San Diego Anime Con 2025 Cosplay Contest and Masquerade Registration Form

San Diego Anime Con is returning November 21, 22, and 23, 2025 at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley! The contest will be Saturday, November 22nd, tentatively scheduled for 7PM.

This is a Masquerade-style cosplay contest, which means that we accept and encourage skit entries! Walk-on entries are still welcome. READ THE FULL RULES HERE!

The soft deadline for entries is October 24th, 2025. Any entries submitted between October 24th and November 14th must be walk-on only, and may be waitlisted. No entries will be accepted after November 14th.

You MUST have a valid ticket to San Diego Anime Con (SDAC) to participate in the SDAC Cosplay Contest and Masquerade.

NEW FOR 2025!

  • We will be only accepting online sign-ups this year. Entries submitted after the deadline will be waitlisted. We will NOT be accepting at-con sign-ups.
  • We will be doing divisions this year based on participant’s previous contest experience! Please see the detailed guidelines for choosing your division at the end of the rules.
Please carefully read the full rules as linked above, as there are quite a few changes from previous years!

Questions? Email us at cosplay@sandiegoanimecon.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Email *
Participant Information
This is for staff use only, and will be used to verify your entry and contact you in an emergency.
Legal Name  *
Preferred Name
If different from your legal name.
Pronouns *
Additional Participants
List the full names of any other entrants if entering as a group.
Phone Number *
This is ONLY for the organizer to contact you if needed.
Entry Information
If you're not sure yet what you want to do, just fill this out to the best of your knowledge. You can edit it up until the deadline of October 24th, 2025.

This will determine how the MC will introduce your act before you go on stage, and should look something like this: "In the Advanced division, "Evil Like Me" presented by Team Kirari Cosplay and constructed by Kira Masquerade & The Fashionable Cupcake, inspired by Black Butler"
Entry Division *
Please refer back to the DIVISION GUIDELINES section of the RULES if you are unsure what to pick!
Entry Title *
This is the title of your act, and can be a fun name for your skit or simply the name of your walk-on character.
Example: "Alucard's Day Out", "Flareon Gijinka"
Presented by: *
This is how you will be referred to by the MC, and can be your real name, your cosplay name, or a group name.
Example: Kindred Cosplay
Constructed by: *
This is the name(s) of the person(s) who constructed the costumes and props in your entry; it can be your real name, cosplay name, or group name. Include anyone who helped with the construction!
Example: Angie C. and her grandmother
Inspired by: *
This is the media that inspired your costume. It could be an anime, comic, movie, or original design! As this is an anime convention, characters from Japanese popular media are highly recommended.
Number of performers *
This is the number of people who will be on stage--include any stage ninjas (non-costumed helpers).
Craftsmanship Judging
Craftsmanship judging is optional, but highly encouraged if you've made or modified the costume yourself! 

Craftsmanship judging will take place throughout the day prior to the competition and possibly also the day before. All members of your group that wish to participate should be present. Judges will take 5-10 minutes to look closely at your costumes, and you can tell them what you're proud of, etc.

At least one PRINTED reference image for your costume is required for Craftsmanship Judging. A full build book is highly encouraged but not required. Please refer back to the RULES for detailed information.

Entries that do not opt for Craftsmanship Judging will not be eligible for a Craftsmanship award.
Would you like to participate in Craftsmanship Judging?
 *
What time works best for judging?
Time slots will be in 10 minute sections, and will be assigned closer to the event. This is just to get a general idea of your availability. Judging will occur on the day of the San Diego Anime Con Cosplay Contest and Masquerade, and will close at least two hours before the show. Friday evening judging MAY be available!
Performance Information
We will have two types of entries for the SDAC Cosplay Contest and Masquerade  Performance, and Walk-On.

Performance entries will have 2 minutes (2:00) to perform a dance, skit, or other stage performance. Walk-on entries will have 45 seconds (0:45) to strut their stuff to music. 

If you are unfamiliar with a "Masquerade" with skits, check out the Anime Los Angeles or Anime Expo Masquerades on YouTube to get an idea--it's more than just a costume contest. Our event is a great opportunity to try out a skit entry!

Skit entries have a DEADLINE of October 24, 2025. Any entries past that point will be designated as WALK-ON only, regardless of what the entrant selects in the form.
Select your performance type: *
Please tell us about any "surprise" elements that may be in your performance.
 *
Any surprising elements in your performance (such as a planned fall) must be disclosed to event staff. Surprise the audience and the judges, not the staff!
Audio & Tech
You are expected to provide your own audio for this event! It can be recorded dialogue for a skit or music. Files must be in .mp3 format and should be cut to the appropriate length (2:00 for a skit/dance or 0:45 for a walk-on). Failure to cut the audio may result in an abrupt ending.

You do not have to submit your audio immediately! You may submit it via this form prior to the entry deadline via Google Drive. Reminders will be sent out to confirmed entries before the final deadline.

At this time, a tech rehearsal (aka dress rehearsal) is not guaranteed. We will make sure there is time for contestants to familiarize themselves with the stage, but there may not be time for a full run-through, so please be prepared for that possibility. 

The deadline to submit audio is November 7th. Performance entries that fail to provide audio by the deadline will be changed to Walk-On at the organizer’s discretion.

Stage dimensions are TBA. If you have questions about what is and isn't allowed, please email us at sandiegoanimecon@gmail.com
Audio *
Emailed audio should be sent to cosplay@sandiegoanimecon.com before the deadline.
Audio Submission (Optional)
Send a link to your audio file
Do you need accommodations for stage access or lights/sounds? *
For example: Do you have special needs or a physical handicap? / Do you need to be scheduled earlier or later in the line up? (you still need to check in on time) / Etc.

We will email you individually to confirm your requested accommodations.
Review & Submit
A copy of this entry form will be emailed to you for your records. Please make sure you go over the rules!

By submitting this form, you agree to the rules stated above and in the policies of San Diego Anime Con. Submitting this form only guarantees your entry if you have purchased a ticket to San Diego Anime Con. You also recognize you will be photographed and filmed for future San Diego Anime Con promotional purposes.

A safety waiver will need to be signed when you check in for the contest. Parents will need to sign for any entrants under the age of 18.

Submission may be withdrawn at any time by emailing cosplay@sandiegoanimecon.com
I verify that I am over 18 years of age, or will have a parent/legal guardian attending the event with me if I am under 18. *
Required
I have read the rules and the policies of San Diego Anime Con and agree to abide by them. *
Required
A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
GoogleForms
reCAPTCHA
PrivacyTerms
This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google.