Looking to participate in the Cosplay Contest at one of our participating Ascents? This article covers everything you need to know, including contest registration and check-in, categories and prizes, contest policies, and more!
• Comply with our Costume Policy.
• Be recognizable to a judge as a character, creature, or concept from Grand Archive TCG.
• Meet any additional requirements for the categories you enter.
Sign up at the Cosplay Contest station during check-in on Friday or Saturday.
During check-in, our judges will review your cosplay and take your photo. Your photo will be used for judging and posted on the Cosplay Voting Wall for voting in the Community Choice category.
• Provide photographs and video documenting the creation of their cosplay. The participant must be clearly visible in the documentation.
• Craft at least 80% of the cosplay themselves.
• Be prepared to answer questions about their creative process and how the cosplay was constructed.
Cosplays unrelated to Grand Archive are welcome but are not eligible for cosplay promos or contest awards.
• Each attendee receives one voting ticket in their admission package and may cast one vote. Lost tickets will not be replaced.
• Attendees who attempt to cast more than one vote will have all voting tickets in their possession confiscated and any votes they submitted invalidated.
• Buying votes, offering incentives, campaigning for votes, or harassing or pressuring others to vote for a contestant is prohibited.
Winner notification: By Saturday.
Winner notification: By Sunday.
• 1× Cosplay Best in Show Trophy
3rd Place – Unlocks at 32+ entries
• 1× CPR Peaceful Reunion (per winner)
See the Made with Love Category Requirements under Contest Entry & Check-In for eligibility.
• 1× Cosplay Made with Love Trophy
3rd Place – Unlocks at 32+ entries
• 1× CPR Peaceful Reunion (per winner)
3rd Place – Unlocks at 32+ entries
• 1× Foil Peaceful Reunion (per winner)
Costumes that have previously won First Place in any Grand Archive Cosplay Contest are ineligible to win prizes at subsequent events. This restriction does not affect eligibility for the Cosplay Non-Foil Promo.
Each contestant may receive only one (1) First Place award per Cosplay Contest. If a contestant qualifies for First Place in multiple categories, they will receive the prize for the category in which they achieved their highest score.
• Form-Fitting Costumes: Appropriate undergarments and support garments must be worn with tight-fitting costumes. A dance belt or comparable garment is required where necessary for appropriate coverage.
• Footwear: Shoes or other protective footwear must be worn at all times inside the venue. Costumes depicting barefoot characters should incorporate discreet or “invisible” footwear.
• Costume Size & Mobility: Costumes must not obstruct entrances, aisles, emergency routes, or attendee traffic. Costumes that cannot reasonably pass through a standard doorway may be restricted during normal event hours. Limited exceptions may be made for Cosplay Contest participants in coordination with event staff.
• Handlers: A designated handler is required when moving through event spaces if a costume is bulky, significantly limits visibility or mobility, or has large extensions, such as wings, tails, or spikes. Handlers must assist with navigation and help prevent safety hazards or obstruction of attendee traffic.
• Wheeled Costumes & Props: Costumes or large props designed to be ridden or moved through the event on wheels are not permitted.
• Official Uniforms: Costumes must not realistically impersonate current U.S. law enforcement officers, military personnel, first responders, emergency medical personnel, or government agents. Event staff may review historical, fictionalized, or clearly non-current military- or police-inspired costumes on a case-by-case basis.
• Props & Replica Weapons: Upon arrival, attendees must proceed directly to the Registration area to have their props and replica weapons inspected and approved. See the Prop & Replica Weapons Policy for full requirements.
Event staff reserve the right to require modifications to or restrict the use of any costume that creates a safety concern, significantly disrupts event operations, or violates these guidelines.
• No Real Weapons: Firearms, ammunition, live blades, explosives, chemical weapons, tasers, and other items designed to cause serious injury are prohibited.
• Nonfunctional Props: Prop weapons must be blunt, non-sharp, and non functional. They must not fire, launch, spray, or discharge anything. Any toy or replica previously capable of firing or discharging must be permanently disabled.
