Rules for the 2025 Geek’d Con Cosplay Contest

Please review the rules for the Geek'd Con Cosplay Contest prior to entering into this year's contest. Pre-registration will begin on Monday August 4th at 11 am. The registration period will run until all spots are filled. Spots are EXTREMELY limited.

Pre-judging will start at 10:30 am on Sunday August 24th before the Cosplay Contest. It is MANDATORY that those participating in the Craftsman categories attend the pre-judging portion of the contest. If you miss the pre-judging session, you will be disqualified from participating.

Following the pre-judging, all participants in the contest will need on-site and checked in by noon. That way we can get you lined up and have everyone organized. Failure to arrive on time could lead to you being disqualified from the contest. 

If you have questions about the Cosplay Contest or rules, please reach out. You can send questions on our mobile app or Facebook page.

General Cosplay Contest Rules:

• You must be a ticket holding Geek'd Con attendee in order to compete. Each member of your group must have a badge, pass, or other forms of attendee membership.
• Contestants under the age of 18 need a parent or legal guardian present at the cosplay competition in order for that contestant to receive a potential prize.
• All contestants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent.
• All costumes must cover "swimsuit areas" – no nudity. Body-paint costumes are not eligible for craftsmanship.
• This contest is taking place on the 2nd floor of the Convention Center in the Panel Room. So, you will have to take an escalator or elevator. Keep that in mind and plan accordingly.
• The contest is open to characters from published works; movies, TV shows, comic books, cartoons, video games, and card games. It is also open to original characters of your creation.
• Anyone who is wearing a costume purchased from a retail store with no clear modifications will be disqualified from the contest if you signed up for either Craftsmanship category.
• Geek'd Con adheres to the "PG‐13 rule" when it comes to language and hand gestures on stage. Violation of this rule may cause you to be disqualified from the competition.
• During the contest enter and exit the stage at the designated points only. Costumes must be handled by the contestant or by handler(s) the contestant brings to help. Handlers are required to be registered attendees of the convention, and Geek'd Con can not provide on-stage assistants.
• Contestants are not allowed to throw anything off the stage, nor use projectiles or use anything on stage that will leave a mess. This includes (but is not limited to) liquids, glitter, and confetti. If you have a question about something you want to do, feel free to send an email with “Costume Contestant Question” as the subject. All participants are encouraged to keep at least one foot on the stage at all times.
• No pyrotechnics, fire, explosive devices, live animals, or similar special effects can be used during the competition; this includes smoke/smog machines and flash paper/powder. Anyone who violates this rule may be disqualified from the competition and be asked to leave the convention depending on the severity of the incursion. All prop weapons must conform to the Geek'd Con prop policies, including being checked.
• Each contestant may only enter one costume into the competition and can be in only one category.
• No 'Sandbagging'. Sandbagging is when a person enters a competition with the same exact costume that has previously won a major award at any competition, such as best intermediate, best master, or best in show. Some exceptions are allowed, such as if you modify or upgrade 50% of a best novice or best intermediate winning cosplay. Those exceptions should be entered in our advanced category. A costume that has already received best master or best in show at a previous contest, cannot be entered.
• All contestants who want to participate must be in the staging area near outside the panel room to check in no later than 10:30 am. Geek'd Con or its representatives reserve the right to turn away any contest entry it deems inappropriate or not in compliance with the rules. The contest will start promptly at 1 pm on Sunday August 24th.
• Everyone has a maximum stage allotment of 15 seconds.  No more than six people at a time are allowed on the stage (this includes non-competing assistants). Please keep that in mind when planning out your cosplay.
• Geek'd Con is unable to do lighting cues or effects.
• Keep in mind that the cosplay contest is a family-friendly event. Overt adult humor will not be allowed. All material must be PG-13.
• If you have a choreographed fight scene in your act, entries must use stage fighting techniques choreographed at 3/4 speed. Entries must not attempt stage fighting at full speed.

 Pre-Contest Check-In/Pre-Judging:

• Contestants in the Craftsmanship categories MUST BE CHECKED IN BEFORE 10:30 AM, so pre-judging, line formation and the contest can begin on time. Those who are not on time will not be allowed to participate. We will meet and gather in the hallway outside of the main panel room.
• Participants in the Youth & Masquerade Categories need to arrive and check-in by noon.
• The pre-judging/check-in is very important. Individual Prejudging will only be done for the Craftsmanship Division. Each contestant will have 3 minutes to present, explain, and show off their costume. Judges reserve the right to upgrade a contestant from Beginner to Advanced category upon their discretion. All other judging will be done after the entrants have walked the stage and shown off their costumes.
• Some questions you may be asked during the pre-judging portion include but not limited to: Is this completely store bought (as one item), completely assembled (multiple parts bought from different places), completely crafted by the contestant, commissioned for the contestant, or any combination thereof. This could hold different weight with the judges.
• Only participants (and handlers if necessary) will be allowed in the pre-meet area. Entries should leave all personal belongings behind in their car/hotel room or with a friend. Will not have a safe space for storage The pre‐meet is mandatory for all contestants. Entries should show up to the pre‐meet in costume, ready for the contest.

Divisions, Prize Breakdowns, Miscellaneous:

• Advanced Craftsmanship: (14 and up): You have brought your hard work here to compete. This category is for competitors who compete at the Intermediate (Journeyman) and Master levels. Have won multiple major awards at Intermediate and Master level at other cons. Must have made 75% or more of the costume yourself. Build Books and reference photos are not required but highly recommended. This helps the judges to see your progress, and how you built your cosplay. They will be Pre-judged by the Cosplay Guest Judges at a designated time & location. (10 Entrants max.)
  Beginner Craftsmanship: (14 and up): This category is for first time crafters, or for crafters who compete at the Novice level. Has never won a major award in Intermediate or Master level. (For example, if you have only won judges awards or best novice/beginner but nothing higher, you may still compete in this category.) Must have made 50% or more of the costume yourself. Build Books and reference photos are not required but highly recommended. This helps the judges to see your progress, and how you built your cosplay. They will be Pre-judged by the Cosplay Guest Judges at a designated time and location. (15 Entrants max.)
  Masquerade/Runway: (14 and up): Just for fun category. You just want to walk the stage and show off your costume to the crowd. Any costume allowed; bought, modified, or thrifted. Judged on wow factor/audience reaction and overall fun and uniqueness. (20 Entrants max.)
  Youth Cosplay (13 years old and under): Children must be accompanied by an Adult at sign up. Any costume allowed; bought, modified, or thrifted. Just for fun. Judged on wow factor/audience reactions and overall fun and uniqueness. (20 Entrants max.)
  PRIZES
  New contest with new divisions means a new prize breakdown, right? Well here you go! Prizes provided by our fantastic partners the Sand Bar & Johnny's Pizza House!
  CRAFTSMANSHIP Best of Show - Prize: $500 and Award Certificate
  CRAFTSMANSHIP Best Advanced Craftsman - Prize: $300 and Award Certificate
  CRAFTSMANSHIP Best Beginner Craftsman - Prize: $150 and Award Certificate
  MASQUERADE DIVISION 1st Place – Prize: $50 and Award Certificate
  YOUTH  DIVISION 1st Place - Prize: Free Johnny's Pizza for a Year and Award Certificate
  JUDGES SPOTLIGHT AWARD - Prize: Award Certificate
• There will be no additional prizes awarded by Geek'd Con.
• Judges are independent from Geek'd Con.
• By appearing in the Geek'd Con Cosplay contest, you are giving permission to Geek'd Con to use your image & likeness (photos, videos, etc) in the future.