Our contests
Otafest offers five cosplay contests of varying time commitments and skill levels. We hope to provide something for every cosplayer no matter where they are in their cosplay career.
We strive to bring you the best experience in whichever contest you choose to enter. This comes with an important caveat though: we also expect you to read up on the contest you are entering in advance, so you are aware of the contest rules, format, entry deadlines, contest times, and any specific entry requirements.
Skit Contest
A performance contest in front of an attendee audience, with the important requirement that you be in cosplay.
Contest info
Cosplay Showcase
A non-spectator event for cosplayers to show off and compete with their craftsmanship without the pressure of an audience.
Contest info
Fashion Show
Strike a pose! The Cosplay Fashion Show is all about presentation, how much you embody the character, and how well you pose. Own it!
Contest info
Stars of Cosplay
Our cosplay popularity contest! Sign up and wander around the festival to gather votes.
Contest info
Cosplay-Eh! Alberta Qualifiers
The Cosplay-Eh! Canadian Cosplay Championship is where Alberta’s best cosplayers compete for a chance to represent our province at the national finals.
Quick comparison
| Skit Contest | Cosplay Showcase | Fashion Show | Stars of Cosplay | Cosplay-Eh! | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Saturday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Saturday |
| Time commitment | 2.5 hrs | 2 hrs | 1.5 hrs | 10 min | 3.5 hrs |
| Must make your cosplay | |||||
| Must wear your cosplay | |||||
| Audience | |||||
| Performance required | |||||
| Pre-registration | |||||
| Day-of registration | If not full | If not full | |||
| Awards | Immediately | Immediately | Immediately | Closing Ceremonies | Immediately |
Preparation
So you want to enter a cosplay contest, eh? The very first thing you should do is decide which contests you would like to enter and determine if your cosplay would qualify for entry. Read up on the contest’s rules and requirements. If you have any questions at all please, please, please email us.
Here are a few tips to help your experience be as smooth as possible:
- Attend Otafest!This one is easy, have your ticket to Otafest, and get your wristband or badge before you check in or enter! All entrants in any of our cosplay contests must have proof of valid entry to the convention.
- Be familiar with your cosplaySeriously, did you make it, how long did it take you if you did, are you wearing it or do you have a friend modeling for you?
- Be aware of the contest's rulesDoes your cosplay qualify, do you have to be the one wearing it? Did you have to make it?
- Know the day and time of your contest(s)If a contest has an audience and starts at 2pm in the afternoon then you must be there well before that time for set up. The exact times will be included in the contest details but it's usually 30 minutes to an hour before show time.
- PracticeIf you are performing a skit then rehearse it, know your moves, know your lines or pre-record them, the audience will respond favorably to an entertaining well-rehearsed performance.
- Upload your musicWe no longer accept day-of music submissions so if you have music/audio for a skit entry then make sure you have your MP3 file and upload it when you pre-register.
- Pre-register!This saves everyone time and makes sure your information is correct beforehand. If you have problems signing up then email us, we're happy to help you with any issues or questions.
- Check the prop policyAnd be sure to have Prop Check take a look at any prop you may have before you attend the contest.
- Show upWe understand things happen, minds change and cosplays don't always get finished on time. If this is the case, please let us know so we can open the spot for someone else!
- CommunicateKnow that you can contact us at any point for clarification on... well, anything! We're friendly people, talk to us ❤
- Abide by all Otafest rules, regulations, and policiesFailure to do so will result in disqualification from the contests and may result in further action. Specifically, this pertains to decency of the costume, appropriate footwear and inappropriate clothing.
- Verbal, emotional, or physical abuse towards staff or other cosplayers will not be toleratedThis will result in disqualification from the contest(s) without prior warning, potential revocation of your admission to Otafest, and a possible ban from future Otafest events. Please be kind.
Cosplay repair room
Hosted in Ideation Room 4.
Cosplayers deserve to feel comfortable and confident. Our Cosplay Repair Station is stocked with everything you need to fix unexpected malfunctions, so you don’t have to worry about your outfit falling apart.
Everyone is welcome
The Cosplay repair room is open to all cosplayers, not just those competing in contests!
Common questions
Where do I sign up?
You’re in the right place to get started! Each contest has its own page, scroll back up this page and click the “Contest info” button for the contest you’re interested in.
Why so many contests?