• Gun-Shaped Props: Gun-shaped props must be clearly identifiable as replicas through features such as an orange muzzle marking, transparent construction, or bright coloration.
• Responsible Handling: Props and replica weapons must be handled responsibly. Swinging, striking, throwing, or using a prop in any way that could injure or intimidate others is prohibited.
• Re-Inspection & Approval: Event staff may re-inspect props at any time and refuse or revoke approval for unsafe items. Removing the orange zip tie, altering an approved prop, or using it unsafely may result in the item being removed from the event.
• Political Imagery: Real-world political imagery, symbols, or messaging are not permitted.
• Voting Conduct: Buying votes, offering incentives, campaigning for votes, or harassing or pressuring others to vote for a contestant is prohibited.
Contest Entry & Check-In
To enter the Cosplay Contest, your cosplay must:• Comply with our Costume Policy.
• Be recognizable to a judge as a character, creature, or concept from Grand Archive TCG.
• Meet any additional requirements for the categories you enter.
Sign up at the Cosplay Contest station during check-in on Friday or Saturday.
During check-in, our judges will review your cosplay and take your photo. Your photo will be used for judging and posted on the Cosplay Voting Wall for voting in the Community Choice category.
Made with Love Category Requirements
Participants entering the Made with Love category must also:• Provide photographs and video documenting the creation of their cosplay. The participant must be clearly visible in the documentation.
• Craft at least 80% of the cosplay themselves.
• Be prepared to answer questions about their creative process and how the cosplay was constructed.
Cosplay Participation Promo
The Cosplay Non-Foil Promo is available to anyone whose cosplay meets the costume and Grand Archive eligibility requirements above.Cosplays unrelated to Grand Archive are welcome but are not eligible for cosplay promos or contest awards.
Community Voting
View the Cosplay Voting Wall and vote for your favorite cosplay in the Community Choice category at the Help Desk on Sunday.• Each attendee receives one voting ticket in their admission package and may cast one vote. Lost tickets will not be replaced.
• Attendees who attempt to cast more than one vote will have all voting tickets in their possession confiscated and any votes they submitted invalidated.
• Buying votes, offering incentives, campaigning for votes, or harassing or pressuring others to vote for a contestant is prohibited.
Winners & Closing Ceremony
Winners will be notified by email and receive Closing Ceremony instructions.Best in Show & Made with Love
All entrants in these categories must wear their cosplay all day on Sunday. Winners must also wear their cosplay on stage during the Closing Ceremony.Winner notification: By Saturday.
Community Choice
Participants entering only Community Choice are not required to wear their cosplay all day on Sunday. Cosplay is optional for Community Choice winners on stage during the Closing Ceremony.Winner notification: By Sunday.
Cosplay Contest Categories & Prizing
Best in Show
Be the cosplay that truly steals the show! Leave our judges with an everlasting impression and earn the title of Best in Show!1st Place
• 1× CPR Peaceful Reunion• 1× Cosplay Best in Show Trophy
2nd & 3rd Place
2nd Place – Unlocks at 16+ entries3rd Place – Unlocks at 32+ entries
• 1× CPR Peaceful Reunion (per winner)
Made with Love
Show off the craftsmanship, dedication, and care behind your handmade cosplay! Made with Love celebrates the work you put into bringing your cosplay to life.See the Made with Love Category Requirements under Contest Entry & Check-In for eligibility.
