At DreamHack we host two exciting cosplay competitions: the DreamHack Cosplay Competition (DHCC) and the Extreme Cosplay Gathering (ECG) Qualifier. Explore the details of both events below to find out more about how you can participate and showcase your incredible costumes!
The Extreme Cosplay Gathering is a cosplay contest on an international scale. We want to offer the opportunity to the best cosplayers all over the world to perform on Europe’s largest cosplay stage at Japan Expo in Paris, but also to meet people sharing the same passion and to live one great experience.
18 countries are now part of the ECG: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Our competition is a catwalk event where participants have about 1 minute to showcase their character/build. Though we don’t feature performances, we award extra points for presentation (star power points), with most points still based on craftsmanship. This way, both craftsmanship and stage presence are recognized.
Are you a Cosplayer or an aspiring cosplayer that want get up on the stage or just cosplay at the event?
Sign up before October 27th, 2024.
If you are an approved cosplayer you will be eligible to receive a custom Cosplayer badge. This is for our approved signed up cosplays only.
The Cosplay Lounge is a safe haven for Cosplayers to unwind, get dressed/changed in our 4 dressing rooms, have snacks 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 lounge will be closed during cosplay competitions.
Make sure to have your photo taken (for free) at our photo studio. Located by the Cosplay Lounge. We have a talented cosplay photographer there to take photos of you!
All weapons to be checked and tagged upon arrival. Tags need to remain at all times and can only be removed during competition and during Cosplay parade.
We will continue with special tags for masks this event, which needs to be checked with Security. The cosplayer need to submit picture of mask beforehand and a picture of themselves so that we can make sure it’s the correct person wearing it during the event, and upon security checks.
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 are not accepted as cosplay.
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.
But 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 Elmia 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.
We do not allow explosive materials, fire, smoke, sparks, or similar effects.
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.
Participants cannot compete wearing a cosplay that previously placed in the top three at DreamHack Cosplay Championship.
Each contestant will have a couple of minutes for pre-judging and up to 1 min on stage from the entrance to exit – Expert contestants may send in up to 60-sec long music for their catwalk (optional).
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.
You start by checking into the Cosplay Lounge located in the hallway between the Congress House and Lobby South/North. If you can’t find it, please ask our DreamHack Crew or Cosplay Crew to guide you
If this is your first time competing at DreamHack, please make sure you attend the information session at the start of the competition day to hear how the competition works. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and meet the judges. Everyone is welcome to join! Even if you are a seasoned competitor at DreamHack, there is still value in this meeting since we will inform you about things specific to the current event.
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 and can’t alter it in any way post pre-judging.
After pre-judging 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 through Elmia to the Main Stage, escorted by the Cosplay Crew and security. 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 30 seconds to one minute 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 15-30 min depending on the judges quickness in making a decision.
After the intermission, the judges will return on stage and the host will call up each category/tier of contestants to join them for the awards ceremony. Please wait for the previous category to exit the stage before entering, when your category is called to the stage.
After all prizes have been given, we will take group pictures on stage of all winners, so please don’t leave after your category has left the stage.
If you haven’t already done a photoshoot in the photo studio located by the Cosplay Lounge, please take the opportunity to do so after the Championship. Free professional photoshoot? Yes, please!
