OffKai Expo The VTuber Convention
April 16 – 18, 2027 at San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, California
Cosplay Contest
Show off your craftsmanship and performance skills on our stage!
The OffKai Expo Cosplay Contest is back! Please thoroughly review the rules below to participate in our 2027 contest.
2027 marks Year 3 of the Cosplay Contest! This means a competition, judges, and prizes! That’s right, “prizes” with an ‘s’. For those of you who spend hours getting your wig just right, the Craftsmanship award will be for you. Those just looking to have fun might be more interested in a Performance award. Do a dance or collab with your friends for a skit to impress our judges and claim your prize. Due to time constraints there is a cap on the number of participants we are able to accept, so if you are interested apply early!
Ready for the spotlight? Check out the full rules and conditions below. Signups are open on November 6th, 2026 @ 12pm PT and close on January 17th, 2027 @ 11:59pm PT.
Rules
General
- This is a cosplay contest with judging based on 2 categories: craftsmanship & performance.
- You must wear the same cosplay for all parts of the contest. You may only enter 1 cosplay.
- You may opt to enter as a craftsmanship-only entry, performance-only entry, or both. Note that electing to only enter one category will make you ineligible for awards of the other category. (I.e: A performance-only entry is ineligible for consideration for the Best Craftsmanship award.)
- Anyone is allowed to enter the cosplay contest. However, priority will be given to entries with selfmade cosplays.
- Participants (and their stage ninjas) will need a WEEKEND badge since craftsmanship judging and showmanship judging may be split across two different days.
- All cosplays and performances must adhere to the Attendee Code of Conduct, especially the COSPLAY & CONSENT and WEAPONS & PROPS policies. OffKai Expo reserves the right to make updates and changes to the Attendee Code of Conduct.
- Costumes must be able to fit within a standard doorway and cannot exceed 6ft in width, length, or height. Costumes should adhere to safety guidelines including but not limited to mobility (unrestricted arms and/or legs) and unobscured vision.
- Failure to follow the Cosplay Contest rules may result in disqualification, being blacklisted from future OffKai Expo Cosplay Contests, or Code of Conduct violations. OffKai Expo reserves the right to carry out such actions at their sole discretion.
- Unsportsmanlike behavior is not tolerated. Entries that are dishonest to judges, cheating, or sandbagging may be disqualified and blacklisted from future OffKai Expo Cosplay Contests. Disqualifications may be carried out without any notice.
- Cheating includes claiming or using work that is not your own. Sandbagging refers to the action of entering a costume or performance that has previously won a major award (i.e: Best in Class, Best in Show). Sandbagging also includes entering in a division that does not accurately reflect your skill level.
- The Cosplay Contest has a zero AI tolerance policy. Do not use generative AI in your entry, such as AI images or AI audio.
- Once accepted, contestants are responsible for meeting all deadlines. All materials must be submitted on time or a generic default will be used as a substitute.
- We understand that life happens. Contestants who wish to dropout of the contest must notify the Cosplay Contest Team by April 2nd, 2027. Any dropouts after this date will incur a one year blacklist penalty from the OffKai Cosplay Contest. This means late dropouts will not be allowed to participate in the 2028 Cosplay Contest.
- Contestants acknowledge that they may have their images or likeness appear in photographs or videos from the Cosplay Contest and that OffKai Expo may use them in promotional media.
- OffKai Expo is not responsible for any damage or losses to costumes, props, or backdrops.
- Have a question not covered here? Please refer to the FAQ below for more information and to learn how to contact us.
Divisions
- Prospective entrants must report their division on their application.
- Novice: You have no major awards (i.e: Best in Class, Best in Show)
- Minor awards such as honorable mentions or judge’s awards are allowed.
- Journeyman: You have 1 or 2 major awards
- Masters: You have 3 or more major awards, significant professional craftsmanship experience, have competed in the Masters category at another cosplay contest.
- Masters competing in craftsmanship judging are required to bring a build book to their prejudging session. Failure to provide a build book may affect your craftsmanship judging.
- Novice: You have no major awards (i.e: Best in Class, Best in Show)
- If you are unsure of your appropriate placement, please reach out to cosplay@offkaiexpo.com prior to the application deadline.
Craftsmanship
- Costumes must be at least 75% selfmade.
- Craftsmanship-only entries must complete a 30 second walk-on for the stage portion.
- Contestants must attend their assigned prejudging slot. Failure to attend prejudging will disqualify the entry from any craftsmanship related awards.
- Each entry will have exactly 5 minutes with the judges to talk about the construction of their cosplay.
- Please disclose all parts of your cosplay that are purchased or commissioned (not self-made).
- Be honest! Good sportsmanship can go a long way. Our judges are experienced and can only judge what you made.
- Quick tip: Talk about what you’re proud of and why, and don’t mention anything you aren’t happy with!
- Build Books are required for craftsmanship entries in the Master Division but optional for Novice and Journeyman. Masters must provide at least one physical printed copy. Digital files will not be accepted. Onsite printing will not be provided so please print your build book ahead of time.
- Judges may ask for your consent to touch or take photos of your costume. You have the right to decline. Declining will not impact your eligibility for any award. No video or audio recording inside the prejudging room is allowed.
Performance & Stage Portion
- Performances can be of any genre (dance, action, drama, comedy, etc.) as long as they are appropriate and respectful.
- All performances and walk-ons must be self-contained. Entrants cannot jump off stage, throw items, or pass things to/from the audience. All props must be able to be picked up and removed from the stage easily following the performance. No glitter, smoke, liquids, confetti, bubbles, etc.
