Saturday:
DreamHack Cosplay Championship 17.00 – ca 18.30, at Main Stage in Hall B
Sunday:
MitterMakes Cosplay workshop 11.00 – 16.00, at DreamHack Talks in Hall B
Cosplay Parade, in city of Jönköping 13.00 – ca 13.40
Perks that are unique to cosplayers.
Pick the tier that you want to compete in.
We are excited to welcome MitterMakes
Cosplay has a long history of being an important component of DreamHack Festivals. This year we want to level up and showcase DreamHack’s commitment to the cosplay community in a larger sense, by adding more activities for our cosplayers and community.
Besides our DreamHack Cosplay Championship and Parade, we also hope to host panels, workshops, and other fun things for our cosplayers to enjoy. More information to come!
Join us at the Cosplay Parade:
This is an opportunity to showcase your cosplay in another way than competing. Walk with fellow cosplayers in our Cosplay Parade through the city of Jönköping.
Sunday 13.00
Place: City of Jönköping (see map)
Bus: Departure at 12.30 from Lobby North (If you are at Elmia)
Back: Back at Elmia roughly 13.50
All times are subject to change
Schedule times are local
For DreamHack Summer 2023 we will only give free Cosplay badges and 3-day festival tickets to those Cosplayers who sign up beforehand to compete in the DreamHack Cosplay Championship, or to those selected to be part of panels, workshops or other Cosplay activities.
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. You 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. Opening hours to be announced.
All weapons and props are to be checked and tagged upon arrival. Tags need to remain at all times and can only be removed during competition and during the Cosplay parade.
Host
Co-Host
Swedish judge
Nordic judge
International judge
Cosplayers compete in four tiers for a total share of the SEK 25,000 prize pool. Our Cosplay Championship will take place on Saturday, June 17 at 17:00 CEST.
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 will look like. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and meet the judges. Everyone is welcome to join!
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 pre-judging 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.
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!
Cosplayers compete in four tiers for a total share of the SEK 25,000 prize pool.
Cosplayers who haven’t won 1st place in any cosplay contest (particularly at DreamHack).
Eligible if you do not have a crafting education (sewing, welding/3D-printing, etc)
Self-made costume, may use modified/changed garments.
Contestants who have outgrown the novice tier, but are not quite ready for the Expert tier.
Self-made costume, may use modified/changed garments.
Contestants who want to compete on a higher level.
Costume must be self-made, the exceptions are Base wig, shoes, and undergarments.
Ages 0-15 years old
Prizes and recognition for all competitors!
More information soon
DreamHack Summer will host the Swedish selection for the Tournament of Champions
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.
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.
WEAPONS AND EFFECTS
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.
EVENT
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.
Looking to tap into your creativity and bring your favorite fictional characters to life? We are excited to welcome MitterMakes to host an (almost) all-day workshop on Sunday, at DreamHack Summer. Join our cosplay workshop and learn how to make your own props!
Our workshop is designed for beginners and experienced cosplayers alike. Our expert instructors will guide you through each step of the process, sharing their tips and tricks for creating stunning, realistic props.
In addition to learning the basics of props construction, you’ll also have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded enthusiasts and share your passion for cosplay. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, our workshop is the perfect way to take your cosplay game to the next level.
MitterMakes Cosplay Studio consists of Mitternachti and RakeMakes; a powerhouse duo from Sweden that has been cosplaying since 2010, with experience in a great variety of cosplay-related fields. Over the years we have been both competing and judging in prestigious cosplay contests, including the Swedish Cosplay Championships and Nordic Cosplay Championships.
We are happy to announce that DreamHack Summer will host the Swedish selection for the Tournament of Champions (ToC) at YuniCon, and select the winner that will represent Sweden at ToC 2023. The Selection will be part of DreamHack Cosplay Championship, sign up here
ABOUT TOC
The idea for the “Tournament of Champions” was created by YuniCon in 2020, shortly before the Pandemic, and has been a work in Progress since then. The first official final will be happening at YuniCon 2023, 20. – 22. October 2023, with selections happening all over Europe from late 2022 to 2023.
Selections for the first final event will be held in 15 European countries, and Sweden is one of them. ToC’s goal is to create a contest where crafting skills are valued equally, so the most complete costume will be the winner. Therefore, every costume will be judged in 5 Categories: Needlework, Armor, Prop making, Wig & Makeup, and Craftsmanship, giving participants the chance to win separate categories, as well as the “Best in Show” award, which will be the highest score of all categories combined.
To have a valid entry into the competition, must be a Swedish native or hold a Swedish permanent residency. The contestant must provide the following (in English):
Furthermore, each contestant/event must provide the following files:
Important: It is possible to create a new cosplay for the final event. It is the contestants’ choice to do so. If they choose to create new cosplay, a portfolio has to be created for this new cosplay.
The judging is split into multiple categories:
The following cannot be used in your costumes, to ensure the safety of the event:
Tenkou is a Swedish cosplayer and streamer that has traveled all around the world and had the honor of representing Sweden in several international cosplay competitions! By day she works with wigs, hair, and makeup in the film industry and has merged these hobbies for many years. Always up for a chat and a laugh you can find her at DreamHack Summer!
Bio: Neah Rayne is a cosplayer, streamer, and gameshow host from Sweden who has both studied cosplay in Norway as well as founded the cosplay organization Göteborg Cosplay Guild. She has won several cosplay competitions as well as been a cosplay judge and lecturer. As a streamer, she streams everything from traveling and hiking to games and gameshows.
Besides streaming or cosplaying she also got several years of experience in the entertainment industry and currently works as a gameshow host.
Photo Credit: Daniel Johansson
Yumidun has won several cosplay awards in her 10 years of cosplaying. The most notable was last year when she was crowned in Japan as Grand Champion of the Video Division at the World Cosplay Summit 2022. Being the first time ever for Team Sweden to place on the winners’ stand. In February 2023 she was also awarded at Swedish Cosplay SM. Outside of competing, she’s also worked with wig commissions for other cosplayers, had plenty of creative photoshoots, and performed live with acting and singing both in and out of cosplay.
Trine is a Danish cosplayer, who has been making props and costumes for 7 years and is currently working towards making crafting her full-time job; by making cosplay guides, sewing patterns, foam patterns, 3D models, etc. She usually cosplays characters inspired by dark fantasy and medieval ages from games such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Skyrim. She crafts and sews everything herself, but loves making detailed armor and cool props! Last year she represented Denmark at the ECG and loves traveling to different conventions all around the world to meet other cosplayers. In February 2023 she won at J-Popcon and will represent Denmark in the Tournament of Champions, later this year.
Photo credit mai.aggestrupEnayla is a cosplayer, armor smith, and prop maker based in the UK. Specializing in costumes with meticulous detail, massive scale, and complex engineering, she is always looking for ways to expand her skills and challenge reality. She actively works with fabric, foam, feathers, thermoplastics, resin, 3D printing, and a host of other materials (whatever will get the job done!). When not working on a project, she is active in sharing techniques and encouragement with the cosplay community.
