Sangawa’s Casual Costume Contest Returns!

Did you handcraft a wearable work of art? Gather a cosplay coordinate from your closet?

Any costume with user creativity is encouraged to enter this low stakes event!

This costume contest is casual, meaning it is open to any costume that was not purchased as a full set or entirely commissioned. Thrifted, closet, or handcrafted costumes are all welcome, as long as the entrant has made creative choices in putting it together. It’s a great way to start if you aren’t ready for a ranked craftsmanship competition, but what to know what the judging experience is like!

Our judging panel made of experienced cosplayers will interview you by asking about how you made your costume. Tell us how you chose items from your closet, how you modified items found at a thrift store, or how you created pieces from scratch. Awards will be given for Best Crafted to a cosplay with mostly handcrafted parts, and Most Creative to the best use of mostly found items.

Check in for pre-registered contestants, sign ups for at-con registration, and judging will all be in the Cosplay Judging room on the 7th floor on Saturday! This room is left from the elevators, and then the first door on the left.

Check in and sign ups will begin at 3 PM. You will be given a time slot to return to the Cosplay Judging Room for your private judging session. Scheduled judging slots will begin at 4 and run until 6 PM. We will take as many contestants as we have room for, so please feel free to stop by even when judging is underway to see if we have a space for you!

Winners will be announced during karaoke at the Maid Cafe on the 6th floor at 8 PM. All contestants should arrive at 7:45.

Rules

1. All entrants must have a valid 2026 Sangawa Project badge. Sangawa Project staff and guests are not permitted to compete.

2. Costumes may be from any source including fanart and original characters. Reference images are encouraged, but not required.

3. All costumes must display creativity from the entrant. This means pieces are either hand crafted, modified, or individually gathered items (commonly called ‘closet’ or ‘thrifted’ cosplay.) No costumes purchased as a set or fully commissioned costumes are permitted to enter. Judging is done based on the creation of the cosplay only, physically looking like or acting like the character are not considered criteria (although we do recommend you look into participating in the Variety Show!)

4. Awards will be given for Best Crafted to a cosplay with mostly handcrafted parts, and Most Creative to the best use of mostly found items. Any other awards will be based on user turn out at the judges’ discretion. Awards earned here do not count towards your craftsmanship ranking at Tekko.

5. Group entries of up to four people are permitted. All members must either be from the same media or linked by a common theme. Prize distribution is up to the group, additional prizes will not be given. Only one sign up form is needed per group. The person who submits the sign up form is responsible for communicating with the rest of the group. Group entrants are not given additional judging time.

6. Sign ups will be taken on Eventeny until Febrary 5. Additional slots will be available at con. Check in and scheduling for those who registered online, as well as at-con sign ups will be taken at the judging room starting at 3 PM Saturday. You will be assigned a time for your private judging session then.

7. Judging sessions will take place from 4-6 PM Saturday. Please arrive at the judging room no more than ten minutes earlier than your assigned time for judging, there isn't a lot of space to wait! Staff will check you in at the door and send you in when it’s your turn. Entrants will have a maximum of 4 minutes to talk about their costume with our judges.

8. Winners will be announced at 8PM during karaoke at the Maid Cafe on the 6th floor, and posted on Sangawa Project’s social media. Contestants should arrive at 7:45. If unable to attend, winners can pick up their certificates at Registration until it closes on Sunday. Prizes will not be mailed.
   
   
   Pre-register at this link, or check in at the contest start at con!