Cosplay Contest Application (CLOSED FOR 2025)

This division is for individuals who want to show off the skills that they used to create their cosplay. This division will be focused on the techniques that were used to make their cosplay. Your cosplay will be judged on the techniques used, the quality of the construction of the cosplay, and the accuracy to the source material. In order to compete in this division, you are required to have constructed more than 50% of your cosplay. There will be a Novice and an Experienced division.

For this division we will be asking you to provide a build book of your cosplay or any work in progress photos. This will help the judges see the process you took while making your cosplay and will help to show all of your hard work. You will also need to provide us with reference photos of the character you are cosplaying so our judges can see what your design is based on. There are no restrictions for the source material of your cosplay, so feel free to wear an original character or design!

Please note that participants in this division will be required to participate in a 15-minute prejudging slot occurring on the morning of Saturday, November 15, 2025. Upon acceptance to the Cosplay Contest, an email will be provided that will detail how we will be assigning prejudging slots. You will also be able to provide your availability to the Cosplay Department in this email.

 This division is for individuals who created less than 50% of their cosplay and want to show it off to the audience. This can include cosplays that have been purchased online, thrifted, or commissioned.

This division is for cosplayers under the age of 18. Individuals in this category can compete with either Craftmanship or Walk-on/Runway.

Dress Code

It should be noted that our dress code is not a reflection of a moral judgement, but one thoughtfully crafted with the safety and comfort of all guests in mind. If an organizer asks you to change your attire in order to remain on the premises, it is a request made to promote these values of safety and comfort. Please be mindful that KinshokuCon is an all ages convention and all attire be that costume or streetwear must reflect this fact.

The dress code applies to all areas within the bounds of our convention and the publicly accessible areas of our venue (e.g., the main lobby, elevators, bathrooms, restaurant, or patios).

These rules cannot and are not intended to cover all possible situations, therefore all final say is at the discretion of any senior organizers of the convention. If you are flagged for violating our dress code or the values explained above, you will be asked to remediate the violation in order to remain on the premises. This could be achieved in numerous ways such as covering the offending area or image, removal of an article of clothing or image, or changing into an article of clothing or outfit that falls within our guidelines. If no changes are willing to be made to remediate the violation, you may be expelled from the convention (without a refund).

Regardless of gender, gender expression or body type, all guests must;

1. Utilize soled footwear: roller skates, Heelys, socks, or barefeet are not permitted.
2. Cover nipples and a 2” radius surrounding the area with opaque fabric. This applies to a cosplay piece that attributes the look of bareskin such as a silicone chest piece.
3. Cover the skin of the buttocks with opaque fabric. Coverage can be achieved with a pair of opaque tights under your garments.
4. Cover the genitals with opaque fabric, loose enough as to not detail our outline any distinguishable features.
5. Seal all body paint, prop blood, or glitter so as to not transfer onto any other surfaces or guests.
6. Retain unobscured vision or remove any cosplay piece that obscures your vision before resuming travel through our convention.You may satisfy this rule through the use of a handler to guide you.
7. Retain an unobstructed path behind you when traveling through our convention. For example, carry or provide yourself with the means to hike up any long trains or skirts before roaming the halls.

The following are strictly prohibited in your attire;

1. Hate speech and/or hate symbols.This includes usage of such in any historical or fictional cosplay.
2. Items that restrict your movement or any connective gear attached to another person such as handcuffs, leashes, or chains.
3. Costume materials that come to a sharp point or can pose a hazard to those nearby.

The most important part of your outfit at KinshokuCon is your badge! Badges are required for entry to the bounds of our convention and must be visible or readily accessible for staff to see. We recommend affixing your badge to your person somehow, if you choose not to use the lanyards provided for you.

Props and Prohibited Items

We understand that cosplay is a HUGE part of making our con fun, so we want to make sure that everyone has a fun and safe time at the con. Please read this policy and follow the rules! If you violate this policy, you could be asked to leave KinshokuCon without a refund.

Any weapon that could seriously hurt somebody is not allowed. Specifically, but not limited to:

• Functional firearms – that includes paintball, airsoft, bb guns, cap guns, any gun that shoots a real projectile or causes a real explosion.
• Realistic firearms – any gun that could be confused for a real gun.
• Prop weapons made of a hard material such as metal or glass
• Functional projectile weapons – any weapon (crossbow, slingshot, etc) that discharges a projectile
• Metal-bladed weapons and any “live-steel”
• Chains
• Whips
• Explosives
• Blunt weapons
• Loud props such as whistles, horns, etc.
• Laser pointers

Prop weapons are allowed at KinshokuCon, as long as they meet the following criteria:

• That they are composed of cardboard, foam, or something light.
• Prop firearms are allowed only if they cannot be mistaken for real weapons.
• The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-colored orange caps.
• Prop bows will be allowed only providing that the bow has been unstrung with all arrows being soft tipped or permanently affixed to the quiver. 
• No more than a foot taller than you and a foot wider than you. If you are unable to clear the front entryway to our space, you will not be allowed to have the prop in convention spaces.
• All props will need to be under complete control of the owner and not pose any danger to attendees. 

Prop weapons will be allowed into KinshokuCon at the discretion of staff and uniformed security personnel. Safety is paramount, we will always err on the side of caution. There will be no place to store prohibited weapons on-site. If you have a weapon that is prohibited, you will be escorted from the building and not allowed back in with the weapon.

We are creating a safe space for everyone. Some weapons, due to their nature, will require “peace tying/bonding” in order to be allowed on site. We utilize zip ties to mark items as ‘safe’ and inspected. Once we have tagged your item, you are not permitted to remove it. Our staff reserves the right to ask to reinspect your prop at any time during the convention.

Please Note: New York State weapon and firearms laws are in effect and no firearms will be allowed in the convention proper. 

If you threaten or strike someone with a replica weapon, you will be asked to remove the item from the convention center. Not doing so when asked is grounds for removal from the convention (without refund). 

Play-fighting in any capacity is not allowed at KinshokuCon whether conducted with prop weapons or not. Still posing with prop weapons for photographs is permitted, but must not be done to a level where a staff member of KinshokuCon would assume at a glance that you were play-fighting.