PopCon 2026 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!

If you'd like to participate in something even more low-stress - we have our Cosplay Parade as well, where you can simply show the audience your costume without any judging (there are no prizes for this).

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.

The Cosplay Competition is about craft and creativity! You can wear bought costumes, but there must be 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.

There are limited places in the competition, so please keep this in mind. If you would just like to show off your costume, consider joining the Cosplay Parade instead.

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).

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. 

Accuracy and detail – how much your cosplay looks like the thing it's representing.

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

• Advanced - Champ, one runner up

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

Which category should I select?

Beginner means you are new to cosplay - you have been doing it for less than two years, and this is your first or second competition.

Advanced is for people who have been doing cosplay for more than two years and are more developed in their skills or have entered in bigger competitions before.

The judges may move you into another category after meeting you and assessing.

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.