Rikon cosplay CONTEST

REGISTRATIONS OPENING SOON!


Dear cosplayers,

We invite you to participate in the Rikon Cosplay Contest, which takes place in two parts: as prejudging in front of the judges panel and presenting to the audience with a performance on the main stage.

The cosplay contest is designed for individuals who make their own costumes, dress up, and perform as their character on stage. The competition encourages young artists as well as experienced ones—so contestants can register in one of the following categories: Apprentice or Master League.

Rikon organizes the Cosplay Contest with a focus on high-quality visual content production; therefore, the contest takes place on the main stage, accompanied by a large LED screen, sound equipment, lighting, and smoke effects.


The safety and sense of security of all contestants is our absolute number one priority, so it is important to report any incident. For all questions, issues, uncertainties, and technical needs, you can contact cosplay@rikonrijeka.com or our Cosplay Contest coordinator - Jonathan (IG: @jon.croasian)


DATE: Saturday, September 19, 2026.

LOCATION: Exportdrvo Rijeka

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Saturday, September 12, 2026 (23:59h)

SCHEDULE: Mandatory Dress Rehearsal, Prejudging, Photoshoot, Cosplay Show, Award Ceremony


General Information and Categories

Who can apply:

  • Persons over 14 years of age,
  • Contestants with self-made costumes,
  • Contestants with purchased costume elements (or had help with making).

Group cosplay:

  • If you are part of a group cosplay, each cosplayer registers individually and is awarded individually.
  • As a group, you can perform together at the Cosplay Show. The group has 2 minute performance limit, like all other contestants.
  • If you are performing together, please note this in the additional information section of the registration form.


Competition Categories

Upon registration, contestants can sign up for only one of the offered categories:

  • Master League (professionals / award-winners)
  • Apprentice League (beginners / first-timers)


Master League

  • This category is intended for all cosplayers who have gathered enough experience over the years to compete at a higher level.
  • For cosplayers who have won first place or Best in Show at any convention in Croatia or abroad.
  • Cosplayers who have won multiple awards or categories in consecutive years at any convention in Croatia or abroad.
  • Cosplayers who won Best Apprentice at Rikon the previous year.
  • If participating  in the Master category, we encourage cosplayers to compete with new costumes (not yet presented at other conventions), but you are of course welcome to use previously shown and awarded costumes as well!


Apprentice League

  • A category intended for all young, new, or beginner cosplayers whose costumes have not won awards in the past, but who want to compete, have fun, and win prizes.
  • Apprentice contestants can compete with costumes that have purchased elements or where professional assistance was used during crafting. However, our judges will only be assessing components/elements/props that were made by you. The more you make yourself the more points you can achieve.
  • By competing and winning the Best Apprentice award, cosplayers win the right to participate in the Master League in the following years.


If you are a professional costume designer or cosplayer, have won awards, or have been hired to make costumes, do not apply for the Apprentice League, however please do apply to Master League. The organizers do reserve the right to disqualify.

If you are not sure which category you should register for, contact us before filling out the registration form.


Registration Process

  • Online registration is mandatory.
  • Contestants in the Master category must provide award references.
  • Materials (mandatory with registration):
  • 1 reference image of the character: To be used for audience voting and on-stage projection. Upload full images, not PNGs without a background. Use horizontal layout, 16:9, HD size (nothing below 1920px).
  • Audio (MP3) or video (MP4) backing track: Files must be pre-trimmed to a maximum of 2 minutes. If you submit audio only, your reference image will be displayed on screen during your performance. Video must be at least 2K quality.
  • Performance Limit: Maximum of 2 minutes per contestant.
  • Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation email once applications close. We will contact you directly if any of your files need to be updated.
  • Participation Fee and Tickets: Registration requires a mandatory 15 € participation fee, which grants the contestant full 3-day (weekend) access to Rikon. During registration, you can also purchase one (1) 3-day Assistant Ticket at a discounted price of 25 €.


