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Mainstage Cosplay Masquerade

Welcome to Anime Iowa’s Main Stage Cosplay Competition information page for 2026!
If you are new to Masquerade and have additional questions after reading, please contact Anime Iowa’s Cosplay Team at events@animeiowa.com attention Cosplay Department.

Awards*

  • Best in Show ($500)
  • Best Craftsmanship in Master Division ($300)
  • Best Craftsmanship in Journeyman Division ($200)
  • Best Craftsmanship in Novice Division ($100)
  • Best in Performance ($200)

Special Awards*

  • Most Magical ($50)
  • Up-And-Coming Cosplayer ($75)
  • Judge’s Choice ($25 x3)

*Judges and Cosplay Staff may add or remove awards at their discretion.

Mainstage Cosplay Masquerade – (Competition)

The Categories:
You may enter in Craftsmanship, Performance, or both categories.

The Craftsmanship Divisions:
When entering, please pay attention when selecting your division on the entry form.

  • Novice:
    Equivalent to Beginner. The Novice division is for any contestant who is new to cosplay and/or competing in costume competitions. You may enter this division if you have no more than 1 major award (Best in Division, Best in Show) at a previous Anime Iowa Masquerade or at any anime convention of equal-to or greater size than previous year’s Anime Iowa (official attendees count).*
  • Journeyman:
    Equivalent to Intermediate. You may enter the Journeyman division if you have won no more than 3 major awards at a previous Anime Iowa Convention, or a competition of equal or greater size than Anime Iowa (official attendees count).*
  • Master:
    Equivalent to Advanced or Professional. You may enter the Master division if you have won 4 or more major awards at previous Anime Iowa Masquerades or a convention of equal-to or greater size than Anime Iowa(official attendees count).* Previous competition experience or placement is not required for this division as long as the costume entered demonstrates advanced construction techniques. Note: Professional costume makers must enter in the Master Division. If people pay for your costume work, even if you have other jobs that pay “the bills”, you are considered a professional.
  • Any contestant may elect to “compete up” and enter a category higher than what they qualify for according to the division classifications above. 
  • Your entry may be moved up to an appropriate division at the discretion of the judges or Cosplay Department Staff.

    * 3,500 average attendees

    Judging Information for Groups:
    The most experienced person in the group determines the group’s division placement. Everyone in your group needs to be present during your group’s judging times. Your group will be judged, and if awarded, as one singular entry regardless of how many members in the group. Competitors may not compete both individually and as part of a group.

Non-judged divisions

  • Chibi Parade:
    This division is for children 13 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER.  The child must walk across the stage to get a prize.  This division is not judged.  Children MUST BE ACCOMPANIED by a legal adult in the greenroom and (if needed) across the stage.  The adult does NOT have to be in cosplay.
  • Exhibition:
    This is for those who just want to have fun on stage and not be judged.  If you didn’t make your cosplay but love to show off, this is the division for you!

Costume Guidelines

  • All costumes entered in Craftsmanship must be at least 70% handmade, or significantly altered, by the competitor.
  • Store-bought costumes, or costumes consisting mostly of store-bought garments, are not allowed. This includes costumes from stores like Amazon, Spirit Halloween, Walmart, MicCostumes, EZ Cosplays, thrift stores, etc.
  • The following store-bought items are allowed: wigs, notions, trims, belts, shoes, jewelry, and most accessories. Other items will be allowed at the discretion of the judges.

Judging Information for Everyone

  1. AnimeIowa Registration:
    You need to be registered for this year’s AnimeIowa to be eligible for Masquerade.
  2. Previous Costumes:
    • If your costume won in a previous Anime Iowa Masquerade, it is not eligible to compete in Craftsmanship again, though it is eligible for Performance only.
    • If your costume is in this year’s Hall Cosplay Contest, it is not eligible for the Masquerade.
    • If your costume is entered into the Masquerade, it is not eligible for the Hall Cosplay Contest.
  3. Performance Judging and Submissions:
    You will be allowed no more than 2.5 minutes of walk-on, skit, short dance, or other kind of entertaining performance, including setup and clean up. This can be extended to 3 minutes with the Cosplay Department Head’s permission.

    Starting this year, Performance will have a mandatory check-in/skit rehearsal on Friday. You will need to show up during a designated window with your whole group to perform your skit for the cosplay department/judges. You DO NOT need to be in costume or have all your props. We want to make sure you know your material and have a chance for the judges to see it and provide feedback before you perform on Saturday.

    Non Performance: A typical walk-on is a cosplayer walking across the stage, holding first pose for 3 to 5 seconds, changing to second post for another 3 to 5 seconds, throwing in a third pose for 3 to 5 seconds, and walking off the stage to applause. This should be no more than 30 seconds total.
  4. Audio:
    If you are submitting your own audio, it needs to be pre-recorded and submitted as an MP3 file in advance of the convention. Please have all audio titled with your entry name AND your name to prevent any confusion. Examples:
    Walk on: Masters – Terra FFVI – KKreationsCosplay.mp3
    Performance: Performance – The Ota-Queens – Come Out and Play.mp3
    Live microphones will not be available to contestants.

