Craft • Perform • Celebrate
Show off your costume, craftsmanship, or performance during the Saturday-night SeizaCon Cosplay Masquerade.
Before you enter
All costumes and participants must comply with the complete convention rules.
Online sign-ups will be available before the convention and may remain available until one week prior. The overall Masquerade sign-up window opens October 1 and runs through Friday of the convention at 7:00 p.m. Exhibition sign-ups remain open until noon on Saturday.
At-con Friday registration may include craftsmanship, space allowing, and exhibition. Anyone signing up on Saturday will automatically enter exhibition only.
Every participant must check in with cosplay staff to verify or select a scheduled prejudging or screening time. All slots are first-come, first-served. Judging takes place on Saturday. You do not need to be in costume while signing up, but you must arrive on time and in costume for prejudging. Missing your time results in automatic disqualification unless you made prior arrangements with the Masquerade Coordinator.
Every participant needs a valid SeizaCon badge before cosplay registration or check-in. SeizaCon affiliates—including staff, guests, featured cosplayers, and featured panelists—may not enter the contest.
Participant agreements
Applying for or entering the Masquerade means agreeing to all three standards below.
Sandbagging is a term used to refer to cheating. By entering the Masquerade, you agree that:
Choose your path
Every entrant must choose a division representing their placement and competition level. Competition divisions are for participants who want to compete for awards with their costumes.
For juniors age 12 and under. If a parent or friend made the costume, please enter the Exhibition division.
For participants who want to go on stage simply to show off their cosplay. Exhibition entrants are not eligible for awards other than Best Stage Presence. This is a welcoming option for future competitors and anyone with a cosplay they want to celebrate.
You have three minutes to perform, plus 30 seconds for setup and 30 seconds for teardown. Total time should not exceed four minutes; points will be deducted after five minutes.
Performances must remain PG or PG-13. Adult themes or profanity result in disqualification and, if severe enough, badge revocation and removal from the convention. Every performance is screened before the contest, and sign-ups are limited by available time.
Craftsmanship skill levels
Craftsmanship is a skill contest—not a look-alike contest. Divisions need at least three contestants to be viable, and judges may move an entrant to a more appropriate level.
For makers new to creating costumes or performing on stage who have competed little, if at all.
For makers with more experience creating costumes or performing on stage.
For makers with substantial experience creating costumes or performing on stage.
Exhibition is for people who want to show a costume on stage for fun without competing for awards. This includes costumes you did not make—commissioned, store-bought, rented, borrowed, or closet cosplay made entirely from existing pieces with little or no modification—and costumes that have already won at least one major award.
All about costume judging
Craftsmanship judging is available only in the Novice, Journeyman, and Master divisions, and the costume must meet the criteria above.
Front and back character references are required for judged categories. Bring as much reference as possible—preferably color printouts, though figures, manga, books, and other physical references are accepted.
Without references, accuracy cannot be judged and no points will be awarded in that area. Fan art is accepted only for alternative designs or outfits, not canon designs.
Digital references are accepted, but physical materials are requested to avoid damage to personal property. If you present digital references, SeizaCon representatives are not liable for damage.
Although not required, build books are highly recommended. Include photos documenting the process from start to finish, plus notes about individual pieces, materials, and techniques.
Be prepared to explain fabric choices, construction methods, and how you solved design problems. Judges will look closely at hems, seams, finishing, and the inside of the costume—so iron your costume and brush your wig.
Individuals receive approximately five minutes. Groups and Master entrants receive approximately ten. Time is generally split between discussion and an up-close review.
Masters and Groups receive prejudging time-slot selection emails. Confirm that your email is correct and watch your spam folder.
Remaining contestants receive time-slot selection emails. Everyone must still check in at Cosplay Corner and collect a contestant slip for Masquerade setup.
Limited appointments: Judging appointments are first-come, first-served. Judges reserve the right to move an entrant to a higher category based on experience or prejudging, usually with the entrant’s consent, though not always.
Getting on stage
After judging, every entrant goes on stage so the audience can celebrate the cosplay. You do not need to perform a skit, but you are required to appear on stage.
Step on stage for a few seconds, pose, and show your costume to the judges and audience. Think of it as a low-stress, runway-style presentation.
Present a cosplay-based skit, reenactment, song, or dance. All performers must be in cosplay, and the performance must pass screening.
Cosplay at SeizaCon
From runway poses and character performances to group moments and late-night celebrations, cosplay fills the entire weekend.
SeizaCon awards
Awards are presented as applicable based on participation, judging, and the final contest structure.
Each judge may present an award based on their own criteria. Additional awards may include:
The Most Unconventional Award recognizes costumes made from materials such as duct tape or cardboard that truly impress the judges.
Chibi: Too Cute, Best Presentation, and Most Energetic.
Exhibition: Best Stage Presence.
Cosplay is not consent
Always receive clear permission before photographing, recording, touching, or interacting with another attendee, their costume, or their prop.
Questions may be directed to cosplay staff during the convention or submitted before the event through the contact page. And remember: have fun!
