Cosplay Information

Applications for the costume contest and masquerade are CLOSED!

2025 Cosplay Judges Coming Soon!

Cosplay Contest Rules and Guidelines:

All cosplays must adhere to all Hazard Con safety rules and guidelines obtaining to obscenity and weapon/prop safety and protocol. If you are unsure your cosplay adheres to these rules please check here.

Hazard Con’s Cosplay Contest will be divided into 3 divisions: “Novice”, "Journeyman", and “Professional.” 

Masquerade Contest Rules and Guidelines:

All Masquerade Contestant’s Cosplays must adhere to all Hazard Con rules and guidelines obtaining to obscenity and weapon/prop safety and protocol. If you are unsure your cosplay adheres to these rules please check here.

Contestants in the Masquerade Contest will not be judged by the quality of their cosplays but instead by the ability to entertain and behave as their character. All skits must adhere to the following rules:

Masquerade Contest Rules:

  • All participants must be registered members attending the convention. Staff will check that all competing performers have official Hazard Con 2024 badges. 
  • Cosplays from any genre of fiction are permitted to compete.
  • Cosplay must be required to participate in this event as it is a cosplay masquerade. Participants not in cosplay will be permitted to perform on stage. 
  • Participants MUST be present for masquerade rehearsal. Failure to attend this rehearsal will result in you forfeiting your right to perform and compete. Participants will receive an email informing them of rehearsal times.
  • Contestants will be performing in a Prewritten Skit.
    • A Prewritten Skit is a small scene you memorize or perform to show your adaptation of a character. Each skit must have a premade script which will be submitted to the judges prior to the contest to ensure it adheres to Hazard Con guidelines. “Winging” it will not be allowed.
    • Pre-recorded dialogue and/or music is HIGHLY encouraged and preferred to ensure your performance goes smoothly and of the highest quality. Hazard Con cannot guarantee more than one microphone per performance. You will have the opportunity to send your audio via email before the event. 
  • A skit may contain up to 6 cosplayers. No larger groups are permitted.
  • Each skit may only by 5 minutes long with a 30 second grace period. Anything that happens over the 30 second grace period will not be judged.
    • Group skits may be longer by 1 extra minute per person. The 30 second grace period still applies (ex. If your group consists of 3 people, you are allotted 2 extra minutes of performance time)
    • “Stage ninjas” count towards the extra person guidelines. 
  • No projectiles are allowed in your skits.
  • No props may remain on the stage, you or a “stage ninja” must remove the prop before the end of the skit.
    • Props such as confetti, silly string or any other objects that are considered messy are not permitted on stage.
  • Participants are limited to the performance stage area. No performer is permitted to leave the stage to continue their act (ex. No running into the audience)
    • If running off-stage concludes your performance, this is permitted.
  • You may only participate in one Masquerade skit.
  • Judges will watch your performance and grade it in the following categories:
    • Appeal:
      • Did the audience enjoy it?
        • Did they laugh or cry if necessary?
        • Was it entertaining?
    • Preparation:
      • Did the performers prepare themselves or were they clearly just messing around on stage?
    • Stage Presence:
      • Did the performers do an adequate job of playing their characters?
    • Originality:
      • Did the performers put clear care into what they were performing or did they do something we’ve seen before? ​