April 26 – 28, 2024
Melbourne, Australia

Cosplay at DreamHack

It doesn't get bigger than this!

Welcome to DreamHack, where our love for cosplay knows no bounds! Our mission is simple yet grand: to deliver the absolute best to the cosplay community. We’re talking about colossal prize pools, and star-studded lineups. Get ready to dive into the ultimate cosplay experience because we’ve got some extraordinary guests in store for you!

WHY COSPLAY AT DREAMHACK?

We will have two competitions at DreamHack Australia 2024: the ECG Qualifier, a performance competition where we will aim to discover Australia’s representatives for the grand finals in Paris, and the DreamHack Cosplay Championship, a catwalk competition focusing on craftsmanship.

Previously exclusive to Europe, The Extreme Cosplay Gathering includes 18 challenger countries, and notably, in 2024, Australia will be participating for the first time! This marks the inaugural qualifier held in the southern hemisphere. 

Our Australian Qualifier aims to discover Australia’s representatives for the grand finals in Paris. Contestants will be evaluated not only on their costumes but also on the skits they create themselves, adding an extra layer of creativity to the competition. More information below:

The DreamHack Cosplay Championship, a catwalk competition focusing on craftsmanship offers huge prizes across three tiers. (Artisan, Journeyman & Youth) More information below:

cosplay judges

Meet your favourite cosplay guests and judges. You’ll see them walking around the festival with their amazing outfits, doing meet & greets, panels and selling prints. Remember though, cosplay is not consent!

Read Kinpatsu's Bio

Read Kinpatsu's Bio

Introducing Kinpatsu Cosplay, the renowned cosplayer and crafter hailing from South Africa and currently based in Ontario, Canada. With a passion for creating costumes and props inspired by games, anime, movies, and pop culture, Kinpatsu has crafted over 100 stunning costumes since 2012. As a seasoned cosplayer, she has had the privilege of travelling worldwide as a guest and judge at various conventions, even collaborating with companies like Riot Games to bring characters to life through her exceptional creations. With an extensive track record as a world-class cosplay judge, Kinpatsu boasts victories in prestigious competitions, including 1st place overall at rAge Expo 2017 and Geekfest 2017. Her dedication to the craft is further evident in her online tutorials, including books and videos, designed to assist aspiring cosplayers in their own creative journeys. Join us at DreamHack Australia to witness the cosplay expertise of Kinpatsu Cosplay and delve into the immersive world of crafting and character transformation!

Read Soylent's Bio

Read Soylent's Bio

Introducing Soylent Cosplay, where creativity and skill converge under the expert hands of Jennifer, a seasoned professional cosplayer and special FX makeup artist based in Sydney, Australia. With over a decade of experience in the cosplay realm and eight years dedicated to perfecting makeup artistry, Jennifer is recognized for her iconic Liara T'Soni cosplay and her pivotal roles in the web-series 1 For All. Having collaborated with industry giants such as Bioware, Ubisoft, Blizzard ANZ, and Playstation ANZ, she brings a wealth of expertise to the DreamHack Australia stage. Jennifer's proficiency extends to SFX makeup, body paint, mould making, casting, foam smithing, worbla armour crafting, and wig styling. With a background in Visual Art, she discovered her passion for transforming the human body into fantastical forms, a passion that continues to shine. Notably, Jennifer served as the official Lilith from Diablo 4 for Blizzard Australia, showcasing her unparalleled dedication to character portrayal. Join us at DreamHack Australia for an immersive experience with Soylent Cosplay, where Jennifer's talents transcend boundaries, creating awe-inspiring transformations that captivate and inspire.

EMERALD L KING

Local Guest

Read Emerald L King's Bio

Read Emerald L King's Bio

A true pioneer in Australian cosplay, meet the extraordinary Emerald L King, a dynamic force in the cosplay scene with a journey that began in 2007. With a repertoire of over 40 meticulously crafted costumes inspired by anime, manga favourites like Matsumoto Leiji, CLAMP, and Yamato Waki, and gaming giants Koei and Square Enix, Emerald's work is a testament to her dedication to creating enduring garments. Coming to us from the University of Tasmania, she has not only graced stages as a cosplayer, judge, and MC across Japan, New Zealand, and Australia but has also clinched prestigious awards, including the Madman National Cosplay Championship in 2016 and the Australian heats of the World Cosplay Summit in 2019. Recently crowned as the winner of World Cosplay Summit Australia 2023 and part of the WCS Team Australia 2024, Emerald continues to leave an indelible mark. Beyond the cosplay stage, she contributes to the community as a dedicated volunteer and translator at the World Cosplay Summit Finals, earning the title of World Cosplay Summit Support Ambassador in 2020. Dive into the immersive world of Emerald L King at DreamHack Australia, where her passion for cosplay, research, and cultural exchange takes centre stage.

