STLV: TREK TO VEGAS COSPLAY CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS

Welcome to the Trek to Vegas Cosplay Contest! Whether you’re here to compete for glory and prizes or just show off your amazing craftsmanship, we’re thrilled to have you. Please carefully read the rules below to ensure a safe, fair, and fun experience for all participants.

Contest Overview

  • Date: August 8th, 2026
  • Location: Rio Hotel

Sign ups & Pre-Judging: 

    • Time:1:30pm-2:30pm 
    • Location: Vic’s Bar & Lounge

Finalists Lineup – 4:15pm meet in front of the convention information desk.

  • Finalists Main Stage Presentation: 4:45pm-6:15pm
  • Prizes Awarded: 
    • 1st Place – $1,000 Gift Certificate
    • 2nd Place – $500 Gift Certificate
    • 3rd Place – $250 Gift Certificate
    • Kids Class – Creation Gift Certificate 

Competition Categories

1. Cosmic Cosplay 

  • Open to all cosplayers over the age of 13.
  • Costumes must be at least 75% handmade by the entrant.
  • Must participate in craftsmanship judging and stage presentation.

2. Space Cadet (Kids Class) 

  • ONLY for children ages 12 and under. 13+ qualify for general competition
  • Handmade, bought, or parent-assisted costumes are welcome.
  • Parental supervision is required during judging and stage walks.

General Rules

  1. Registration
    1. Cosplay competition is open to convention attendees only.
    2. Pre-registration/Pre-judging is required for all levels of cosplay.  
    3. Only one entry per person/group.
  1. Craftsmanship Judging
    1. Entrants must be present for pre-judging to qualify.
    2. 75% of the cosplay must be handmade.
  2. Stage Presentation
    1. All FINALISTS must participate in a walk-on / short performance (max 60 seconds).
    2. No dangerous stunts, pyrotechnics, or projectile weapons.
  3. Costume Guidelines
    1. Costumes must be PG-13 and event-appropriate.
    2. No live steel or real firearms.
    3. Prop weapons must be peace-bonded and approved at weapons check.

Pre- Judging

All the contestants upon entry are given time to show off their costumes to our pre-qualification judges, who then pair down to the best 10-20 cosplays finalists.

The Purpose of Pre-judging: 

Prejudging is a great opportunity to show the judges your hard work up close and in detail. Think of it as a sales pitch for your cosplay and artistry. You will have up to 2 minutes to the panel of judges to talk about your cosplay and answer any questions they may have. They might have in-depth questions to ask about your cosplay. Use your 2 minutes wisely and how you would want to highlight the best parts of your cosplay.

Think about the following when creating your pitch:

  • What are you most proud of?
  • What techniques did you use?
  • What did you learn in the process?

If you can’t think of anything else, just explain how you made your cosplay top to bottom. Starting with your wig down to your shoes.

Judging Criteria

  • Craftsmanship (50%) – Attention to detail, build quality, materials used
  • Accuracy/Design (20%) – Faithfulness to the character or design coherence
  • Creativity (15%) – Innovation, originality, artistic choices
  • Stage Presence (15%) – Confidence, charisma, and performance

Disqualifications

You may be disqualified for:

  • Harassing or disrespecting other contestants, staff, or attendees
  • Using offensive or discriminatory costumes
  • Violating venue safety policies or using prohibited props
  • Plagiarizing or claiming someone else’s work as your own

Final Notes

  • All decisions made by the judges are final.
  • Have fun, be kind, and celebrate creativity.
  • By entering, you agree to be photographed and recorded for promotional purposes.

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