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NOV 15 - 16 2025, Bella Center

Cosplay Central Crown Championships

COSPLAY

Cosplay Central Crown Championships

COSPLAY

become the nordic representative at the Cosplay Central Crown Championships

In collaboration with J-Popcon, Comic Con Denmark is proud to present the Nordic qualifier for Cosplay Central Crown Championships 2026! Previously held at C2E2 in Chicago, USA, the craft-based competition has now moved to MCM London Comic Con in London, United Kingdom, where international cosplayers compete for the top spot among the best crafters. The contest seeks to showcase the very best in cosplay craftsmanship, inspiring the global cosplay community, and future cosplayers, to celebrate and elevate their art. The application opens on Friday August 29th at 20.00 (GMT+2).
sign up here
Two polaroids of cosplayers from Leauge of Legends and One Piece.
Cosplay Central Crown Championships logo

Enter the competition

The competition is a solo-based competition with prejudging and a catwalk. The winner of the qualifier will be rewarded with a trip to London to represent the Nordics, competing against all other countries’ winning cosplayers. Besides the qualification prize, you have the opportunity to win a number of other prizes.

  • The application opens on Friday August 29 at 20.00 (GMT+2).
  • There are 30 spots available in the competition.
  • The competition is first come, first served.
  • Each competitor will get free entry to Comic Con Denmark 2025.
  • On November 2nd, all of your material must have been approved.
  • The competition is judged on 70 % construction, 20 % accuracy/design, 10 % ambition.

RULES

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
  • You must have turned 18 before November 16th.
  • You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, or Iceland.
  • You can only enter as a soloist.
  • You must be available to attend Cosplay Central Crown Championships in London, United Kingdom, in May 2026.
  • You must not be directly involved with the organisation of any partner event or organisation of cosplay activities at the partner event for at least 12 months prior to the selection.
  • Employees, staff, crew, or guests of ReedPop or any associated company and their immediate families, and persons connected with the Championships e.g. prize sponsors or judges and their agents are not eligible to enter the Cosplay Central Crown Championships.
  • In case you cannot compete, you must contact the cosplay team at cosplay@j-popcon.dk immediately.
COSTUME RULES
  • Your costume must represent an existing or recognisable character or element from the pop culture realm, including comic books, movies and television, video games, anime, manga, theatre, or fantasy. Characters or elements from bands, musicians, and drag acts are not eligible.
    • Costumes replicating published designs from comic books, movies and television, video games, anime, manga, theatre, or fantasy, including derivative designs by well-known concept artists (that have been publicly available for at least one year and not directly commissioned by the participant), will be judged on accuracy, i.e. the detail and steps taken to create a costume that is accurate to the given reference material.
    • Costumes inspired by existing characters but given an original twist, e.g. character mash ups or interpreting a recognisable character in an alternative style, will be judged on the design choices and decisions taken to create a cohesive costume.
    • Further information regarding these categories can be provided. Send an email to cosplay@j-popcon.dk.
    • Use of references created with AI is not permitted.
  • The costume and props must be made by you.
    • All significant visible costume elements that can safely be made without assistance must have been constructed entirely by you.
    • If it is impossible or unsafe for a single person to make a costume element, assistance for simple tasks such as holding things in place is acceptable.
    • It is acceptable to use bought wigs, shoes, and accessories such as spectacles as long as they are not customised or commissioned. Simple, largely insignificant base layers such as a leotard or pantyhose are similarly permitted. Any customisation such as styling a wig or modifying shoes must be the sole work of the participant to be considered as part of the costume by the judges.
    • Instruction and planning advice is acceptable, as long as the practical construction of the costume is by you.
    • Use of 3D printing and other automated production tools is accepted, but significant costume pieces created in this way will only be judged on the steps that you take yourself, e.g. if you present a significant part of your costume that was a purchased and finished 3D print with no additional work done by yourself, this would be treated as a purchased item and not considered for scoring by the judges. If you have created the model yourself, you should include details of the modelling process in your build book.
    • Like the use of commercial sewing patterns, it is permitted to use models created by someone else provided the original creator is disclosed and credited. It is also accepted that the creation of the item might be completed by an individual that owns the relevant tool (or in a maker space or similar). The finishing and final construction of such pieces must be completed by yourself and you must be able to detail how this was done in order for the piece to be eligible for judging.
    • Passing off another creator’s work as your own will be grounds for disqualification.
    • You must wear the costume yourself.
  • The costume cannot have been used for any previous international cosplay or costume contest final.
  • The costume should not exceed 2,5 metres in any one dimension, and you should be able to safely move in the costume with limited assistance and the costume must not impede your ability to get on and off stage or in and out of the prejudging room.
  • If your costume or props have lights, you must be able to turn them on and off yourself easily.
  • Your costume should provide enough coverage to be worn in public and should be in good taste and appropriate for a family-friendly show.
  • Costumes cannot be obscene or offensive, including insensitive or unnecessary use of makeup, nor endorse any form of hate or any hate group. Gore, graphic violence, or other objectionable elements may also be grounds of disqualification as determined by the judges or organisers.
  • The judges will not take your physical appearance, such as, but not limited to height, weight, skin or eye colour, into consideration.
  • Costumes cannot promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous or any particular political agenda or message.
  • Costumes cannot depict, and cannot themselves, be in violation of any Danish, English, US, or other applicable law.
  • You must provide pictures from the source material of the costume as a reference for the official appearance of the character they are cosplaying in sufficiently high resolution. Original designs should also be supported by concept sketches.