1st Place
• 1× CPR Peaceful Reunion• 1× Cosplay Made with Love Trophy
2nd & 3rd Place
2nd Place – Unlocks at 16+ entries3rd Place – Unlocks at 32+ entries
• 1× CPR Peaceful Reunion (per winner)
Community Choice
Strike a pose and win the hearts of the Grand Archive community! Community Choice is decided by attendees voting for their favorite cosplay on the Cosplay Voting Wall.1st Place
• 1× Foil Peaceful Reunion Promo2nd & 3rd Place
2nd Place – Unlocks at 16+ entries3rd Place – Unlocks at 32+ entries
• 1× Foil Peaceful Reunion (per winner)
Costumes that have previously won First Place in any Grand Archive Cosplay Contest are ineligible to win prizes at subsequent events. This restriction does not affect eligibility for the Cosplay Non-Foil Promo. Each contestant may receive only one (1) First Place award per Cosplay Contest. If a contestant qualifies for First Place in multiple categories, they will receive the prize for the category in which they achieved their highest score.
Costume Policy
General Costume Rules
• Costume Coverage: Costumes must securely cover private areas with opaque materials. Materials must not be transparent, be prone to slipping, or leave gaps that could cause unintended exposure.• Form-Fitting Costumes: Appropriate undergarments and support garments must be worn with tight-fitting costumes. A dance belt or comparable garment is required where necessary for appropriate coverage.
• Footwear: Shoes or other protective footwear must be worn at all times inside the venue. Costumes depicting barefoot characters should incorporate discreet or “invisible” footwear.
• Costume Size & Mobility: Costumes must not obstruct entrances, aisles, emergency routes, or attendee traffic. Costumes that cannot reasonably pass through a standard doorway may be restricted during normal event hours. Limited exceptions may be made for Cosplay Contest participants in coordination with event staff.
• Handlers: A designated handler is required when moving through event spaces if a costume is bulky, significantly limits visibility or mobility, or has large extensions, such as wings, tails, or spikes. Handlers must assist with navigation and help prevent safety hazards or obstruction of attendee traffic.
• Wheeled Costumes & Props: Costumes or large props designed to be ridden or moved through the event on wheels are not permitted.
• Official Uniforms: Costumes must not realistically impersonate current U.S. law enforcement officers, military personnel, first responders, emergency medical personnel, or government agents. Event staff may review historical, fictionalized, or clearly non-current military- or police-inspired costumes on a case-by-case basis.
• Props & Replica Weapons: Upon arrival, attendees must proceed directly to the Registration area to have their props and replica weapons inspected and approved. See the Prop & Replica Weapons Policy for full requirements.
Event staff reserve the right to require modifications to or restrict the use of any costume that creates a safety concern, significantly disrupts event operations, or violates these guidelines.
Prop & Replica Weapons Policy
• Prop Check Required: Upon arrival, attendees must proceed directly to the Registration area to have all props and replica weapons inspected and approved. Unchecked items may be transported through the venue solely to reach Registration and must not be displayed or used before approval. Approved items will be marked with an orange zip tie that must remain attached and visible throughout the event.• No Real Weapons: Firearms, ammunition, live blades, explosives, chemical weapons, tasers, and other items designed to cause serious injury are prohibited.
• Nonfunctional Props: Prop weapons must be blunt, non-sharp, and non functional. They must not fire, launch, spray, or discharge anything. Any toy or replica previously capable of firing or discharging must be permanently disabled.
• Gun-Shaped Props: Gun-shaped props must be clearly identifiable as replicas through features such as an orange muzzle marking, transparent construction, or bright coloration.
• Responsible Handling: Props and replica weapons must be handled responsibly. Swinging, striking, throwing, or using a prop in any way that could injure or intimidate others is prohibited.
• Re-Inspection & Approval: Event staff may re-inspect props at any time and refuse or revoke approval for unsafe items. Removing the orange zip tie, altering an approved prop, or using it unsafely may result in the item being removed from the event.
Conduct
• Cosplay Is Not Consent: A costume does not imply consent to touch, photograph, or interact with someone. Ask before taking photos or touching a cosplayer, their costume, or their props, and respect their response.• Political Imagery: Real-world political imagery, symbols, or messaging are not permitted.
• Voting Conduct: Buying votes, offering incentives, campaigning for votes, or harassing or pressuring others to vote for a contestant is prohibited.