Cosplay Contest

Attention Cosplayers! Let your creativity and skills shine! Show us what you've got for FanCentral's Cosplay Contest, because what is a fan experience without a chance to show off some of your hard work and fabulous costumes!

That's right, for the first time, FanCentral will be IN PERSON *screams with excitement* this FREE convention will be held on July 29th (virtual only) and July 30th at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, downtown. 

Strut your stuff and hit the stage! 

• Guidelines:
  • Entries must be family-friendly
  • Contestants under the age of 18 need a parent or legal guardian present at the cosplay competition to sign a waiver in order for that contestant compete in the cosplay contest.
  • All costumes must cover "swimsuit areas" – no nudity. Body-paint costumes are not eligible for craftsmanship.
  • The contest is open to characters from published works; movies, TV shows, comic books, cartoons, video games, and card games. If your costume has won a major award before at Comicpalooza or another cosplay competition, you are not eligible for any awards in this contest.
    • Rule breakers will be disqualified.
  • Each contestant may only enter one costume into the competition and can be in only one Category.
    • Categories- Best Group, Best in Show, and Most In-Character (likeness). Entries will be divided into two age groups. 
    • Divided into age groups 
      • 0 to 14
      • 15+
    • Grouped either in Beginner or Intermediate cosplay 
  • All contestants must be in the room where the pre‐meet will occur no later than 4:30 pm.
  • You must be wearing your cosplay and participate in the "Cosplay Fashion Show"  
• Deadline:
  • To be considered for the contest you must come in person to the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library and show off your cosplay to our guest judge, Christina Dark. 
  • You must register your cosplay on the 6th floor with staff by 3:30 p.m. 
  • The Cosplay Fashion show and Winners Announcement will be at 4:30 p.m. on July 30. 

Want a space to work on your cosplay? Come to the Central Library's Fiber Arts Workroom where we will be holding open hours so that you can use our space! The Fiber Arts Workroom comes fully equipped with sewing machines, thread, basic material, cutting and measuring utilities. Lets get your craft on!

Prizes:

You could win up to $200 in gift cards and a customized poster of your cosplay! 

Winners Announced:

Winners will be announced following the Fashion show and be chosen by our special guest Judge, Christina Dark. 

Christina Dark is a model and public figure in the cosplay community, with over 10 years of experience. She was born and raised in the beautiful border city of El Paso, TX, where she lived until her move to Dallas, Tx, in 2018 to pursue her passion further. She has been a guest at numerous conventions locally and internationally, such as El Paso Comic Con, Las Cruces Comic Con, various Wizard World conventions across the states, Planet Comic-Con, and Dallas FanExpo. Internationally she has appeared at Nerds Assemble- The Con in Juarez, MX, and Animex in Monterrey, MX. Her most notable cosplays are Blue Beetle and Catwoman. Christina strives to provide representation and diversity in her cosplays and work.

Part of FanCentral 2022 and generously supported by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library