COSPLAY CONTEST

Kids Costume Contest

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Rhode Island Comic Con (RICC) 2026 Kids Costume Contest!

Please take a moment to review the following Contest Rules and Guidelines before submitting your application. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to cosplay@alteredrealityentertainment.com

Contestants will be able to sign up at the Cosplay HQ table any time on Saturday or before 1:00 pm on Sunday.
The Kids Costume Contest will be Sunday November 8, 2026.
There will be no online sign-ups or pre-judging.
You must have a Sunday ticket to participate.
There will be prizes for first, second and third.
Entrants must be onsite, in cosplay, and ready to go at least 30 minutes before the contest.
Store-bought costumes are permitted. This is a costume contest (vs. a cosplay contest).
Your costume and presentation should be suitable for ALL ages. This is a family friendly show!
If you need any assistance, you may have one person to help you.
For safety reasons the following are not allowed: projectiles of any kind (darts, pellets, or even water), aerosol spray, pyrotechnics like fire, bubbles, smoke, or fireworks. No mess is to be left on stage after your presentation.
Live animals are not allowed during the show unless they are a service animal.
If you break any equipment or cause any damage to the facility, you will be responsible for paying to replace it. Be aware of cords, curtains, screens, etc.
Rhode Island Comic Con staff, volunteers, celebrities or cosplay guests are prohibited from entering the contest.
Entry into the event is at the discretion of the event staff, and we reserve the right to reject any entrant who does not adhere to these rules or whose costume is in violation of them.

Adult Cosplay Contest

Applications will open August 28, 2026.

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Rhode Island Comic Con (RICC) 2026 Adult Cosplay Contest!

Rules & Guidelines

Applications will close on September 25, 2026. Applications will not be taken at the convention!
The RICC 2026 Adult Cosplay Contest will take place on Sunday. November 8, 2026 between 3 - 6 pm.
You must be at least 13 years old as of November 8, 2026.
You will receive a confirmation after submitting your application. If you do not, please reach out to cosplay@alteredrealityentertainment.com
RICC 2026 is a family friendly convention, and your cosplay should be family friendly.
Once you submit your application, we will review your application, and you will be notified if you were accepted, waitlisted, or declined by October 11, 2026.
Professional costumers are not permitted.
You must apply as an individual. There are no groups.
All competitors must have a paid Weekend or Sunday badge to RICC 2026.
RICC 2026 staff, volunteers, celebrities, vendors, artists in artist alley, and cosplay guests are prohibited from competing in the Cosplay Contest.
Entry into the event is at the discretion of the event staff, and we reserve the right to reject any entrant who does not adhere to these rules or whose costume is in violation of them.

Craftsmanship

If you are selected, you will be assigned a time slot for pre-judging. Pre-judging will take place on Saturday or Sunday.
Please do not be late. If you miss your time slot, you will be disqualified.
Contestants consent to have their costumes examined closely by the judges during pre-judging.
Store-bought costumes are NOT PERMITTED! Your costume needs to be made or modified by you.
80% of the cosplay must have been made or modified by you.
Original character designs and concepts are accepted as well! We are also allowing mashups and different takes on existing characters. Please be prepared to show the judges your reference for all characters not cannon to their original intellectual property.
You must have a build book or build sheet to share with the judges during pre-judging.
A build book or build sheet should include:
- Reference images of the character(s)
- Work-in-progress pictures
- A list of any purchased items
- Swatches of fabrics used
- A list of any third parties who helped with the costume
We recommend that you keep your build book to 10 or fewer pages.
Builds do not need to be complete at the time of application.
Craftsmanship entries will be scored on:
- 20% Design Accuracy
- 20% Technical Proficiency
- 20% Creativity/Problem-Solving
- 20% Attention to Detail
- 20% Level of Difficulty

Competition Levels

Novice – A cosplayer who has never won an award in an adult Cosplay Contest or Masquerade.
Intermediate – A cosplayer who has never won a 'Best Intermediate', 'Best Journeyman', 'Best in Show' or 'Best in Class' or comparable award or higher in an adult Cosplay Contest or Masquerade.
Master – A cosplayer who has won a 'Best Intermediate', 'Best Journeyman', 'Best in Show' or 'Best in Class' or comparable award in an adult Cosplay Contest or Masquerade.
Contestants can always compete in a level higher than their level.
The Cosplay Coordinators and Cosplay Guest Judges reserve the right to move contestants to a higher level should they deem it appropriate.
If you have any questions as to what level you should compete at, please reach out to cosplay@alteredrealityentertainment.com