- Contestants must submit an audio file (.mp3) for playback during their stage portion. Staff is not responsible for cutting or editing audio files. A default generic track will be played if audio is not submitted on time.
- No live microphones will be provided for performances. If you must feature dialogue or singing in your performance, please have it pre-recorded and included in your audio.
- All contestants must arrive at the designated call time prior to the show. Absence or tardiness may result in removal from the show.
- Staff will be available to help move props on/off stage but are unable to assist in your performance. If you require assistance during the performance, consider bringing a stage ninja (personal stagehand). Each entry is allowed a maximum of 2 stage ninjas.
- Each entry will be given an allotted time on stage.
- Walk-ons: 30 seconds
- Performances: 2 minutes and 30 seconds (150 seconds total)
- Performing entries can be shorter if desired. We highly recommend that walk-on entries use their time to the fullest extent so that the audience can get a good look at your costume!
Awards
- An award ceremony will happen at the end of the Cosplay Contest following judges’ deliberation.
- In order to be eligible for Best in Show, you must enter as both craftsmanship and performance.
- The 2027 Award List is as follows:
- 3 x Judges Awards
- Best Novice
- Best Journeyman
- Best Masters
- Best Performance
- Best Craftsmanship
- Emcees’ Choice
- Best in Show
FAQ
I’m new to cosplay/cosplay contests, should I enter? A Cosplay Contest sounds scary…
First times for anything are always stressful, but we want to showcase a wide variety of skill levels and experience on our stage, so please don’t be scared to enter even if you are new to cosplay contests! We are proud of our novices and celebrate individuals who grace the stage for the very first time.
How much of the cosplay must be handmade in order to enter?
For performance-only entries, there is no requirement for how much of a cosplay must be handmade. However, for craftsmanship-only and entries entering both categories, at least 75% of the costume must be selfmade. In addition, all participant(s) must disclose what items are purchased (bought or commissioned) during pre-judging. Please note that the more parts that are handmade, the higher chance there is to win a craftsmanship award.
I didn’t make my cosplay but I would still like to go on stage for the stage portion, can I still enter?
Participants that only want to be part of the stage portion can still register but must apply as a performance-only entry. Priority will be given to entries with handmade cosplays.
What’s the difference between a walk-on and a performance entry?
Walk-ons are reserved for craftsmanship-only entries. A walk-on is 30 seconds long from start to finish, beginning with walking on stage, striking a few poses, then walking off. Only instrumental audio is allowed for a walk-on (no dialogue or lyrics). Performances involve a pre-choreographed routine; it can be a dance, lip sync, scripted skit, or any other talent you’d like to showcase.
Can I enter a pre-existing costume?
Yes, as long as it was not used in a previous OffKai Expo Cosplay Contest and has zero major awards. No sandbagging is allowed. Costumes that have previously won any major craftsmanship award are ineligible for craftsmanship judging but may be entered for performance-only.
Are there divisions (novice, journeyman, master) in this cosplay contest?
Yes! There are awards for every skill level of cosplayer; everyone is welcome!
How do I know which division to enter as if I’m entering in a group?
If you are entering as a group, you should enter at the highest division of your most experienced member. That means, if you are a novice entering with a master, your group entry will enter into the masters division. If you are unsure, please email cosplay@offkaiexpo.com.
What is a ‘Build Book’?
A Cosplay Contest Build Book is a printout that features work in progress photos, brief explanations on techniques used, lists of materials used, fabric swatches, costume interior photos, and other relevant information about the construction of your costume. This is used as a reference for judges during deliberation and may be used by the contestant as a guide during prejudging. Please keep your build book short; a general ballpark of 5 single-sided pages is strongly recommended. There are many examples of cosplay contest build books available online. Performance-only entries do not need to provide a build book.
What info do I need to prepare in order to sign up?
You’ll need: the names of each member of your entry, the name of the cosplay(s) you will be wearing, your division (Novice/Journeyman/Master), a description of your planned performance, and an introduction for the emcees to read.
How big can my group be?
The maximum number of cosplayers per entry is 6.
How many applications should we submit if we are a group?
Only one application per entry is needed. The member that submits the application will be the designated contact for the group’s entry and is responsible for passing along all important information and communication.
Can I play music/video during my performance?
You will provide a backing music track and request stage lighting, but we will not be able to accept videos.
Will a chair be available for my performance?
Chairs will be available to borrow if you require one for your performance. A maximum of one chair is allowed per entry.
What if I need stage ninjas for my performance?
You may include stage ninjas to assist in your performance, but must bring your own as no stage ninjas will be provided at con. Each entry is allowed a maximum of 2 stage ninjas. Please include your stage ninjas in your application. Staff cannot participate in your performance but may help moving props on/off stage.
What if I don’t finish my cosplay?
We get it, life happens! Entries that are unable to meet designated timelines may be granted an extension on a case by case basis. If you need an extension please email cosplay@offkaiexpo.com with your entry name as soon as possible. Please note that the deadline to notify us in the case of a dropout is April 2nd, 2027. Any dropouts after this date will incur a one year blacklist penalty from the OffKai Cosplay Contest. This means late dropouts will not be allowed to participate in the 2028 Cosplay Contest.
What do I do if I have an accessibility need?
Please notify us ASAP if you have any accessibility concerns or required accommodations. It is not yet finalized, but our stage will have either a ramp or a mobile lift.
More questions? Please email cosplay@offkaiexpo.com!