Rehearsal

  • Time: Saturday, September 19, approx. from 11:00h - 12:30h (contestants will be notified of the exact time).
  • Mandatory Attendance: Rehearsal is mandatory for all contestants. If you do not attend, the organizers cannot guarantee the successful technical execution of your performance, and you will not have the opportunity to customize your technical settings later.
  • Purpose: Coordinate technical details with the stage crew (sound/video cues, lighting colors, smoke effects, or even helping getting onto the stage safely) and practice your choreography on stage.
  • Costume: You do NOT need to wear your costume for the rehearsal.
  • After the rehearsal, you can use the Cosplay changing room to get dressed and prepare.


Prejudging and Photoshoot

  • Time: Saturday, September 19, approx. from 14:00h - 15:30h (contestants will be notified of the exact time).
  • Location: Backstage.
  • Important: Time with the judges panel is highly limited. Please respect the schedule and arrive fully ready (in costume). We will inform you ahead of time of the numbering order.
  • Punctuality (Important!): Delays that disrupt the schedule will not be tolerated. A maximum delay of 5 minutes is allowed (strictly for costume adjustments). Failure to show up for prejudging will result in disqualification.
  • Simultaneously, after finishing prejudging, cosplayers are invited to a professional photoshoot (in the backstage area). The organizers will publish selected photos in the official Rikon gallery after the event.


Judges Panel and Cosplay Judging

  • The judges panel consists of 3 unbiased judges selected by the organizers.
  • The judges panel and the organizers reserve the right to withhold any award without further explanation.


Judging Criteria

  • Crafting Quality: Execution of armor, props, and weapons; neatness of glue, joints, and cuts; attention to detail and paint job quality; the use of electronics and lights integrated onto the cosplay.
  • Sewing Quality: Tailoring, neatness of stitches, fabric choice, and overall construction of the sewn costume.
  • Performance: Stage presence, originality, coordination with the backing track/video, and audience reaction.
  • Concept & Adaptation: Accuracy to the original design or creative interpretation (e.g., custom twist, gender-bender).
  • Makeup & Hair/Wig: Wig styling quality, makeup, use of special effects, body paint, or prosthetics.


Cosplay Show

  • Contestants are assigned a performance number. Please follow this exact order both during the dress rehearsal and the actual Show. Coordinators will be with you throughout the entire process.
  • All contestants must be in the Backstage area at least 15 minutes before the show starts. 
  • A TV screen will be set up in the Backstage area streaming the live stage feed, allowing you to watch the other performances.
  • After performing, contestants must return to the Backstage area and remain there until all contestants have finished. Only after everyone has finished will the audience voting, jury deliberation, and award ceremony take place. Attendance is mandatory for all contestants until the very end of the ceremony—especially for the group photo.


Master League Awards Outline:

  • Best in Show - award for the overall best convention cosplay, selected by the judges panel
  • Audience Favorite - audience choice award
  • Master Special Mention - encouragement award, selected by the judges panel


Apprentice League Awards Outline:

  • Best Apprentice - award for the best beginner cosplay, selected by the judges panel
  • Audience Favorite - audience choice award
  • Apprentice Special Mention - encouragement award, selected by the judges panel


The organizers and the judges panel reserve the right to award additional prizes, withhold awards in any category without further explanation, or modify the award categories based on the turnout, quality of contestants, and available budget.


Disqualification

The organizers and the judges panel reserve the right to disqualify contestants based on, but not limited to, the following cases:

  • Inadequate Costume: Unfinished or extremely low-quality costumes that are not suitable for the competition.
  • Purchased Cosplays:  cosplays that are fully bought/commissioned, but are being described as self made.
  • Voting Manipulation: Misuse of social media or the audience voting system to unfairly disrupt equal competition conditions.
  • Unacceptable Behavior: Harassment, insults, or disturbing other contestants, visitors, organizers, volunteers, or members of the judges panel.
  • Conflict of Interest: If a contestant is closely associated or has a conflict of interest with any member of the judges panel or organizers.


The organizers and the judges panel reserve the right to retroactively revoke an award (including public announcement and the return of the prize package) if a contestant is found to have breached these terms or intentionally undermined fair competition. In such instances, the award will be passed to the contestant with the next highest score, if feasible.


For all potential questions or uncertainties, you can contact us at cosplay@rikonrijeka.com