Adult Cosplay Contest Rules
Acceptance to the cosplay contest does not include access to the convention. All participants must purchase a valid convention registration to the convention in order to participate in the contest.
Costumes cannot have previously won a major award* at another competition. Costumes that have won minor awards** can be entered. Any costume that has won a previous award at Baltimore Comic-Con cannot be re-entered.
Three entry levels:
- Novice: This beginner category includes applicants who have never entered a contest or those who have entered a contest before and have not won a major award. Novices are allowed to enter this category if they have won minor awards** in previous competitions.
- Intermediate: This category includes cosplayers who have received a (1) major award* at a previous competition for a different costume than what is being entered at Baltimore Comic-Con. Intermediate entries may also have won minor awards** in previous competitions. Anyone without prior competition wins or experience may register at the Intermediate level if they feel their cosplay can compete at this level.
- Advanced/Master: This category includes any cosplayer who makes cosplay props and costumes for income and/or any cosplayer who has previously won at least two (2) major awards* at the novice level OR at least one (1) major award* at the intermediate level. Anyone without prior competition wins or experience may register at the Advanced level if they feel their cosplay can compete at this level.
Judges have the right to move a cosplayer up a category if they feel that the quality of the cosplay is more appropriately competed at the higher level. Judges cannot move a cosplayer from higher levels to lower levels.
*Major awards include:
- Any “Best Of” (e.g., Best of Weekend, Best Novice/Intermediate/Master, Best of Friday/Saturday, Best Craftsmanship, etc.)
- Any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Place Award (e.g., 2nd Place Overall, 3rd Place Intermediate, Runner-up Novice, etc.)
Costumes being entered into the Baltimore Comic Con Cosplay Competition are not permitted to have previously won any major awards.
**Minor awards include:
- Judge’s Awards
- Honorable Mentions
- Spirit Awards
- Coordinator’s Choice
- Audience’s Choice
Costumes that have previously won minor awards are allowed to be entered into the Baltimore Comic-Con Cosplay Contest.
If you are unsure whether an award you have previously won counts as major or minor, please e-mail the Baltimore Comic-Con Cosplay Coordinator at cosplay@baltimorecomicon.com.
Any uncertainty from the competitors about their level placement should be addressed prior to registration closing. Organizers may help registering cosplayers determine if they are more appropriately placed in the Novice, Intermediate, or Advanced level based on prior competition experience. Organizers of the competition are not judges, and placement into a specific level does not guarantee any outcome to the competition.
There will be NO day-of registrations allowed for Adults.
Kids under 18 years of age will be allowed to register online for as long as the online form is open, as well as sign up at the convention.
Please also be advised that there will be no group cosplay entries allowed.
Creators will be allowed to use models to model their cosplay as long as the creator is present. Only one model will be allowed and only one model will be judged – this does not count as a group cosplay.
- Both the creator and their model must have valid badges for Baltimore Comic-Con. Two people cannot enter with one badge.
- The creator will be verbally credited during the cosplay contest, though only the model will be allowed on-stage to show off. If their costume wins an award, the creator will be allowed on-stage with their model after the award has been announced. Any prizes awarded will go to the creator of the costume.
Acceptance to the cosplay contest does not include access to the convention. All participants must purchase valid convention registration to access the convention spaces and participate in the contest.
Withdrawing from the competition – Anyone pre-registered for the cosplay competition can withdraw up to the day of the competition. Please provide advanced notice as early as possible, as it may allow another contestant to pre-register. If canceling the day-of, please arrive at the pre-judging appointment and state your wish to withdraw. If you cannot withdraw in person (i.e., personal illness, unable to attend convention, etc.), an email must be sent before noon on the day of the competition. Canceling the day of the contest will not open up slots for new contestants. Repeat offenders of this rule will be barred from entering the Baltimore Comic-Con Cosplay Contest for a year.
Late arrival or failure to show up to the pre-judging appointment or to the stage walk will result in automatic withdrawal from the contest.
Organizers reserve the right to withdraw a contestant from the competition at any time. Inappropriate behavior, unsportsmanlike conduct, disrespect of judges and fellow contestants, and other similar behaviors will not be tolerated.
Build book – Documentation of the build process for the cosplay, also known as a build book, will be required for all levels of competition. For those uncertain how to put together a build book, formats are available online via search engines. Build books prove the level of work done by the cosplayer and provide credit for any commissioned work.
- For those with past cosplay awards, please include a list of prior awards (convention/competition, level competed, placement) on the first page of the build book.
- Please provide reference images of the design or character for your costume.
- Restrict length to no more than 15 pages.
- Build books must be physical. No digital build books will be permitted (including build books on phones, tablets, thumbdrives, etc.). Baltimore Comic-Con is unable to print build books for competitors.
Costume Eligibility
- Level of personal work done on cosplay required – Roughly 75% of the cosplay must be created personally by the competitor. Commissioned work for the remaining 25% is allowed, but full credit must be given to the fabricator and this credit must be included in the build-book. A statement of permission to compete with the fabricator’s work is also required. An email or private message showing the To:/From: lines and written permission to compete from the fabricator is acceptable.
- Type of Design: Costumes should represent an existing or recognizable character from the pop culture realm, including movies, TV, comic books, manga, anime, etc. Costumes can also include derivative designs from artists (i.e. Hannah Alexander Art, Sakizo Illustrator, etc.) so long as reference artwork is provided in the build book for the judges. Original characters will be allowed with references (mood boards, artistic interpretations, origin stories, commissioned art, etc.).
A. Competitors will not be docked points for assistive device use such as wheelchairs, canes, glasses, etc.
B. Competitor body size/shape/skin color/orientation/race/etc. will not affect judging. - Costumes cannot have previously won a major award at another competition. Costumes that have won minor awards can be entered.
A. Cosplayers should be able to safely move in the costume with limited assistance (except in the case of disability that requires a helper), and the costume must not impede the Contestant’s ability to get on and off stage.
Judging
Costume judging will take place before the stage presentation and assesses the accuracy of the costume against provided source images or the design skill and interpretation of original designs, the ambition and complexity of the costume design, the quality of construction, and the techniques employed to realize the costume. Contestants will have a limit of 5 minutes to discuss their costumes with judges.
It is the responsibility of the Contestants to be present for judging at the time decided by Baltimore Comic-Con. Late arrival or failure to show up to the judging appointment or to the stage walk will result in automatic withdrawal from the contest.
The judges’ decisions are final, and no further negotiation is permitted. There is no obligation on Baltimore Comic-Con or the judges to provide feedback. Judges can provide feedback at their own discretion.