ready to reach a new level?
join the competition!
It’s that time again! show off your hard work at the 2025 Cosplay America Craftsmanship Contest!
craftsmanship contest
Craftsmanship will be judged based on the craft of your costume. Sign up early, because it’s first come, first served. Please note that as we will be recording the contest to post online, you will be required to sign a waiver agreeing to this. Please contact us with any concerns about this. Minors will be required to have a parent/guardian over 18 to sign this waiver for them.
Online registration closes Monday, MAY 26th.
On-site sign-ups will be available on Friday from con opening until 7pm at Registration
Groups or individuals are welcome.
Judging slots will be 4 minutes for individual entries and 6 minutes for groups, during which you will have 3 minutes to talk about your costume.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what to say! Just talk about how you made your costume and we’ll help you with the rest.
Judging will occur Saturday from 9:00AM-Noon and 1pm-4pm (Location: Kitty Hawk).
You will have the opportunity to pick your judging time, so sign up early if you want the time that works best for you!
You can enter in a costume from any genre. Original characters are allowed, but keep in mind your accuracy score may not be as high if we don’t have a character reference to base it on. If you are cosplaying an original character, please bring drawings/designs used to help create your character.
Please do not enter a costume that you have entered into this contest in the past. Also, please do not enter any costumes that have won any awards (besides participation, fan favorite, or judge’s award) or more than one award (no matter what the category was), unless it has been at least 75% remade.
If you did not make your costume, the maker must be present with you in order to qualify for this contest.
You will be judged on the accuracy, cleanliness, level of difficulty, and creativity of your costume.
To be judged for accuracy, a visual reference (preferably a color photo on paper) can be turned in when you come to judging. This is not required, but you may not be eligible for accuracy points if the judges are not familiar with your character.
You will either be in the Junior, Beginner, Journeyman, or Master judging category. The requirements of each are broken down below.
Awards will be given to Best in Show, Beginner 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, Journeyman 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, Master 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, Best Junior, and Judges’ awards.
You will be required to walk across the stage in your costume during the contest Saturday night in order to qualify for awards. Please contact us if you are uncomfortable with this and we can work something out together.
$750 CASH prizes,
$250 Best in Show!We’ll also be giving out other amazing prizes,
so don’t miss out!Only Craftsmanship Contest applications are being accepted for 2025. *Skits are not being accepted this year.
Prizes
Best in Show: $250
1st place Masters: $75
2nd place Masters: $50
3rd place Masters: $25
1st place Journeyman: $75
2nd place Journeyman: $50
3rd place Journeyman: $25
1st place Beginner: $75
2nd place Beginner: $50
3rd place Beginner: $25
Best Junior: $50
All entrants must read and agree to all Rules and Guidelines before registering for Craftsmanship.
Junior Craftsmanship
This is for our contestants 15 years old and younger. Parents/adults can assist with the creation of Juniors’ costumes, but we want our junior contestants to have participated in the construction of their costume. Extra credit will be given to our juniors who made significant portions of their costumes. If you helped your junior create their costume, you are asked to come to their judging and help talk about how the costume was made. Because all our contestants are required to sign a waiver this year and minors must have a guardian over 18 sign this waiver for them, juniors will not be allowed to sign up at the convention unless they have a parent/guardian present.
Beginner Craftsmanship
This category is for our contestants who are new to cosplay or craftsmanship contests. For a costume/cosplayer to qualify for this category you:
Cannot have won more than 1 major award (first place or best in show) in the Beginner category or more than 2 minor awards (2nd or 3rd place) at this or any other convention.
Cannot have won awards in journeyman/advanced/masters divisions at any convention in the past.
Must have made at least 50% of your costume, with the exception of shoes and wig. Keep in mind that the more of your costume you make, the more costume you have to impress us with!
If you have not entered a craftsmanship contest before, but have been making costumes for a long time, please let us know. We may discuss the idea of bumping you up to the Journeyman or Master category.
If you are uncertain if you qualify for this category, send us an email and ask!
journeyman Craftsmanship
This category is for our cosplayers who have been creating costumes for a while and have participated in craftsmanship contests in the past. For a costume/cosplayer to qualify for this category you:
Cannot have won more than 5 awards in the Beginner or Journeyman category.
Cannot have won awards in a masters division at any convention in the past.
Must have made at least 75% of your costume, excluding shoes and wig base. Keep in mind that the more of your costume you make, the more costume you have to impress the judges with!
MASTER Craftsmanship
Generally speaking, the masters division is aimed towards individuals who have several years of costuming experience and have won multiple awards (such as more than 5) at contests in the past.
Must have made at least 75% of your costume. Remember, the more of your costume you make, the more opportunities you have to impress the judges!
If you are uncertain if you qualify for this category, just send us an email and ask!
Cosplay Runway Show!
Don’t qualify for or want to enter the masquerade but still want to show off your awesome costume?? This is the event for you! Come on out and strut your stuff at the Cosplay Runway show and hear the applause and cheers of your fellow attendees. We’re going to have tons of fun with this, so come on out!
RULES FOR ALL CONTESTANTS
CRAFTSMANSHIP AND RUNWAY contest
All participants must be registered Cosplay America Convention attendees. You may be asked to present your badge. Be sure to bring it with you!
All COVID-19-related guidelines set in place by Cosplay America apply to these contests as well. Please see the convention’s COVID-19 guidelines for details.
No nudity. No costume is no costume. Body paint does not count as clothing.
No profanity allowed on stage. This includes hand gestures, messages on signs, or on clothes. This includes profanity in any language. Anyone who violates this may be disqualified from the competition, and risks expulsion from the convention.
No political or religious statements during the competition. Anyone who violates this may be disqualified from the competition and risks expulsion from the convention.
No overt sexual content during the contest. It’s okay to be sexy, but remember this is a family friendly convention and know where to draw the line. Anyone who violates this may be disqualified from the competition and risks expulsion from the convention.
No projectiles! Nothing must leave your person during judging or while you are on stage. Anyone who violates this rule may be disqualified from the competition and may be asked to leave the convention area.
All prop weapons must conform to the Cosplay America Weapons Policy.
Do not enter or exit the stage except at the designated points. No running, jumping, or acrobatics on stage.
Large and/or elaborate costumes must be handled by the contestant and/or assistants the contestant brings. Cosplay America will not provide assistants.
If you have any additional questions concerning craftsmanship/masquerade, please feel free to contact us at craftsmanship@cosplayamerica.com