Persons 14 years of age or younger are not allowed to compete.
They may serve as a model for a contestant, or be part of a skit or group, however they cannot be the primary member of the entry.
Anyone under the age of 14 must be part of an entry with an adult 18 years of age or older and accompanied by an adult 18 years of age and older at all times.
All costumes must be completed before your judging time and/or stage walk. A cosplay repair station will be available and open to all attendees, but will be limited to Mainstage Cosplay Contest contestants only on Saturday between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. CT.
Repair stations are stocked and equipped to fix any last minute snafus (we’ve all been there!), but please don’t try to make your costume from scratch in the Cosplay Green Room, and Cosplay Repair staff are not available to assist you in making new elements for your costume.
Contestants are allowed to have one handler/assistant with them for costume, mobility, and accessibility needs, and/or emotional support. All handlers must be checked in with cosplay staff or they will not be allowed backstage or with you during judging. If you need more than one handler, it must be cleared with the Cosplay Directors ahead of time (contact cosplay@naka-kon.com).
Contestants and other participants may not use the stage or judging time to make political, religious, or insulting statements or other demonstrations. If your skit/performance requires mildly insulting language, please be sure to let the Cosplay Directors know ahead of time.
Contestants in any Main Stage or Hallway Cosplay Contest may not enter a costume that previously won a major award from Naka-Kon or any other convention. If the award was minor, such as “Best Prop” or “Best Intermediate Runner Up”, we will waive this rule.
Note: All awards given at the Hallway Cosplay Contest are viewed as minor awards in relation to the Mainstage Cosplay Contest, so entries that received an award in the Hallway Cosplay Contest during a previous year may be entered in the Mainstage Cosplay Contest.
Please contact the Cosplay Directors ahead of time if you are uncertain if your cosplay qualifies. This rule is strictly enforced and violations may result in you being disqualified from this and future cosplay contests. Please see the glossary for definitions of major and minor awards.
Main Stage cosplay contestants, Mainstage Skit entrants opting for craftsmanship, and Hallway Cosplay contestants must select a craftsmanship class. Select a class closest to your craftsmanship level, as indicated by the class descriptions. When in doubt, ask the Cosplay Directors.
Current members of the Naka-Kon Staff, (Convention Assistant level and above) and contracted guests of Naka-Kon are ineligible for awards, but are welcome to enter the Cos-Parade!
Safety first!
YOU MUST WEAR SHOES AT ALL TIMES. This is not only a requirement of the hotel and convention center, but also a safety concern. We will excuse the inaccuracy in your costume, so please wear appropriate footwear that will sufficiently protect your feet!
If you are wearing a costume that inhibits your ability to move, see, breathe, or otherwise function in a way that is more restrictive than your ordinary state of being, you must have a mechanism inside the costume where you can get out of it if needed, and/or you must have a handler who can assist you.
No throwing objects on stage or into the audience, or to anyone watching the parade.
No flames or smoke effects.
No projectiles.
No jumping off the stage.
No running up the stairs or on stage.
No acrobatics, stunts, or other activities deemed similar in nature. Entrants who wish to do any sort of mild fight or dance choreography must clear it with the Cosplay Directors in advance. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please email the directors of the cosplay contest to confirm if it will be allowed.
Items may be left on stage only if entrants request Stage Ninja assistance on the contest registration form.
All props/materials left on stage must be at least 3”x3” in size. That means, sadly, no glitter cannons.
All props and weapons must conform to Naka-Kon’s props and weapons policy.
Cosplay staff reserve the right to disqualify or remove anyone for any logical reason, including but not limited to: cheating, inappropriate behavior at the convention, and offensive cosplays (see glossary for definition of offensive cosplays).
Entrants who compete in the Hallway Cosplay Contest may not enter the same costume in the Main Stage Cosplay Contest during the same convention year.
Entrants who won a major award at the Main Stage Cosplay Contest may not enter the Sunday Hallway Cosplay Contest with their winning costumes.
Judges, in concert with the Cosplay Contest Directors, may move or bump a cosplayer to win an award in a higher class if they deem it appropriate based on the level of quality of the costume.
Cosplay Contest judging results are final. If contestants exhibit rude, disrespectful, or hostile behavior toward the judges after any cosplay contest, they may be banned from participating in future Naka-Kon cosplay contests. If you feel a judgment was made due to cheating or another unjust cause, please email your concern and evidence to the Cosplay Directors.