STAGE RULES

  • Your presentation will not be scored directly, but may be taken into consideration if the presentation reveals flaws or benefits of the costume’s construction.
  • Prior to the catwalk, you must submit a text to introduce you while on stage. This may either be read live or be pre-recorded and played on stage.
  • Presentations must be suitable for a family audience. No profanity is allowed on stage, including messages on signs or clothes.
  • J-Popcon and Heroes Comic Con Denmark will provide background music. Background videos are not accepted.
  • The safety of the audience, staff, and other participants must not be compromised. The means that pyrotechnics, fireworks, or any other methods of creating a naked flame or explosion are forbidden; anything that may litter the stage (e.g. glitter, styrofoam, or confetti) or make it slippery or sticky (e.g. water, paint, or fake blood) is similarly banned. Any sharp objects, such as glass, mirrors, or needles are not allowed. The use of lasers or uv light, regardless of strength, is not permitted.
    • Self-generated, water-based vapour as part of a costume may be permitted for use on stage following assessment by the J-Popcon cosplay team.
  • You must stay on the stage during your catwalk. You cannot interact physically with the audience during your stage time.

BACKSTAGE RULES

  • Only handheld electronic devices are allowed backstage, e.g. irons, straighteners, or steamers are allowed.
  • You must adhere to the cosplay staff and their guidelines.
  • Props are kept backstage at your own risk, but make sure to be considerate of other participants’ props.
  • You must be present for your prejudging and stage time. If you are not present and ready, you risk not getting prejudged and, in the worst case, disqualified.

IN CASE YOU WIN

  • For the championship, you are expected to wear the costume that you qualified with; should you wish to compete in an alternative costume, this may be permitted following discussion with the qualification.
  • If you win the qualifier, you must check the specific rules of the qualification. J-Popcon’s cosplay organisers will help, but you must read and understand their rules, deadlines, etc.
  • Your costume and props must be able to fit into the luggage provided by the organisers, which is two checked-in suitcases and a carry on. If you need more luggage, you must cover this yourself.
  • J-Popcon covers the transport to and from the championship, while the championship provides accommodation and food. If further expenses occur, such as penalties, fines, or similar, J-Popcon does not cover this.

PRIZES

COSPLAY CENTRAL CROWN CHAMPIONSHIPS
  • The main prize: Get to represent the Nordics at the Cosplay Central Crown Championships! The winner embodies craftsmanship with their cosplay from head to toe, start to finish, from inner to outer layer.
  • The prize includes a trip for you and a helper to MCM London ComicCon in May 2026. Flights, accommodation, and food will be provided from Friday-Sunday. You will receive two check-in suitcases as well.
BEST CRAFT
  • Here, the judges are looking at the overall craftsmanship of the cosplay as a whole. Used techniques, how they have been used, how the costume fits, materials, makeup, the entirety of the cosplay.
BEST PROP
  • In a lot of cosplays, props are the icing on the cake to complete it, which is why we celebrate prop-making too with a prize.
BEST LOOK-ALIKE
  • Best Look-alike is based on the overall likeness with the character you are portraying – when the similarities are so scarily similar it’s unbelievable! This can be done with the cosplay, makeup, presentation etc.
JUDGE’S CHOICE
  • Sometimes, there’s something special about a cosplay, but it might not fit into one of the other categories. It can be different or alternative techniques, a certain twist, or a specific aspect of the cosplay that the judges want to award, but it cannot be done within the existing categories. This category is somewhat of a “joker”, where the judges themselves determine what they want to base it on. Each judge has a Judge’s Choice.

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