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AUG 23-24, 2025 • Dulles Expo Center
AUG 23-24, 2025 •  Dulles Expo Center

FAIRFAX COMIC CON COSPLAY CONTEST RULES

The rules on this page are subject to change, if you are interested in participating, please check the cosplay section of the website often to ensure you are aware of any updated/added/changed rules.

Be advised that signing up for any cosplay contest is an affirmation that you agree to adhere to the rules presented on the Fairfax Comic Con website as well as any decisions made by cosplay staff prior to, or during, Fairfax Comic Con.

All cosplay events/panels have the potential to be photographed/filmed/recorded in some fashion. These recordings may be used in future galleries or promotions. Signing up for, and/or attending, any cosplay event is done with the understanding that recording could occur at any time and permission is tacitly given for the participant’s likeness to be used.

  • You must be a registered Fairfax Comic Con attendee in order to compete.  Each member of your group must have a wristband, badge, or other form of attendee membership.

  • All costumes must cover “swimsuit areas” – no nudity. Body-paint costumes are not eligible for competition.

  • Store bought cosplays are eligible for display, but not to win.
  •  All contestants need to arrive to the stage at contest time to enter. There are no pre-entries into the contest. No exceptions.
  • The contest is open to characters from published works; movies, TV shows, comic books, cartoons, video games and card games. Update: Original Characters are now allowed to compete as well.
  • Fairfax Comic Con adheres to the “PG‐13 rule” when it comes to language and hand gestures on stage. Violation of this rule will cause you to be disqualified from the competition. Be respectful of the crowd and other competitors at all times.

  • During the contest enter and exit the stage at the designated points only. Costumes must be handled by the contestant or by handler(s) the contestant brings to help.  Handlers are required to be registered attendees of the convention, and Fairfax Comic Con cannot provide on-stage assistants.

  • Contestants are not allowed to throw anything off the stage, nor use projectiles or use anything on stage that will leave a mess. This includes (but is not limited to) liquids, glitter and confetti.

  • No pyrotechnics, fire, explosive devices, live animals or similar special effects can be used during the competition; this includes smoke/smog machines and flash powder. Anyone who violates this rule may be disqualified from the competition and be asked to leave the convention area depending on the severity of the incursion. All prop weapons must conform to the Fairfax Comic Con prop policies, including being checked.

  • Children (age 15 and below, see Children’s Cosplay Competition for more details) who need a parent to accompany them on stage will need to compete in the Children’s Costume Competition instead of the main stage Costume Contest. However, parent/child teams are allowed to compete in the main stage competition together.

CATEGORIES

BEST ADULT COSPLAY
Ages 16 and Up

BEST KIDS COSPLAY
15 and Under

BEST GROUP COSPLAY
3 or more Members

Congratulations to last year’s winners shown above.

JUDGES

JUDGING TIME AND LOCATION

JUDGING WILL BE HELD AT BLUE/BLACK CURTAINS ON THE LEFT WALL OF THE EXHIBIT HALL.

There is no pre-registration. Just off, Show up, Show off, and make it to the Show Down for you chance to win. 

The Cosplay Contest will be held Saturday at 3:30pm-4:30pm.

There will be a brief intermission while the judges deliberate and choose a winner, which will be announced at 5pm with hostess Cannon Doll-X.

Winners will need to immediately go to BC Photo Booth for mini-shoot. 


PRIZES


$200 in Cash and Prizes will be awarded to the first place winner in each category along with a trophy.

$50 Cash and Prizes will be awarded to the runner up winner.

Top prize also receives a mini photo shoot from BC Photography.