Cosplay Contest Registration

Limited spots available!

Registration Closes May 2nd at 11:59 PM

The Spring 2025 Motor City Comic Con Cosplay Contest will be held on Saturday, May 17th at 5:30 PM in the Diamond Ballroom. By registering, you agree to follow Motor City Comic Con’s posted cosplay, weapons, and competition guidelines. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in your disqualification from the cosplay contest. Your registration counts as your acceptance to the cosplay contest and your permission allowing Motor City Comic Con to use your image on the Motor City Comic Con web site and for promotional purposes.

Cosplay Contest Divisions

The Spring 2025 Motor City Comic Con Cosplay Contest will feature two divisions: the Cosplay Showcase and the Craftsmanship Contest. 

The Cosplay Showcase is a non-competitive division for cosplayers who do not wish to compete or whose cosplays are purchased, commissioned, thrifted, or otherwise not handcrafted from scratch. Cosplay Showcase participants take the stage to pose and display their cosplays for the audience. Cosplay Showcase participants can be individual or in groups. Groups participating in the Cosplay Showcase must match in theme (examples: all Avengers, all Sailor Scouts, all Gravity Falls).

The Craftsmanship Contest is a competitive division for cosplayers who have handcrafted a minimum of 50 percent of their cosplay from scratch. Craftsmanship Contest participants take the stage to pose and display their cosplays for the judges as well as the audience. Awards will be presented for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place as well as Judge’s Choice. Craftsmanship Cosplay participants must be individuals. 

Cosplay Contest Guidelines

Registration for the Spring 2025 Motor City Comic Con Cosplay Contest closes at 11:59 PM Eastern on May 2, 2025 or when all spots are filled, whichever comes first. There will be no on-site registration and no exceptions. 

Should a participant mistakenly register for the Craftsmanship Contest when they should be in the Cosplay Showcase, they will be transferred if spots are available. If no space is available, the participant will be removed from the contest roster. 

Craftsmanship Contest participants are welcome to submit a Build Book but this is not required. 

Craftsmanship Contest participants are not allowed to compete with a cosplay that has won 1st place, Best Craftsmanship, or Best in Show in any other cosplay competition. 

Cosplays for both divisions must be able to move freely through the Motor City Comic Con venue hallways. Please note that there are steps leading to/from the contest stage. Participants using mobility aids should note this in the “Is there anything else we should know about your entry?” field in the registration form. 

All participants must report to the Cosplay Contest pre-staging area no later than 5 PM to be checked in. At check-in, each participant will receive their line-up order. Pronunciation of participant name, character, and cosplay source will be verified. Do not arrive any later than 5 PM. 

Participants are expected to behave with courtesy and respect to their fellow cosplayers, the judges, the cosplay director, and all Motor City Comic Con staff and volunteers. Poor sportsmanship and negativity has no place here. 

Any participant that does not follow the guidelines listed above, on the Motor City Comic Con website, or in any email communication from Motor City Comic Con will be disqualified. 

* – required fields

1st Place: $500, trophy, two November 2025 Motor City Comic Con 3-day badges, two autographed photos, an MC3 exclusive bag with additional goodies!

2nd Place: $250, trophy, two November 2025 Motor City Comic Con 1-day passes, one autographed photo, and an MC3 exclusive bag.

3rd Place: $125, trophy, two November 2025 Motor City Comic Con 1-day passes, one autographed photo, and an MC3 exclusive bag. 

Judge’s Choice: an MC3 Judge’s Choice certificate

Your registration will not be complete until you pay the registration fee below. 

The registration fee is $13.00 with a $2.00 processing fee.