DreamHack Website Logo

March 27 – 29, 2026

Buy Tickets
DreamHack Website Logo
Buy Tickets
  • March 27 – 29

cosplay Competition

All cosplayers from all fandoms welcome!

Celebrate creativity, craftsmanship, and cosplay at DreamHack. Step onto the stage, share your build, and compete for a share of the £8,000 prize pool alongside an incredible cosplay community.
Not looking to compete? No problem — cosplay at DreamHack goes far beyond the Championship, with plenty of ways to take part, connect, and show off your creativity throughout the festival.

Apply to Compete

Participate

DreamHack championship

Our Championship is a craftsmanship competition, with the stage “performance” being a CATWALK – meaning you walk on stage embodying your character and make three poses before walking off stage.

The DreamHack Cosplay Championship will take place at DreamHack Birmingham during March 27 – 29, 2025. You must be able to attend your prejudging slot that occurs before the Cosplay Championship in order to compete.

Apply to Compete
Rules

Selection process

Participants cannot compete wearing a cosplay that has previously placed in the top three of any category at DreamHack Cosplay Championship. Each contestant will have a few minutes for pre-judging and up to 1 minute on stage from entering to exiting. Experts may send in up to 60 seconds long music file for their catwalk (optional)

Tier & Category

The judges will have final decision and right to interpret our criteria while judging. All decisions are final, and must be respected. The judges have the right to change the contestant’s tier before the stage show based on the contestant’s experience and the cosplay they have chosen to compete in. We may consult with the judges prior to the event if we believe a re-tiering may be in order.

What can you cosplay?

We allow cosplays from all media, video games, role-playing games, comic books, manga, anime, TV or film adaptations, fan art etc. We also allow for gender bends, gijinkas and original characters (e.g. DnD characters, or your character from a game). Important to note that you still need to bring reference materials for your design. Please note that mascot costumes or bought dress-up costumes are not acceptable to compete with.

CONTEST tiers

There’s a competition tier for every level of cosplay experience, from first-time competitors to seasoned champions, with a total £8,000 prize pool up for grabs. Take a look below to find the tier that best fits your experience and build style.

YOUTH

Open to newcomers

For young cosplayers aged 0–15, celebrating creativity, confidence, and having fun on stage.

Youth Prize Pool: £500

NOVICE

Crafting experience

 Ideal for first-time competitors and emerging makers ready to take the stage.

Novice Prize Pool: £1,500

ARTISAN

Highly Skilled

For experienced cosplayers with previous championship placements looking to take their craft further.

Artisan Prize Pool: £2,500

Expert

The Top Tier

The highest tier for top-level cosplayers showcasing advanced skills and exceptional builds.

Expert Prize Pool: £3,500

Best in Show

Awarded to the cosplay that stands out above all others, Best in Show recognises exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and stage presence. The winner will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the Expert category at DreamHack Atlanta, representing the very best of the DreamHack cosplay community on an international stage.

What You Need to Know

Here you’ll find everything you need to enter and compete in the Cosplay Championship—covering tiers, prizes, judging, and key rules to know before applying. All cosplayers from all fandoms are welcome!

Championship TIERS

  1. 1st Place = £250
  2. 2nd Place = £150
  3. 3rd Place = £100
    1. Youth Prize Pool Total = £500
  4. Ages 0-15. If you have won the Youth category before, you should choose Novice this time.
  1. 1st Place = £600
  2. 2nd Place = £500
  3. 3rd Place = £400
    1. Novice Prize Pool Total = £1,500
  4. For cosplayers who have not placed top 5 or won Best in Show in any cosplay Championship before
    1. Judge’s awards do not count towards Championship wins
  5. The costume must be self-made but may use modified/changed garments.
    1. All costumes must be at least 60% self crafted. (Assistance from a friend is fine, but commissions and purchased pieces must be 40% or less of the costume). Altering/thrifting/updating purchased pieces is allowed as long as the changes are significant (at the judges discretion).
  1. 1st Place = £1,000
  2. 2nd Place = £800
  3. 3rd Place =  £700
    1. Artisan Prize Pool Total = £2,500
  4. Contestants who have placed top 5 or won Best in Show in at least 1 (up to 3) cosplay Championships before. 
    1. Judge’s awards do not count towards Championship wins
  5. The costume must be self-made but may use modified/changed garments.
    1. All costumes must be at least 60% self crafted. (Assistance from a friend is fine, but commissions and purchased pieces must be 40% or less of the costume). Altering/thrifting/updating purchased pieces is allowed as long as the changes are significant (at the judges discretion).
  1. 1st Place = £1,500
  2. 2nd Place = £1,200
  3. 3rd Place = £800
    1. Novice Prize Pool Total = £3,500
  4. Has placed top 5 or won Best in Show at least 4 Championships or best in show award(s).
    1. Judge’s awards do not count towards Championship wins
  5. The costume must be self-made, the exceptions are: Base wig, shoes, and undergarments. 
    1. All costumes must be at least 80% self crafted.
      1. Altering/thrifting/updating purchased pieces is allowed as long as the changes are significant (at the judges discretion).

