PopCon 2025 Cosplay Competition registration

PopCon’s Cosplay Competition is back again!

Dress up as a character or element from pop culture, including comics, books, movies, TV, video games or anime/manga.

The PopCon Cosplay Competition is low-stress and fun for cosplayers of all ages and experience levels – especially for beginners wanting to build their confidence! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

How do I register?

Select the "Get tickets" button on this page and complete the questions to secure your spot in the Competition.

How will the competition run?

All contestants are required to sign in upon arrival at PopCon HQ and attend a pre-judging session between 11am and 2pm, where the judges will have a look at your costume and talk with you about it. This takes the pressure off of being judged in front of a crowd later on, which can be quite daunting!

NOTE: If you arrive too late for the pre-judging, you will not be able to be judged and will lose your chances of winning a prize, but can still participate in the competition presentation.

You will be given a time for your pre-judging and information about when to come back for the presentation. It's really helpful to bring a build book of your cosplay, but if you can't that's alright!

During the presentation you will have the opportunity to talk about your costume with the MC and crowd if you like.

More information about where to go for sign in and pre-judging will be sent to registered entrants before the event.

What costumes can I wear?

You can wear anything that complies with our Cosplay Guidelines. These guidelines and policies must be followed at all times.

If you have bulky props, you can store them in the props storage room on site until the presentation. It is very important you are aware of your costume’s impact on those around you and you may be disqualified from the competition if you do not follow the rules.

Sonika accepts no responsibility for any injuries you may sustain, and will not accept any dangerous behaviour from cosplayers (swinging weapons around or at people etc).

You can wear bought costumes, but it is preferable that there are some alterations you have made. Purchasing an entire costume from a store with no alterations of your own is not in the spirit of the competition. How much of your costume is bought or made yourself will have an impact on your chances of winning a prize.

If you’re not sure about your costume or props, please get in touch with us at @amplifySonika on Facebook or Instagram.

What will my costume be judged on?

The judges will be looking at: 

Construction – how much of your costume is made yourself and its craftsmanship, 

Story – did you learn any special skills for this cosplay, what you’re most proud of, meaning behind your cosplay. 

They will also be taking into consideration any props, but you will not necessarily be at a disadvantage if you don't have any.

Prize categories include:

• Beginner - Champ, one runner up

• Intermediate - Champ, one runner up

• Advanced - Champ, one runner up

• Judge’s Choice (someone who deserves a special mention)