    We are also requesting for you to submit a Hi-Res image of the character you are cosplaying to be displayed while you walk the stage. This IS NOT a picture of you in the cosplay but a picture of the actual character.
  5. Workmanship Judging:
    If you are participating in the workmanship category, you need to sign up for one of the judging times (times to be determined at a later date; you will receive an email with further instructions). You will be advised when workmanship signup times are available. It is advised to bring reference materials and progress photos to help you talk up your creation during workmanship judging. If you can print off three copies, then you can be sure all the judges spend an adequate amount of time reviewing your work. While it doesn’t hurt you to not also participate in the Performance category, many times contestants with entries in both categories are considered more highly than those that are not.*

*This is fully up to the judges discretion at the time of judging

  1. Using Cosplay Models:
    You may use cosplay models for your entry. But, you need to be present with your models during all Masquerade events. During workmanship judging you will be the one presenting your work and answering questions from the judges.
  2. Craftsmanship Judging:
    If you are participating in the Craftsmanship category, you need to sign up for one of the judging times (times to be determined at a later date; you will receive an email with further instructions). You will be advised when Craftsmanship signup times are available. It is advised to bring reference materials and progress photos to help you talk up your creation during Craftsmanship judging. If you can print off three copies, then you can be sure all the judges spend an adequate amount of time reviewing your work. You will be able to pick up these materials on Sunday at Cosplay Central.

    Not participating in both Performance and Craftsmanship does not hurt your scoring and IS NOT required for Best In Show, though participating in both may increase your consideration for that award.*
    *This is fully up to the judges discretion at the time of judging
  3. Using Cosplay Models:
    You may use cosplay models for your entry. But, you need to be present with your models during all Masquerade events. During Craftsmanship judging you will be the one presenting your work and answering questions from the judges. You will also need to be present for the Masquerade in the event of winning an award.
  4. Check in at Cosplay Central:
    On Friday of the convention weekend, check in at Cosplay Central to verify the accuracy of your entry for names, cues for MCs, and the audio file. You will also receive any further instructions as required. YOU MUST CHECK IN TO PARTICIPATE OR YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONTEST.
  5. Green Room:
    You (and everyone in the group if this is a group entry) should be checked into the Green Room by the specified time as directed by Cosplay staff on Friday.
    a. Each entry is allowed one handler upon request, but they must be registered with Cosplay staff before the opening of the Greenroom so we can make certain to have enough space.
    b. For group entries, up to two handlers may be requested. Handlers need to have their own Anime Iowa badge. Cosplay staff, in the effort to control crowding, may ask a handler to leave or stay in the hallway until showtime so as to keep the population in the Greenroom down to essential personnel.
  6. PG-13:
    Masquerade is rated PG-13; consider this to be family entertainment. No profanity, hate speech, or graphic sexual imagery, and please follow all state and local laws concerning materials that may be presented to minors.
  7. The “No” Rules for the Green Room and Main Stage:
    a. Live animals (other than pre-approved and licensed service animal)
    b. Aerosol spray, fog, uncontained liquid, loose glitter, and confetti.
    c. Projectiles or pyrotechnics (including but NOT limited to fire, flash powder, explosives, smoke bombs, fireworks).
    d. Strobing effects that emit a slow change (>1 sec per flash/ 1Hz) are permitted. Anything faster is not permitted.
    e. Weapons not approved by convention’s weapon check desk.
    f. Anything that poses a damage risk to the venue and/or equipment.
    g. Anything that poses a health risk to the contestant and other persons.
  8. Your costume needs to be self-contained and not have pieces falling off which, at the harmless end, pose extra cleanup effort, to the harmful end, pose a safety risk.
  9. By entering the competition, competitors consent to having their likeness captured by official photographers and videographers. The resulting materials, including photographs, video, and audio recordings, may be used by Anime Iowa or local promotional entities, without restriction or financial compensation, in news materials, promotional materials, on the web, and other properties.

Sandbagging Rules

Sandbagging is NOT allowed at this contest. Sandbagging is when a specific cosplay has won a Major award (“Best In” awards) and then you re-enter it at the same level of competition and/or without significant modifications.
An example of this would be winning the ACEN Masquerade earlier in the year and then entering the exact same costume at Anime Iowa (which is a much smaller convention).
False accusations of another contestant, judge, or other staff of poor conduct, cheating, or “sandbagging” will result in a first offense (1st) banned from entering the contest the following year and a second (2nd) offense the contestant will be permanently banned from competing in Anime Iowa’s cosplay contests.

Final Note:

MCs, Masquerade Stage Manager and Cosplay Department Head may stop a performance at any time for safety, sensitivity, and other reasons. Cosplay Department Head may disqualify an entry at any time for any reason. Remember, when in doubt, ask your Cosplay Department Staff! General rule of thumb: We would love to have you surprise the audience, but please do not surprise the Cosplay Department.

Decisions of the judges and Cosplay Department Head are final.

If you have any questions, please email us at events@animeiowa.com attention Cosplay Department.

SIGN-UPS OPEN FOR THE 2026 MASQUERADE ON Monday May 18th and CLOSE ONCE AVAILABLE SPOTS HAVE FILLED! So Don’t Delay!

Applications are now closed. Sorry!!
Any questions please reach out to events@animeiowa.com

5/29/26