cosplay competition rules

Dear cosplayers,


Rikon invites you to embody your favorite character and showcase your crafting skills and performance talent!


This year, the Cosplay competition features two categories and offers generous prizes, including €1,000 in prize bags sponsored by CosplayShop.be and €500 in cash prizes sponsored by Rivira marketing agency.


We’re introducing new categories and a reward system to establish a unified cosplay competition on a Croatian national level - the Master League and Apprentice League.


Cosplay contestants will present their costumes to the judging panel at the PREJUDGING on Saturday, September 30, 2023, in the early afternoon. The Cosplay Fashion Show, in front of the audience and judges, will take place on Saturday, September 30, 2023, in the evening, starting with the Apprentice League. Rikon's audience will vote for their favorites through the Rikon mobile app.


Registration for the Cosplay competition is mandatory and must be done through the registration form on the RikonRijeka.com website, closing on Sunday, September 24, 2023 (23:59h).


The application form for the competition includes the obligation to pay a specially discounted Cosplay participation weekend ticket in the amount of €15. At the last step of the application form, the Stripe payment system is activated. It is not possible to complete the application form without paying the ticket.



Who can apply:

  • Participants must be 14 years or older,
  • Costumes must be self-made,
  • Costumes previously showcased at other conventions or events are eligible,
  • Apprentice League exclusive - participants may enter with costumes made by others or purchased costume components.



Competition Categories:

  • Contestants can apply in only one category in the application form:
  • Master League (advanced/awarded cosplayers)
  • Apprentice League (novice/first-timers)


  • The Master League is for cosplayers who have accumulated enough experience over the years to compete at a higher level:
  • Cosplayers who have won first place or Best in Show at any convention in Croatia or abroad.
  • Cosplayers who have won one or multiple awards/categories in consecutive years, at any convention in Croatia or abroad.



  • The Apprentice League is intended for all young, new, or beginner cosplayers whose costumes have not won awards in the past and who want to compete, have fun, and win prizes. 
  • By participating and winning awards in the Apprentice League, cosplayers earn the right to compete in the Master League in the following years.
  • Do not apply to Apprentice League if you are a professional costume maker or cosplayer, and have won awards or had commissions, organizers hold the right to disqualify you otherwise.
  • If you are unsure which category you should apply to, contact us before filling in the application.



Application Process:

  • Registration is mandatory through the form on the RikonRijeka.com website.
  • Registration closes on Sunday, September 24, 2023 (23:59h).
  • Master League applicants must provide information/references about previously won awards.
  • The application must include 1 (one) reference picture of the character being cosplayed, which will be included in the audience voting app and on stage during the Cosplay Fashion Show.
  • Contestants must upload 1 (one) soundtrack for their performance.
  • Contestants can upload 1 (one) video background, which is optional for performance during Cosplay Fashion Show.
  • If only a soundtrack is provided, the reference picture of the character will be displayed on the stage screen. If a video (with included soundtrack) is provided, it will be shown alongside the reference picture.
  • Performances on stage are limited to a maximum of 2 minutes per contestant. Soundtrack and video backgrounds MUST be trimmed and last a maximum of 2 minutes.



Scoring and Judging Panel:

  • The panel consists of 3 to 5 members chosen by the Rikon organization.
  • The panel must be impartial towards all contestants.
  • The panel and organizers reserve the right not to award a prize without additional explanations.
  • Prejudging for all contestants takes place at the Cosplay Zone on Saturday, September 30, 2023, in the early afternoon.
  • Contestants have limited time to showcase their costumes and answer judges' questions. Please respect the given time limits and be ready (in costume) for prejudging at the announced time, in the program schedule.
  • During the Judging and Cosplay Fashion Show, the jury awards up to 10 points to each contestant in both categories, based on the following costume elements:
  • Crafting quality: quality of suits, props, weapons, presence of all relevant details (props, weapons, recognizable costume elements), quality of gluing or connecting the elements and visibility of cuts, neatness and color details of the costume,
  • Needlework quality: the quality of sown costume, the sewing pattern, quality of the seams, 
  • Performance: originality and quality of the performance, the audience reaction, composition of the performance and presence on the stage, coordination with the music,
  • Approach to the original theme: devotion to the concept, twist or addition, gender-bender, etc., 
  • Makeup and hair/wig: styling, design quality, usage of special effects, body paint or prosthetics,



Cosplay Fashion Show:

  • For participating in the Cosplay Fashion Show, the contestants can prepare a performance, or just walk in front of the audience.
  • Contestants have a maximum of 2 minutes for their performance. We advise contestants to practice their performance at least once and time it.
  • Once again: the application must include one soundtrack for the performance. Video background is optional for performances.
  • If only a soundtrack is provided, the reference picture of the character will be displayed on the stage screen. If a video (with included sound) is provided, it will be shown alongside the reference picture.
  • Soundtrack and video backgrounds MUST be trimmed and last a maximum of 2 minutes.



Prizes and Titles:

  • The judging panel awards 2 (two) prizes for each category, and the audience selects one favorite from each categories.


Master League:

  1. Best in Show - prize for the best cosplay of the convention,
  2. Master runner-up - second-best costume of the convention,
  3. Audience Favorite - audience prize, which can be won by the same person who has already won one of the listed categories.


Apprentice League:

  1. Best Apprentice - prize for the best cosplay of the Apprentice League,
  2. Apprentice runner-up - prize for the second-best cosplay of the Apprentice League,
  3. Audience Favorite - audience prize, which can be won by the same person who has already won one of the listed categories,
  4. Honorable Mention - recognition of cosplay quality in one of the judging elements, based on the special decision of the judging panel.


All contestants are kindly requested to be present at Rikon during the awards ceremony on Saturday evening.



Prize Value Range:

  • Prizes include sponsor gift packages, sponsor cash rewards, plaques, and certificates. All non-awarded contestants will receive a symbolic consolation prize.
  • Cash rewards will be transferred to the winners' IBAN accounts after Rikon.


Master League:

  1. Best in Show - gift package up to €300 and cash reward €200,
  2. Master runner-up - gift package up to €200 and cash reward €100,
  3. Audience Favorite - gift package up to €100.


Apprentice League:

  1. Best Apprentice - gift package up to €100 and cash reward €100,
  2. Apprentice runner-up - gift package up to €50,
  3. Audience Favorite - gift package up to €50,
  4. Honorable Mention - gift package up to €50.



Organizers and the judging panel reserve the right to award more prizes, not award a prize in any category without explanation, or award a prize for something different than stated, depending on circumstances, quantity and quality of contestants, and available budget.


Organizers and the judging panel have the right to disqualify contestants in case of:

  • Insufficiently high-quality costumes, unfinished costumes, or other circumstances that disrespect the effort of other contestants.
  • Misuse of social media or audience voting systems in a way that directly or indirectly undermines the equal conditions of all contestants,
  • Offending, invading the privacy, or harassing other contestants, convention visitors, or the organizers', volunteers', and judging panel's team.
  • Contestants being closely associated or in a conflict of interest with members of the judging panel.


Organizers and the judging panel have the right to revoke a prize (publicly and by returning the gift package) if it turns out that the contestant has violated these terms, intentionally undermining the values of the competition and the right of all contestants to fair and equal competition.

If possible, the contestant with the next highest score from the judging panel wins the prize in that case.



For any potential questions or uncertainties, you can contact us via email cosplay@rikonrijeka.com 



Apply now
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