Read Vera Chimera's Bio

Read Vera Chimera's Bio

VERA CHIMERA has been a professional cosplayer for over 15 years, earning an international reputation for her craftsmanship, professionalism, and emphatic guardianship of the community. One of her most iconic roles was playing the live-action Lilith in the Borderlands 2 & 3 video games, and her recent triumphs include winning the Crunchyroll Cosplay Hime Championships and being Australia's preliminary judge for the World Cosplay Summit. Vera returns to DreamHack as our wonderful cosplay host, and will join the judging panel the the DCC.

COSPLAY AMENITIES

If you are an approved cosplayer you will be eligible to receive a custom Cosplayer badge. This is for our approved signed up cosplays in the cosplay competitions only.

The Cosplay Lounge is a safe haven for all Cosplayers to unwind, get dressed/changed in our dressing rooms, and prepare for various cosplay activities and competitions during the event. Only cosplayers are allowed in the Cosplay Lounge. They may bring 1 assistant to help with costumes in the lounge. All who wish to use the Cosplay Lounge must register at check-in by Cosplay Crew.

The beloved repair station, a reliable resource for any costume mishaps or malfunctions (it happens to the best of us!), is back! Captain Patch-It and his team will be available throughout the weekend with hot glue guns, sewing needles, and anything else you may need in a costume emergency.

COMPETE

Cosplayers compete for a share of the $30,000 AUD prize pool across two competitions!

DreamHack Cosplay Championships

Competition Tiers

SHOWCASE

Not Part Of The Competition.

This category is for cosplayers who have purchased their costumes but still wish to showcase them, or for those who simply want an opportunity to shine with their creations. There are no prizes awarded for this category.

You can sign up on the day.

YOUTH

Ages 12 and under. 

You can sign up on the day.

1st: $100 gift card
2nd:  $50 gift card

JOURNEYMAN

Contestants who are a beginning to medium level, but are not quite ready for the Expert tier.

The costume must be self-made but may use modified/changed garments.

1st: $1000
2nd: $750
3rd: $500
Up & Coming: (Beginner Only Prize) $200

ARTISAN

Contestants who want to compete at the highest level.

The costume must be self-made, the exceptions are a base wig, shoes, and undergarments.

1st: $7500
2nd: $5000
3rd: $2500

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We allow cosplays from all media, video games, role-playing games, comic books, manga, anime, TV or film adaptations, Fan-art, etc. They must be of an existing character from a pop culture source. Alternative designs e.g. fan art are permitted however this artwork must have been publicly available for 12 months prior to DreamHack Melbourne and not created/commissioned by the competitor.

Full rules can be found here.

Since this is a family-friendly event, Costumes must be appropriate for wear in public.

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, 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. The overall cosplay must not exceed the size limit of 2.5m in any one dimension.

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

Real weapons are not allowed, including soft air guns or other air/gas weapons.

Weapons made of metal are not allowed as props, these will be taken care of by security.

So no real swords, knives, bats, etc.

 

Replica firearms MUST have an orange tip.

 

We do not allow explosive materials, fire, smoke, sparks, or similar effects.

 

Must be less than 2m in size.

 

Facial coverings e.g. helmets, masks must be removable upon request in case of safety/health/security.

 

Props will be checked by the Cosplay team and/or Security when entering the event and getting an approval tag, this tag may only be removed during the competition and if needed for a photo-op.

Applications will be reviewed by our judges.

 

Participants cannot compete wearing a cosplay that previously placed in the top three at DreamHack Cosplay Championship.

 

Each contestant will have 10 minutes for pre-judging and up to 2 min on stage from the entrance to exit.

Note that ultimately contestants must respect the judge’s decision and the judge’s interpretation of the criteria. The judges have the right to change the contestant’s tier before the stage show based on the contestant’s experience and the cosplay presented. The cosplayer will be consulted regarding this before the stage show.

 Note: These are provided as a guide only and not mandatory requirements. 

Youth:
You are under the age of 12


Beginner
(Up & Coming Prize):

  • Beginners enter and compete at the Journeyman level, but they are the only ones eligible for the Up & Coming Prize.
  • You’ve recently begun performing on stage.
  • You’ve crafted 5 or less costumes.
  • You’re just starting to delve into cosplay competitions.
  • You haven’t won any significant awards yet.


Journeyman Level:

  • You’ve been performing on stage for over 2 years OR participated in over five cosplay competitions.
  • You’ve created more than five costumes.
  • You have some background training in sewing/crafting, whether through formal education or personal practice.
  • You possess some foundational training in performance, such as formal education or studio experience.
  • You’ve achieved recognition with a Journeyman Award (such as Best, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place).
  • You’ve received a ‘Best Overall Craftsmanship,’ or ‘Best in Show.’


Artisan Level:

  • You’ve participated in over 10 competitions.
  • You possess advanced training in performance, whether through formal schooling or studio experience.
  • You’ve crafted more than 10 costumes.
  • You have advanced expertise in sewing/crafting, gained through formal education or personal practice.
  • You’ve earned 5 or more significant awards.
  • You’ve won awards like ‘Best Overall Craftsmanship,’ ‘Best Overall Performance,’ or ‘Best in Show’ while competing in major competitions such as MNCC, WCS, CCCC, etc.

