliberate. Contestants must remain in the staging area at this time. Contestants are not permitted to leave the staging area to join family or friends in the audience.

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)

Prizing will be awarded for the following:

• BEST IN SHOW - $1000.00 USD and a trip to 2026 MEGACON Orlando to compete in the Masters of Cosplay Grand Finale*
  
  
• BEST MASTERS - $100.00 USD and a VIP Pass to FAN EXPO Dallas 2026
  
  
• BEST JOURNEYMAN $100.00 USD and a VIP Pass to FAN EXPO Dallas 2026
  
  
• BEST NOVICE - $100.00 USD and a VIP Pass to FAN EXPO Dallas 2026
  
  
• SUSTAINABILITY AWARD - $100.00 USD

FOR ALL ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS”:

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.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ALL ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS

These General Terms and Conditions for Online and Social Media Promotions (“Terms”) shall apply to all competitions, contests, sweepstakes and other prize-winning competitions and/or activities (“Competitions”) operated by FAN EXPO HQ or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies (collectively, “FAN EXPO HQ”), via any website or social network account page owned or controlled (directly or indirectly) by FAN EXPO HQ.

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.

Terms: Each Competition shall have its own set of rules governing the operation of that Competition, including, without limitation, eligibility, age restrictions, methods of entry, and prizing (“Competition Rules”). The Competition Rules for each Competition shall be set out separately at the time of the Competition and will be posted on the website or social network page. These Terms and the Competition Rules will be binding upon you when you enter or otherwise participate in a Competition. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and any Competition Rules, the Competition Rules will govern, but only to the extent of that inconsistency. Entry and/or participation in a Competition will be deemed acceptance by you of the Terms and Competition Rules. FAN EXPO HQ reserves the right to amend these Terms or any Competition Rules at any time.

Entry to Competitions: Specific requirements for entry into a Competition will be set out in the Competition Rules. All sweepstakes will be free to enter, and no purchase of any kind will be necessary unless otherwise specified in the Competition Rules. You must enter a Competition in the manner and during the period set out in the Competition Rules. Only one entry per person or email address unless otherwise allowed by the Competition Rules. FAN EXPO HQ shall not be liable for lost, late, misdirected, inaccurate, or corrupted entries, whether due to human error, technical error, software or hardware failure, or otherwise. No entries will be accepted from agents, third parties, groups, or entries automatically generated by computer. Incomplete, illegible, or undecipherable entries will be void in FAN EXPO HQ’s sole discretion.

Personal Information: You may be required to provide certain personal information to FAN EXPO HQ to enter a Competition, such as your name, email address, or telephone number. Personal information shall be held and used by FAN EXPO HQ and/or its agents for the purpose of conducting the Competition, or as otherwise described in these Terms or in the Competition Rules, and shall comply with FAN EXPO HQ’s Privacy Policy

Eligibility:

Employees, directors, and officers, and their immediate families (spouses and siblings, parents and children and their spouses) and household members of FAN EXPO HQ and its distributors, agents, and third-party entities involved in the implementation, execution, hosting, and prize awards of the Competitions (“Competition Entities”) are not eligible to participate in the Competition.

Submission of User-Generated Content: For Competitions that require you to submit images, videos, music, or other content (“Submissions”), the following terms apply:

Your Submission must not contain any (I) pornography, nudity or sexually explicit imagery; (ii) lewd, obscene, offensive, hateful or abusive imagery or language; (iii) harassing, disparaging or defamatory content; (iv) content that compromises the privacy or safety of yourself or others; (v) content that demeans a particular gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, race, ethnicity or nationality; (vi) violent or dangerous behavior; and/or (vii) spam, advertising or other commercial activities; or (viii) any other type of content that is indecent, immoral, discriminatory, or portrays or encourages illegal activity.

By submitting your Submission to a Competition, you hereby grant to FAN EXPO HQ a worldwide, non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free license to (i) use, copy and store for backup and archival purposes, transmit, broadcast, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, translate, reformat, transcode, and otherwise create derivative works of, publicly perform, record, re-record, synchronize with visual images and motion pictures, your Submission in any manner, in whole or in part, to incorporate your Submission into other works, and to otherwise exploit your Submission in any format or medium now known or later developed (collectively, the “Uses”), and (ii) use your name, city and state of residence, or other personal information supplied by you (“Personal Information”) to identify your Submission in the Uses, without any obligation of attribution or compensation to you. FAN EXPO HQ shall not be obligated to use any Submission.

Winner Selection: Winner(s) will be selected at a time and in a manner as set forth in the Competition Rules. Failure of a timely response to the award will result in the prize being forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. If a prize notification is returned or deemed undeliverable, a prize is refused, or the potential winner is disqualified for any reason, an alternate winner may be selected as set forth in the Competition Rules. Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for FAN EXPO HQ to use the winner’s name, hometown, likeness, statements, and other personally identifiable information for promotional, advertising, and marketing purposes in any media throughout the world without any additional prize, incentive, consideration, consent or review, and upon request, the winner will provide to FAN EXPO HQ written consent to such use. The odds of winning a sweepstake or drawing depend upon the number of eligible entries received. The decision of FAN EXPO HQ in any Competition is final and conclusive.

Prizes: Specific prizes for each Competition shall be set out in the relevant Competition Rules. Prize winners will be contacted by the method stated in the Competition Rules, which may include telephone or email notification.

General Prize Restrictions: Prizes are not transferable. FAN EXPO HQ reserves the right to substitute a prize in whole or in part with another prize of comparable or greater value if the intended prize is not available for any reason as determined by FAN EXPO HQ in its sole discretion.

Unless otherwise stated in the Competition Rules, FAN EXPO HQ will be responsible for the costs of delivering the prize to the winner’s residence. FAN EXPO HQ will not be responsible for prizes which are unclaimed, unused, or lost, delayed or damaged during delivery, or otherwise not received by the winner.

Disqualification: Failure to (i) comply with these Terms or the Competition Rules, or (ii) provide FAN EXPO HQ with proof of eligibility for a Competition may disqualify you from a Competition or from a prize at FAN EXPO HQ’s sole discretion. Competitions are void where prohibited by law.

By entering the Contest(s), each Entrant: (a) releases and agrees to hold FAN EXPO HQ and its respective directors, officers, employees, and agents harmless from and against any and all costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind, including, without limitation, bodily injury and property damage, or any other damage or loss, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to participation in the Contest(s), any Contest-related activity, or from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the prize, or participation in any prize, related activity; and (b) agrees to fully indemnify FAN EXPO HQ and its respective directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all claims on the part of any third party or parties related in any way and for any reason to the Contest(s) or to the prize, including, without limitation, death, and personal or property damage or injury.

By entering the Contest(s), the entrants and participants automatically agree to accept and abide by these Rules. All decisions of FAN EXPO HQ with respect to any aspect of the Contest(s), including without limitation the eligibility of entries, are final and binding on all entrants in all matters as they relate to the Contest(s).

FAN EXPO HQ is collecting personal data about entrants for the purpose of administering the Contest(s). No further informational or marketing communications will be received by entrants unless entrants provide Sponsors with explicit permission to do so as indicated on the entry form.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to FAN EXPO HQ and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for this promotion.