Before applying, please review the official rules via the link below.

It's easy! Just complete the form above.

Keep in mind:
You must receive confirmation via email from our Cosplay Competition director in order to participate at the Los Angeles Comic Con Cosplay Nationals only after you have registered via the website. Registering does NOT guarantee acceptance into the competition. We do have a cap on all divisions. The registration process will close depending on which is met first, our max capacity or our closing registration date. Be aware it may take up to 14 days before you are confirmed via email from our cosplay competition director. Upon receiving your registration form you will be required to submit work in progress/complete photos, concept art or character art and anything else related once our cosplay competition director has contacted you. Registration for categories will close once they are filled up. You may not compete without a confirmation, NO EXCEPTIONS.

There is no onsite registration.

Main Event: Saturday December 3rd, 2022.  
Time: TBD

Pre-Judging:
You MUST be available to check-in and attend pre-judging at the times indicated (TBA). Be sure to be on time as there will be NO LATE ENTRIES allowed once pre-judging ends. Prejudging will be staggered by Division starting with Novice and ending with Masters in Armor. If you miss prejudging you automatically forfeit your entry into the competition.

Be prepared for this and take travel, parking, and security times into consideration.

There will be no dressing room available, but you are free to wear your costume on the convention floor.

You must purchase a Saturday badge to participate. All entries competing will be allowed full day access on Saturday December 4th only.

The Cosplay National Championship judges will be announced closer to L.A. Comic Con

The judges are selected from individuals in the cosplay and costuming communities who excel at craftsmanship, design and have extensive backgrounds in costuming/prop creation.

The following rules apply to ALL entrants regardless of categories.

Entry into the event is at the discretion of the event staff, and we reserve the right to reject ANY entrant who does not adhere to these rules or whose costume is in violation of them. Please see the convention harassment policy.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we will be following all CDC guidelines as recognized by the City, County and State. Masks are not required at this time but as we get closer to the event we may enforce them based on the convention center and City/County/State guidelines.

Waitlist:  If submissions fill up, you will automatically be added to a waitlist. We will notify you no later than one week from L.A. Comic Con if your entry has been approved.

Returning this year under our rules and regulations is our rule on repeat costumes. No costume entered in the previous Cosplay National Championships under either category will be allowed to enter this year’s 7th Annual Cosplay National Championship. If you are suspected of entering a costume worn and placed at this show’s competition you will be automatically disqualified. We happily welcome cosplays entered in other Convention’s Cosplay and Craftsmanship Competitions throughout the world. We encourage you to get competitive by bringing your a-game to our particular competition!

‍Returning this year: We have added a “Masters in Armor” division. See rules below for qualifications and what this entails. This division will have a third, second and first place winner. And let’s not forget the “Best In Show” award, given at the end to the best of the best with the highest scores in Costume Accuracy, Craftsmanship, Detail and Presentation.

There are five divisions for this year’s Los Angeles Comic Con Cosplay National Championship.

For entrants who are participating as a GROUP,  you must complete the form for whichever division listing for your group. You are limited to 4 members max.

Novice Division (ages 13+)

‍Every entrant is limited to participating in ONE division. You may enter either as an INDIVIDUAL or a GROUP (2-4 persons). If you are under the age of 18, you must apply with signed permission from a parent or legal guardian. Cash prizes will be written in the form of a check to that parent or legal guardian of 18 years or older. There will be prizes/recognition for the top three winners in this division.

Qualifications:
This division is limited to encourage those new to costuming and competitions. Entries for this category have not competed in Journeyman nor Master categories at a prior LACC, Masquerade or Cosplay Competition.

Journeyman Division (ages 13+)

Every entrant is limited to participating in ONE division. You may enter either as an INDIVIDUAL or a GROUP (2-4 persons). There will be prizes/recognition for the top three winners in this division.

Qualifications:
Though you may be newer to costuming or you are a pro, consider this entry tier if you have competed before in the Journeyman or Novice division and have placed at a prior LACC Competition. Be mindful a judge or the director can bump you up to Master at any time from Journeyman depending on the quality of your cosplay for placement in the competition. Especially if you have placed first place in Journeyman in the LACC competition prior.

Master Division (ages 13+)

Every entrant is limited to participating in ONE division. You may enter either as an INDIVIDUAL or a GROUP (2-4 persons). There will be prizes/recognition for the top three winners in this division.