DCC ON-SITE PROCESS

You start by checking into the Cosplay Lounge located in Centrepiece on the far right hand side. If you can’t find it, please ask our DreamHack Crew or Cosplay Crew to guide you.

You will receive a timeslot for your individual pre-judging with the judges. Please respect this time and make sure to be there a bit earlier so that they can start as soon as the cosplayer before you is done. This is where the judges will look through your WIP pictures, your costume and ask you questions about your cosplay. Please be aware you need to be in your cosplay at prejudging.

After prejudging is done and we are getting closer to the time of the Cosplay Championship, all cosplayers competing will meet in the Cosplay Lounge to walk together underground to the Main Stage, escorted by the Cosplay Crew. Each category will be announced by the hosts, and you will walk in the order that we have provided beforehand, one by one. The host will call your cosplay name when it’s your turn. The judges will sit in front of the stage, to see your catwalk.

 

The contestant has 1-2 minutes to present their cosplay to the audience and to show off their work. There will be several marked spots on stage that the contestant has to stand on to give photographers time to take pictures in that position. The stage portion will also be live-streamed through Twitch to allow viewers globally to view the competition.

After all contestants have done the catwalk, it’s time for the judges to deliberate. Please make sure to stay hydrated and remain backstage. The intermission will be roughly 15 min depending on the judges quickness in making a decision. This is when the Saturday Cosplay Showcase Runs.

After the intermission, the judges will return on stage and the host will call up all contestants to join them for the awards ceremony. After all prizes have been given, we will take group pictures on stage of all winners, so please don’t leave until after.

ECG qualifier

The ECG QUALIFIER promises the champion entry to the Extreme Cosplay Gathering in Europe.

The Extreme Cosplay Gathering (ECG) is a renowned international cosplay contest held at Japan Expo in Paris. Originally limited to European participants, it now includes 18 countries worldwide, adding Australia and the United States. Participants compete not only for recognition but also for the chance to perform on Europe’s largest cosplay stage in Paris and to connect with like-minded enthusiasts. 

The competition emphasises performance, requiring participants to create captivating acts with choreography and custom soundtracks. With the recent rebranding to Extreme Cosplay Gathering starting from season 11, Season 12 brings exciting changes. Entrants can now compete as solo performers or in duos or trios, with costumes from the same source. However, mixing sources from different opuses within the same licence is permitted. 

Each participating country selects a contestant or group to represent them at the ECG Finals. The ultimate winner is crowned champion of the ECG and receives prestigious prizes, making it an unforgettable experience for all involved.

Prizes for the DreamHack Australian Qualifier are as follows:

1st Place: Round-trip flights to Paris for the finals with a flight value of $10,000 AUD, inclusive of accommodation, food, local transport and entry to Japan Expo. Your entire trip is covered.

2nd Place: $1,500 cash prize
3rd Place: $1,000 cash prize

The rehearsals will take place on Saturday morning before the doors open. This provides an opportunity for you to practise on the main stage the day before the competition and make any last-minute changes you desire at home. Feel free to bring a guide along to provide our operations team with specific instructions for lights, audio, video, etc. You are welcome to leave your props here overnight.

You start by checking into the Cosplay Lounge located in Centrepiece on the far right hand side in the morning. If you can’t find it, please ask our DreamHack Crew or Cosplay Crew to guide you. If you took any large props home overnight, now is the time to drop them off backstage with the help of the Cosplay Crew.

You will receive a timeslot for your individual pre-judging with the judges. Please respect this time and make sure to be there a bit earlier so that they can start as soon as the cosplayer before you is done. This is where the judges will look through your WIP pictures, your costume and ask you questions about your cosplay. Please be aware you need to be in your cosplay at prejudging.

After prejudging is done and we are getting closer to the time of the ECG, all cosplayers competing will meet in the Cosplay Lounge to walk together underground to the Main Stage, escorted by the Cosplay Crew. Our host will do a short introduction while the first team sets up their stage props and gets into position. Once the host leaves the stage, team one begins their performance. After they may pose for a couple photos, before quickly moving their things off stage, while the next team jumps up to set up theirs. The process repeats until all contestants have performed. Each group gets roughly 10 minutes or less to set up, perform, then move off stage. 

The judges will sit in front of the stage, to see your performance.

The stage portion will also be live-streamed through Twitch to allow viewers globally to view the competition.

After all contestants have finished, it’s time for the judges to deliberate. Please make sure to stay hydrated and remain backstage. The intermission will be roughly 15 min depending on the judges quickness in making a decision. This is when the Sunday Cosplay Showcase Runs.

After the intermission, the judges will return on stage and the host will call up all contestants to join them for the awards ceremony. After all prizes have been given, we will take group pictures on stage of all winners, so please don’t leave until after.

DH Melb-24-mnt4h34

dreamhack melbourne cosplays