Cosplay Competition

The Deadline for sign-up is 26th of October. But remember that we will accept applications ongoing basis, tiers may fill up before the deadline.

The Deadline for the WIP material is 2nd of November. We will however, ask for a reference picture before the deadline; this is just so that we can prepare graphics for the stage show beforehand.

Yes, up until the deadline there are no problems at all. But please be open if you feel there is no chance of finishing. Since then we can give the spot to someone waiting in line.

The cosplay lounge is located in the T-wing, close to Scandic Talk. This is very close to the VIP entrance to the event.

The Cosplay Crew is available at the event to assist cosplayers to get into the event with a “fast track” handled through the VIP entrance. We will provide details about this in the information sent out to all contestants before the event.

Yes, the assistant/handler needs their own ticket but in the form you can sign them up as your plus one and they will get their own ticket. Assistants will, however, have access to the same amenities as you, so if they cosplay, they can take the opportunity to get some pictures in the photo studio!

Yes, we have several dressing rooms available. Women, Men, and Non-binary usually.

If we notice any of these being unused, we may change this around a bit to be able to accommodate as many as possible.

All dressing rooms offer mirrors, seating, tables and places to store cosplays. Be mindful that there will be many cosplayers on-site, so make sure you don’t block the rooms and every cosplayer is responsible for their belongings. 

Yes, we usually have access to a stage next to the lounge area that we use for this. This can’t be promised, however, so we will let you know if this will be possible again this year.

Contact us at dh.cosplayswe@efg.gg or talk to the Cosplay Crew at the event.

Yes, Dreamhack has a lot of fun activities for both cosplayers and guests, there are competitions, expo activities, and multiple places to play games and hang out. 

There will also be plenty of opportunities to mingle and network with other cosplayers and people in the gaming industry.

The Cosplay Crew will have a general idea about the activities at the event.

At the event, we have some tools, paint, safety pins, glue, etc. in our Cosplay repair station.

Missing anything here when at the event, feel free to ask one of our dedicated Cosplay Crew and we may be able to help!

Yes, but we require check-in and approval from the cosplay crew since we want to keep the Cosplay lounge a safe and chill place to be during the event. Remember to respect the cosplayers so that they may be there to take a break.

Cosplays can be stored in the dressing rooms, but it will be at your own risk.

However, we have our crew limiting access to the lounge and dressing room area at all hours, so the space is only shared between Cosplayers (and assistants), Cosplay Crew, and Cosplay Photographers.

You need to be there for the DreamHack Cosplay Championship on stage and also the prejudging happening before the show, but we recommend staying for the full event as there are other activities happening as well. Other e.g. competitions, the photo studio and networking.

Yes, we do have this at the event. There will be clear signs onsite.