Qualifications:
This division is designed for the most advanced competitors. Entry must have entered in Journeyman or Master division prior and have placed in Journeyman or Master division at LACC. The stakes are high. Think you’ve got what it takes?

Masters in Armor Division (ages 13+)

Every entrant is limited to participating in ONE division. You may enter either as an INDIVIDUAL or a GROUP (2-4 persons). There will be prizes/recognition for the top three winners in this division.

Qualifications: This division is designed for the most advanced competitors. Entry must have entered in Journeyman or Master division prior and have placed in Journeyman or Master division at LACC. The stakes are high. Your build must be at least 60% armor and fabrication including your props and weapons. This isn’t a division where the cloth garment of the armor will be heavily judged compared to other divisions but the overall armor, prop and weapon fabrications themselves.

Best In Show (ages 13+)

Best In Show is NOT a division one can enter; it is decided upon at the end of the show during the awards ceremony.

Store-bought costumes are NOT PERMITTED! Your costume needs to be made or modified by you. We obviously will not judge you by store bought shoes.Modifications will be carefully assessed by our judges and must be at least 50% modified from the original piece. This applies to all aspects of your costume.

This year we are not allowing designs worn by anyone other than the maker of the costume. The maker and wearer of the costume must be present and registered to enter. No one is allowed to model your costume in this year’s Championship.

Our judges may ask you to verify that your costume is an original construction or to confirm an acceptable amount of modifications have been made to pre-existing materials.

While we do allow for a few minor pre-made, pre-purchased items, we are looking for craftsmanship and creativity. You may also give credit to your fellow costumer(s) who assisted you during the construction of your entry. Any assistance can only be up to 30% assistance, for example, you may have purchased a 3D printed prop as opposed to modeling and printing it yourself but you may have finished the piece off yourself. Or perhaps you’re too young to operate a certain type of machinery or tool. Again, assessment of this will be at the full discretion of the judges.

Original character designs and concepts are accepted as well! We are also allowing mashups and different takes on pre-existing characters. Please be prepared to show the judges your reference for all characters not cannon to their original intellectual property.

Build Books are not mandatory but appreciated. There are up to 4 judges if you wish to offer 4 separate copies of printed build books. You are of course allowed to bring only one if you prefer. But again build books are not required.

‍Note: Unfortunately, we will not have any repair kits on hand. You are responsible for your own costume and its integrity. We normally have a cosplay repair booth on the main floor near the cosplay guest area.

‍Kid-Friendly Show Reminder:
‍There will be children present and your costumes and presentation should be suitable for ALL ages. As a reminder entry into the event is at the discretion of the event staff, and we reserve the right to reject ANY entrant who does not adhere to these rules or whose costume is in violation of them. Please see the convention anti-harassment policy.

Anticipate a 2-4 minute presentation for 1-4 people during mandatory pre-judging. Depending on the complexity and detail, the judges may request additional time to observe and properly judge your costume during pre-judging or during the actual show.

During the main stage portion of the competition, there will be time for a small up to one-minute presentation. During this time there will be 3 points of posing on the stage, more information to follow closer to show time! This is simply for photos and one last look from the judges, no music or performances please.

Returning this year, and to help create social distancing during the show with some fun flair, each entry will be allowed to include (during registration, once accepted) a paragraph description of their costume! This can be a narrative about the character and where they are from, scripted dialog, how many hours your costume took, or some funny family friendly jokes! This paragraph will be read by our hosts during your stage presentation and must be no more than 6 paragraphs long. The organizer of the show must approve your presentation paragraph before you are accepted in the show. During online registration you will be able to submit your paragraph.

Please refer to the official show prop/weapon policy.

If you are not willing to comply with these policies, please do not bring your costume weapons.

Live animals are not allowed during the show or pre-judging unless they are a service animal. No animal is allowed on the stage at any time. Our staff is on hand to assist you during the main stage event.

The following are prohibited from entering the Los Angeles Comic Con Cosplay National Championship:  

ANY current Los Angeles Comic Con, including volunteers, paid staff, celebrity and cosplay guests.

If you have judged in a previous Los Angeles Comic Con Cosplay National Championship you must wait one year before registering to compete in between judging and competing. We hope to see you at the competition!