Our festival is growing and so are our cosplayers’ time demands and skill levels. We want to provide a wide range of events with reasonable time commitments for you.
How many contests can I enter?
You can enter any and all of them as long as you meet their requirements!
Are there any entry caps?
Yes, for every event except Stars of Cosplay.
We have limited time for each of our contests, and understanding that the cosplay contests are very popular events, we must have a limit on how many people can participate.
This is especially important for the Cosplay Showcase and Cosplay Fashion Show. If competing is important to you, please arrive early for registration for those events.
Late entries will not be accepted to any of our contests.
Can Otafest staff enter a contest?
Otafest staff members are generally not permitted to enter contests. The final decision rests with the Head of Contests. However, any staff member directly involved in the organization or implementation of a specific contest is strictly prohibited from entering that contest under any circumstances.
Can a current or past judge enter a contest?
Judges are permitted to enter contests they are not judging, but not a contest where they have any judging-related input. For example, a judge for the Cosplay Showcase may enter the Cosplay Fashion Show. Judges from previous years may enter any contest at Otafest.
All past and current judges who enter a contest will be automatically placed in the Advanced category.
Why do I have to be there earlier than the time in the schedule?
The time listed on the schedule is when the show begins. The listed time does not include preparation time, which occurs before the start of the show. To ensure that we’re on time, we require all contestants to arrive at the designated setup time provided in your confirmation email.
Arriving early allows staff to complete all necessary preparations, including contestant check-in and stage setup. Contestants who do not arrive on time will be considered late and will be disqualified. Contest start times cannot be delayed, as other events are scheduled to follow.
We don’t like turning people away so please don’t put us in that position. Pay attention to our instructions and arrive at the communicated time.
I missed out, what can I do?
We get it, missing a deadline is a real bummer. Unfortunately, we can’t accept late registrations for our contests. We have to stick to our timelines to keep the event running smoothly and on schedule for all attendees.
The best thing to do is start getting ready for next year! We’d love for you to join us then. To make sure you don’t miss out, follow our social media and keep an eye on our website for all the important dates and announcements.
Who decides who wins an award?
The winners are chosen by our fantastic judges! Our organizers don’t have a say in who wins, as we want to make sure the process is fair and unbiased.
The only exception is our special Stars of Cosplay contest. For that one, the power lies with your fellow attendees, who get to vote for their favorite!
How can I be a judge?
We’re always looking for talented cosplayers to join our judging crew! Our judges are usually long-time cosplayers with a ton of experience, and we especially love working with those who have won at the Advanced level in our past contests.
If you’ve been rocking the cosplay scene and are ready to share your expertise, keep an eye on our social media. We’ll announce when judge applications are open and can’t wait to see your application!
Why do I have to wait so long to be judged for the Showcase Contest?
We know that waiting can be tough, and we appreciate your patience! The judges dedicate their full attention to each and every contestant. Since a lot of amazing people enter our contests, we have to make sure each one gets the time they deserve to present their creation and answer questions.
We do our best to keep things moving as quickly as possible without rushing anyone, but there will be a bit of a wait. For a faster experience, make sure to pre-register for our contests online when you can!
How will I be placed in a category? (Skit/Showcase/Fashion contests)
We want to make sure you’re in the perfect spot to shine! When you sign up, we’ll ask you a few simple questions about your past experience. Your answers help us figure out the best fit for you.
Since our judges are the pros, they might chat with you during prejudging and, at their discretion, may move you to another category if it’s a better match for your skills. We’re all about making sure your hard work gets the recognition it deserves, so please be honest with your answers - it helps us help you!
Is it a good idea to pre-register?
Yes, absolutely! Pre-registering is a fantastic idea and an easy way to make your contest experience smoother. When you sign up online, you save us and yourself time, and you guarantee yourself a spot in the contest! Keep in mind, you still need to show up on time to secure your spot.
It’s the best way to get ready for the show and a perfect first step to an awesome weekend!
What if my pre-registration details are incorrect or I changed my entry?
No problem at all! Plans change. The most important thing is not to submit another entry, as that can create a lot of confusion for us and for you.
If you need to update any of your information or change your entry, all you have to do is email us and we’ll make the changes on our end.
I have more questions, who should I ask?
You can email us at cosplay@otafest.com. Please allow a couple of days for us to reply as we tend to receive a lot of emails.