We want Dreamhack to be a fun event for Cosplay and care a lot about your experience. Cosplay Crew is here to support and we also have the support of the other functions at Dreamhack, such as Medic and Security if needed.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please enter the tier that reflects your previous Championship experience. The festival organizers and judges reserve the right to change your category based on your submitted build, and WIP photos. If you have any questions about what tier you should apply in, please email cosplay@dreamhack.com

  • Expert Tier – £3,500
      1. 1st Place: £1,500, Award
      2. 2nd Place: £1,200, Award
      3. 3rd Place: £800, Award
  • Artisan Tier – £2,500
      1. 1st Place: £1,000, Award
      2. 2nd Place: £800, Award
      3. 3rd Place: £700, Award
  • Novice Tier – £1,500
      1. 1st Place: £600, Award
      2. 2nd Place: £500, Award
      3. 3rd Place: £400, Award
  • Youth Tier – £500
      1. 1st Place: £250, Award
      2. 2nd Place: £150, Award
      3. 3rd Place: £100, Award
  • Judge’s Choice Awards
      1. Each judge will have the opportunity to highlight a contestant of their choice separate from our craftsmanship awards. This is reserved for contestants who have not received recognition within the tiered category awards.
  1. Contestants must be at both pre-judging and the stage show to be eligible to compete.
  2. All cosplays will be judged based on the rubric shown below 
    1. A valid convention badge is required to compete. If accepted you will be signed up using your legal First Name, Last Name, and email that was put on your application for a weekend badge after accepting a Championship spot. 
  3. Content should not go beyond PG-13, as the con is family-friendly: Offensive language of any kind is not allowed—no racial or sexual epithets; no profanity, etc. No excessive violence. No sexual activity or contact—real or implied.
  4. All costumes must be at least 60% self crafted unless competing in the Expert Category. If chosen to compete in the Expert Category, your build must be at least 80% self crafted. Altering/thrifting/updating purchased pieces is allowed as long as the changes are significant (at the judges discretion).
    1. For Fabrication elements assembled by non-sewing methods such as foam-smithing, 3D printed, pepakura, sculpting or vacuum forming etc- purchased patterns count towards your non self-made percentages. Items produced from these patterns will be judged on modifications to base files, construction, finishes, painting, etc. All modifications to patterns must be documented to count towards your self-made percentages during judging.
  5. All WIP images must be sent to the Contest Organizers by March 1st, 2026 at the latest.  
  6. All build books must be sent into the Contest Organizers by March 15, 2026.
  7. Your application cannot be reviewed without a WIP. 
  8. WIP links must be set to “anyone with the link can view from the time you submit them to the end of the championship.
  9. Judges reserve the right to change your Championship tier at any point.
  10. Cosplays you are applying with MAY NOT have won a Championship previous to Friday, March 27, 2026.
    1. Judge’s choice awards do not count towards Championship wins.
  11. “Dabbing”, drug references, etc are not allowed.
  12. All cosplays and props must be self-contained in the green room and/or on stage.
  13. Props and/or builds cannot include fire, flame, smoke, fog, dry ice, wind machines, lasers, pressurized gasses or liquids, messy substances—wet, dry, or oily, including glitter, flower petals, etc. 
  14. No jumping on or off stage—please use the designated stage entrances and exits.
  15. No Stage fighting – one foot must remain on the stage at all times and any mock fighting must be done at a distance and at half speed – no physical contact.
  16. Contestants may not use stage time to make political, religious, insulting, or other demonstrations not related to their entry.
  17. Sportsmanship is important. Any bullying will not be tolerated and result in disqualification and/or removal from the festival. Any unsportsmanlike conduct after the Championship can and will also result in being banned for competing with us in the future. 
  18. Any violation of these rules will result in immediate disqualification, regardless of the stage of the Championship.
  • Craftsmanship
      1. (10 pts max) Overall cosplay execution and creativity.
      2. (9-10) – Clean stitching, use of highlighting and shadows, clean wig styling, smooth armor edges, finishing techniques etc.
      3. (7-8) – Most details are clean and finished, one technique/element less polished.
      4. (5-6) – Details are present, but finishing touches are missing. Seams may be unfinished, rough armor edges, no shadows/highlights etc.
      5. (3-4) – Minimal details, techniques are mostly poorly executed, cosplay not entirely finished.
      6. (0-2) – No details, techniques are poorly executed, cosplay is unfinished.
  • Technical Difficulty
      1. (10 pts max) – Level of complexity of the cosplay selected. Variety of techniques used. Purchased items only count against you if no transformation has been done.
      2. (9-10) – Cosplay uses 3 or more main materials, 3 or more techniques used AND less than 10% purchased.
      3. (7-8) – Cosplay uses 2-3 main materials, and 2-3 different techniques AND less than 20% purchased.
      4. (6-5) – Cosplay uses 1-2 materials and 1-2 different techniques OR 30-40% purchased.
      5. (3-4) – Cosplay sticks to a couple basic techniques OR 40 – 50% purchased.
      6. (0-2) – Cosplay relies on a single technique OR more than 50% is purchased.
  • Accuracy
    1. (10 pts max) – Overall impact of the costume.
    2. (9-10) – The resemblance is really there in terms of the material. Cosplayers have been sure to adapt the cosplay a lot to themselves so that the proportions are correct.
    3. (7-8) –You can clearly see the character, details are mostly there adapted a lot of the proportions to themselves, or use of materials helps to get closer to the reference.
    4. (5-6) – You can see a resemblance, but missing that little extra.
    5. (3-4) – Minimal effort have been done to follow the reference material. The resemblance can be seen but a lot of the details just are not there.
    6. (0-2) – Poor resemblance and straying a lot from the source material and references.

