Ultimate Cosplay Contest

The Ultimate Cosplay Competition is your chance to show off your awesome craftmanship and win prizes in the process

Cosplay Information

Submit your cosplay below. There is one Ultimate Cosplay Champion, with many other awards. Free to enter, you just need PopCon badge for entry to the convention. Questions that aren’t answered below? Email cosplay@popcon.us

Selection Process

You will need to be available for pre-judging Saturday, April 27th. Pre-judging takes no more than 5 minutes and will be assigned to contestants in 30 minute blocks. Please bring progress photos so we can see the cosplay evolve.

Championship Day

The competition will be held on Saturday, April 27th. You will show off your work to the audience of onlookers and get your photos taken on the runway before the awards are announced.

Submission Information

We welcome all cosplayers to submit their work for our annual awards ceremony. IT IS FREE TO SUBMIT. Please find submission criteria below:

  • NOVICE/BEGINNERS must have made at least 50% of your cosplay
  • JOURNEYMAN & PROFESSIONALS/MASTER must have made at least 70% of your cosplay
  • Journeyman and Professionals/Masters *Must* be available for prejudging, Novice/Beginners it is encouraged.
  • Single cosplays will have 3 minutes for prejudging (Beginners/Journeyman) and 5 minutes for Professional/Master. Groups will have 5 minutes, so be prepared.
  • You will be asked for progress photos if you can provide them
  • Sign-ups will end Sunday April 14th at Midnight!
  • Be truthful about the amount of the cosplay that you have made
  • Be on time, if not early for prejudging. You will have a set time that can not be rescheduled the week of the show.
  • Spots for the live event are limited for each skill level. If applications for a skill level are exceeded, we will have an online pre-judging of that skill level to get down to the limit on Friday April 12th.
  • Be on time, if not early for prejudging. Time slots will be scheduled with you in advance so you know exactly when you need to be available for prejudging on April 27th 2024.

Skill Levels

Contestant Skill Level

  • Novice/Beginners
  • Journeyman
  • Professional/Master

Each category is given points out of 1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest 20 points total.

Category 1 Preparation & Knowledge of Process

Explanation of creative process, progress photos, reference images of character

Category 2: Construction and use of materials

Methods used to create costumes, creativity of construction, use of unusual material, execution of construction

Category 3: Makeup, wig, and Transformation into character

precision in makeup, wig styling, accuracy to character

Category 4: Attention to detail

Embroidery, beading, prop weathering, extra details & accessories that help sell the costume

Cosplay Submission Criteria

Ultimate Cosplay Championship

  • Cash Prizes

Skill Level Awards

  • Best Professional: 6+ Awards Won
  • Best Journeyman: 3-5 Awards Won
  • Best Beginner: 0-2 Awards Won

Additional Awards

  • Judges Choice(s)
  • Best Sewing
  • Best Armor
  • Best Details
  • Best Makeup award
  • Inspiration Award
  • Little Batman Award

SIGN-UP FORM FOR THE POP CON INDY 2024 ULTIMATE COSPLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ultimate Cosplay Championship Indy 2024

Currently only accepting applications for cosplayers that fall into the Professional/Master categories.

Here is the sign-up form for the Pop Con Indy 2024 Ultimate Cosplay Championships!

Rules are as follows:
1. Novice/Beginners must have made at least 50% of your cosplay and Journeymen and Professionals/Masters must have made at least 70% of your cosplay.

Please note:  Novice/Beginners should be TRULY that. If your skill level is beyond that of a TRUE BEGINNING CRAFTER, please place yourself accordingly.  Example: this may be your first time ever competing in a cosplay contest, but your skill level is clearly beyond that of a beginner. Please use your best judgement.


2. Journeyman and Professionals/Masters *Must* be available for prejudging, Novice/Beginners it is encouraged.
3. Single cosplays will have 3 minutes for prejudging (Beginners/Journeyman) and 5 minutes for Professional/Master. Groups will have 5 minutes, so be prepared.
4. You will be asked for progress photos if you can provide them
5. Sign-ups will end at a time and date TBD for each show, so the sooner you get your submission in, the better!
6. Be truthful about the amount of the cosplay that you have made
7. Be on time, if not early for prejudging. Time slots will be scheduled with you in advance so you know exactly when you need to be available for prejudging.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to email cosplay@popcon.us

Please understand that when it comes to the cosplay contest, the decisions for the awards have been made as soon as prejudging is completed for the day, and before the competition for the audience.

Tell us About Your Cosplay

Let us know as much detail as possible about your cosplay