The Cosplay-Eh!™ Canadian Cosplay Championship is where Alberta’s best cosplayers compete for a chance to represent our province at the national finals. Show off your craftsmanship, bring your character to life on stage, and compete for serious prizes.
Win at Otafest, advance to Montreal Comiccon in July, and compete to become Canada’s Cosplay Champion.
Awards
- 1st Place: $1,000 cash prize + Trip to Montreal Comiccon + Grand Finale Entry
- Runner Up: $500 cash prize
Eligibility
You must be
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- 18+ years old by May 15, 2027.
- Valid Otafest ticket holder.
Your costume must
- Be self-made - you created all components yourself (no store-bought, commissioned, or modified retail clothes).
- Be from published media - anime, games, movies, comics, TV series with existing visual references.
- Not be an original character (OC), genderbend, or gijinka unless they appear in official source material.
- Be 50% complete before you register, 100% complete on contest day.
Competition history
- Your costume CAN have competed at other local/regional contests (including previous Otafest showcase/skit/fashion show contests).
- Your costume CANNOT have won at previous Cosplay-Eh! Selections or Finals, or major international competitions (WCS, Polymanga, Art to Play, etc.).
Team options
- Solo entries welcome.
- Duo entries allowed (max 2 people).
Previous Cosplay-Eh! winners
- Won a Selection before? Must wait 1 year before competing again.
- Won the Final before? Must wait 2 years before competing again.
Format
Cosplay-Eh!™ Selections combine workmanship judging with live stage performance to showcase the complete cosplay experience. The contest has two phases:
Phase 1: Pre-judging (workmanship)
- When: You’ll get a scheduled time via email.
- What: Show your costume to 3 judges up close.
- What to bring: Your complete costume + handheld props
- How long: 10 minutes total
- ~5 minutes: You present your costume and explain how you made it
- ~5 minutes: Judges ask questions about techniques and materials
Phase 2: Stage Performance
- Length: 90-150 seconds (1.5 to 2.5 minutes)
- Setup time: 30 seconds to get on stage, 30 seconds to clear the stage
You can use:
- Music and sound effects
- Pre-recorded dialogue
- Up to 5 stage props (max 10 kg total)
You cannot use:
- Stage assistants during your performance (they can help with setup only)
- Fire, water, or scattering items (confetti, glitter, etc.)
This is only a summary. The full rules are available on the registration form, please ensure that you read and understand them.
Judging criteria
Contestants are judged on three categories totaling 100 points:
- Workmanship (40 points): Construction quality, techniques, materials, fit, attention to detail.
- Performance (60 points): Stage presence, choreography, use of props, overall impact.
- Likeness (20 points): How well you capture your character's 'spirit' through costume + performance.
Props
Stage props enhance your performance score but aren’t judged for workmanship.
Tips for success
For workmanship:
- Document your build process thoroughly.
- Be prepared to explain your techniques and material choices.
- Attention to detail matters, show off those hidden elements!
For performance:
- Tell a clear story in under 2.5 minutes.
- Practice your timing (setup + performance + teardown).
- Make sure your audio is clean and properly mixed.
For likeness:
- Study your character’s personality and mannerisms.
- Consider how they move, speak, and carry themselves.
Important dates
- January 16, 2027 - Registration opens.
- April 17, 2027 - Registration closes.
- May 8, 2027 - Deadline to submit required materials.
- May 10, 2027 - Contestants informed if they've been accepted or wait listed.
- May 21 - 23, 2027 - Otafest.
- July 2 - 4, 2027 - Grand Finale at Montreal Comiccon.
Questions
Contact us at cosplay.eh@otafest.com or see the official Cosplay-Eh! website for more information.
For full rules and terms, please see the registration form.
Cosplay-Eh! is committed to being an inclusive event. If any rule or requirement creates accessibility concerns, please contact us.
Registration
Regardless of when you register, you will need to submit the following by May 8, 2027 via Google Drive or Dropbox:
Photos
- Reference images - Official art of your character (multiple angles, high-res).
- Progress photos - Minimum 12 unedited photos showing your build process.
- Previous cosplays - 3 photos of past costumes (for your announcement and stage intro).
Video
- An unedited video of your costume from multiple angles.
Script
- Your performance script in PDF format.
Audio File
- Your high quality performance audio file in MP3 or WAV format with normalized audio.
This is only a summary. The full rules are available on the registration form, please ensure that you read and understand them.
Pre-Registration is STRONGLY recommended
Day-of registration may not be available if we reach capacity. Selection is based on portfolio quality if we receive more applications than we can accommodate.