Cosplay Rules

We are getting closer to the festival, and we want to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises when you travel with your props or arrive at the venue.
The Swedish Police has therefore asked us to remind everyone that:
Any prop that looks like a weapon must be covered or packed in a bag or case when you’re on public transportation or traveling to/from the venue.
Even if most people will recognize cosplay props, it only takes one person feeling uneasy to call the authorities. Please help us avoid that situation!

Real & Restricted Items
The following are not allowed at DreamHack:

  • Real weapons (including soft air guns or other air/gas weapons)
  • Props made of metal (e.g. real swords, knives, bats, etc.)
  • Explosive materials, fire, smoke, sparks, or similar effects
  • Any prohibited items will be handled by security.

Prop Checks & Tags

  • All props will be checked by the Cosplay Team and Security upon entry.
  • Approved props will receive an approval tag — this must remain on the prop, except during the competition or an approved photo op.

When Inside the Event

  • Keep your weapons sheathed or carried in a non-aggressive way.
  • Do not point, swing, or aim prop weapons at others while walking around.

Additionally, in the event of an evacuation from Stockholmsmässan, please do not bring weapon-like props outside the venue. This precaution helps prevent confusion and ensures that emergency services can focus on keeping everyone safe.

Thanks for helping us keep DreamHack safe, fun, and welcoming for everyone

At Dreamhack we love and value the creativity and art of expression of cosplay. However, the festival is open to the wide public so in the interest of everyone’s comfort we ask that cosplayers keep this in mind when picking your costume. All cosplays must be suitable for the public space and in accordance with local law and regulations for public spaces. If you are participating in our cosplay competitions and/or shows, we ask that garments safely cover at least your chest, groin and buttocks with a reasonable margin allowing for freedom of movement. Keep in mind that the stage is often elevated with the crowd looking up, so for contestants planning on wearing short/flowy bottoms or for instance an open kimono/wrap design, we strongly urge adding shorts or opaque tights. If the design you are planning on wearing is more revealing than the above guidelines, we ask you to find a way to cover the parts in question for the duration of your presence on stage. The judges will be informed about this and it will not affect your score negatively.

No hateful, offensive or provocative symbols, designs or text are allowed.

We encourage cosplayers to participate in activities around the event.

Have fun, join competitions at the expo, and mingle with visitors.

When walking around the event, full-cover masks/helmets are not allowed. 

E.g. ski masks showing only eyes and mouth, or full helmets.
Please carry the helmet or mask, and put it on for posing and photo-op.

Some exceptions apply, like when walking to the competition and the cosplay parade.

When walking around the event, weapons should be sheathed or carried in a non-aggressive way. So no actively walking around the event aiming around you with a gun.

We love large cosplays but for extremely large ones please notify us before the event so we can plan to help you have the best experience possible.

This also applies if your cosplay makes it very hard to see.

Breaking the rules may lead to disqualification and/or a cut festival bracelet. DreamHack and Stockholmsmässan will have the final say in decisions when enforcing the event rules.