The 13^th Annual Cincinnati Comic Expo Costume Contest will take place shortly after 6:00pm on Saturday, September 23, 2023, in the Queen City Panel Room (Rooms 200-205).

What is a Comicon without costumes? During the 2023 Cincinnati Comic Expo, join hundreds of enthusiastic characters with their best threads on to see who has the best guise. Get your patterns ready, order that special accessory, and warm up your sewing machines; for soon you will be hammering away at the seams of your best costume yet.

CATEGORIES & PRIZES

• Youth Class
  • For ages 13 and under. No prejudging required. No prizes are awarded for this category.
• Novice Class
  • This category is for 1st time competitors. No one who has placed, or won in previous conventions may enter as a Novice.
    • First Prize: $100
    • Second Prize: $50           
    • Third Prize: $25
  • Journeyman Class
    • This category is for our intermediate level competitors. Those whose skills are beyond that of a Novice, but are still refining their costuming skills. You may not enter as a Journeyman if you have previously won, or placed, as a Journeyman at the Cincinnati Comic Expo.
      • First Prize: $200
      • Second Prize: $100         
      • Third Prize: $50
    • Master Class
      • This level is for the Best of the Best. There are no prerequisites to enter this\ judging class (as long as you adhere to the costume contest rules), but know you are playing with the Big boys and girls of Cosplay.
        • First Prize: $1000      
        • Second Prize: $400         
        • Third Prize: $200
      • Best Group
        • This is a category for 2 or more individuals wanting to enter the CCE costume contest together. Group entries will be judged as an entire group and held to the same standards/prerequisites as the other categories (minus the Kids category). Thus, individuals entering in the ‘Group’ category are ineligible to enter as individuals in any other category.
          • First Prize: $300 for the whole group

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Registration and prejudging is REQUIRED for anyone wanting to participate in the annual costume contest. Registration and prejudging with the costume contest judges will take place on Saturday, 9/23, from 11:30am to 3:30pm in Rooms 234/235 of the convention center.  At registration, contestants will be given details about when and where to meet for the contest.

All entries must be Cincinnati Comic Expo attendees; this means you must have your badge or wristband in order to participate. No badge or band = No entry.

This contest is open to all costume types, comic, anime, manga, or otherwise.

All participants must legibly complete a costume contest entry form at pre-judging. Forms will be available at the pre-judging location.

One costume entry per person.

Best Group Category: This is a category for 2 or more individuals wanting to enter the CCE costume contest together. Group entries will be judged as an entire group and held to the same standards/prerequisites as the other categories (minus the Kids category). Thus, individuals entering in the ‘Group’ category are ineligible to enter as individuals in any other category. 

All costumes must be entered by the person who created it. Models may be utilized to showcase your costume. However, the creator must be present with the model at both the prejudging and the contest to be eligible for award consideration. If you choose to use a model, be sure to include this information on your application.

With exception for the Youth category, all costumes and props must be of original construction or show major modifications/alterations to pre-existing materials. No costumes that are purchased or otherwise obtained from a professional or retail source will not be accepted for judging but will be eligible to walk on stage. Exceptions are made for wigs, shoes, jewelry, belts & accessories. But, the more of your costume you make, the more impressed the judges will be!

All entrants are required to show up in full costume for pre-judging which will take place earlier in the day (exceptions for the Youth category and walk-ons wishing only to showcase their costume on stage).

Reference images and work-in-progress pictures are not required, but STRONGLY recommended assets for pre-judging. Failure to show for prejudging will result in prize ineligibility.

No costume that has won, or placed, in previous Cincinnati Comic Expo costume contests will be Eligible for entry or awards.

Contestants are allowed 15 seconds of stage time to showcase their costume or prop in a “catwalk” format. Make sure to do one or two quick poses before leaving the stage so all spectators can see the prop or costume.

All costumes, props, and weapons must adhere to Cincinnati Comic Expo policies. No live steel, no functioning or previously functioning projectile weapons, no fire, smoke and/or pyrotechnics, or live animals allowed. View Cincinnati Comic Expo policies here. Weapon Policy Link

All costumes must be family friendly (no indecent exposure or nudity).

No profanity or lewd behavior allowed. Any contestant who violates this rule will immediately be removed from the stage and be disqualified from the contest.

A parent or guardian must accompany all contestants in the Youth category, age 13 or under.

The judges’ decisions are final.

Cincinnati Comic Expo management reserves the right to modify, update, or amend these rules at any time.

Cincinnati Comic Expo may record or photograph contest entries at its discretion.

Entry into this contest constitutes an agreement by the entrants to allow the Cincinnati Comic Expo to use their likeness or image in any current or future advertisement, promotion, or product.

Now, for the most important rule………Have fun!

Any questions about the contest not addressed above can be sent via email to: andrew@cincinnaticomicexpo.com