Cosplay Rules
All cosplay costumes must adhere to the AWA dress code
Cosplay Alley
Need a quick repair? Want to take a minute away from all the cameras and fan-humans who’ve been adoring you all day? Have interest in seeing some of the best award-winning cosplays from all across the US? If you answered yes to any of these questions (and even if you didn’t), make sure to stop by The Cosplay Alley, a unique cosplay offering for all your cosplay needs and wants.
Cosplay Repair
Ripped seam? Missing button? Prop broke? Visit the repair station in cosplay alley! Hot glue guns, sewing needles, duct tape, and an assortment of tools to help get you and your costume back out there to enjoy the con!
Lounge
Looking for a quiet place away from the con? Need a dressing room to get in/out of that big armor set? Step into our new quiet, lounge space. Blocked away from photographers as a place to chillax and recoup.
Gallery
If you are looking for cosplay inspiration then step no further than the front doors of cosplay alley to see this year’s Cosplay Gallery. This museum features the talents of several known cosplayers.
AWA’s Costume Contest
Do you want to compete with the best of the best costumers at AWA? Enter our Costume Contest! For an idea of what you’ll need to be qualified please see below. Rules may be subject to change.
The AWA Costume Contest is held Saturday night in Main Events. Contestants are pre-judged before the show on craftsmanship by a panel of three judges. Our costume contest is intended for attendees who have made 75% of their own costume. This year, we will be allowing exhibition-only contestants.
Entering the Contest
On-site registration for the Cosplay Contest will be on Friday and Saturday OR until all slots are filled. Registration for a judging time slot is first come, first served. Entry slots are limited.
This year, we are providing an online entry form to help speed up the cosplay registration process at the convention. Filling out this form does NOT guarantee a judging spot, but it does mean you don’t have to fill out a form in full cosplay wearing your wrist gauntlets that aren’t so bendy! On the online form, you will submit your email address, legal name, the name of the character you are entering, and a reference image.
Contestants must register for a judging time slot in person at the convention. On Friday, contestants will have the option to sign up for a judging timeslot on either Friday OR one of a limited amount of morning time slots on Saturday. Once those limited time slots are filled, contestants must choose one of the remaining Friday judging time slots or wait until Saturday morning to register for the remaining time slots for that day.
Online pre-registration form 2025
Please remember, that spots are limited. If you have any questions, please feel free to email cosplay@awa-con.com.
2025 Cosplay Judges
BumbleTea.cos
Bumble (He/They) is a cosplayer from Northern Georgia who has been cosplaying for just over 15 years. He acquired a BFA in Fashion Design with a focus in Historic Costuming in 2023.They currently work as a Costume Shop Supervisor at a university, teaching students to sew, pattern, build both costumes and props used in the university’s main stage shows. They have a passion for pattern drafting and draping with a specialty in tedious detail work. The more complex the project, the more he enjoys it. Bumble likes to cosplay from anything and everything, so long as the build looks fun!
Bridoof
Bridoof is a self taught seamstress, fabricator, and cosplayer of 10+ years with extensive background in theme park entertainment costumes, now working in the world of corporate mascots for sports teams and businesses around the world. In her downtime she’s a huge horror and fighting game fanatic when she’s not crafting.
She has also won her fair share of craftsmanship based contests over the years, which has introduced her to so many wonderful crafters around the country that inspire her every day! Cosplay and crafting is her heart and home and she’s so excited to participate as a judge and guest this year for Anime Weekend Atlanta 2025
AlunaFae
Aluna is a sewist of 15 years who fell in love with sewing at a very young age. A few first place wins, some experience in film and tv, and one BFA in textile and costume design later they are still crafting custom made garments and with a focus on hand embellishment and corsetry.
Prizes & Categories
Youth
Best in Youth Trophy
Novice
Best in Novice Trophy
Journeyman
Best in Journeyman Trophy
Master
Best in Master Trophy
AWA Best in Show
Best in Show Trophy
Rules & Guidelines
General Rules
- Costume judging is not open to the public. Only participants, handlers, and parents of those in the Youth category may be present.
- Children 15 years of age and under will be judged separately in the Youth category. Parents are required to accompany entrants in the Youth division.
- All contestants must have a current membership to Anime Weekend Atlanta.
- All awards presented are at the judges’ discretion.
- Registration is open on Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm and Saturday 9:00am – 2:00pm UNTIL all judged time slots are filled.
- Judging will be held on Friday 1pm – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 3pm.
Professional Cosplayers
The AWA Costume Contest encourages costumers of all skill levels to enter. Keeping this in mind, we will require any professional costumers who enter our contest to enter either the Masters category or the Exhibition category in recognition of your hard work for the whole convention to see.
A professional costumer is anyone who receives a significant portion of their income from costume design, construction, or sales
References and Build Books
- Build Books are not required but highly recommended.
- Reference images and Build Books will be available for pick up Sunday in Cosplay Alley located in the Exhibition Hall.
- Hand-drawn reference images are only allowed for Original Design entrants.
- Fan art, however beautiful, is not an acceptable reference image.
- Reference images need to be in color.
- Reference images will be accepted online through our pre-registration website
Category Details
Youth
- 15 and under
Novice
- New to costume contest
Journeyman
- Has won minor awards at other costume contest
Master
- Has won Multiple awards at larger shows
- Has won Best in Show at another show
- Professional Cosplayer / Costumer
If you have any questions please reach out to cosplay@awa-con.com
Additional Info
- If you are part of a group, only pre-register ONE TIME on the AWA website.
- You must attend the judging session and Contest Presentation in the costume you’re entering.
- Any personal items you bring to the Contest Presentation will go with you on stage. AWA volunteers do not hold personal belongings
- Judging is done by appointment ONLY. You will get your appointment time when you register on-site
- If any contestant becomes unruly and disrupts or interferes with the Costume Contest at any time, they will be disqualified and asked to leave. If they continue to be disruptive, their convention badge and membership will be revoked and security will escort them from the premises.
- Skits will not be accepted into the Costume Contest.
- Only one entry per person.
- Competing in multiple groups is not allowed.
Official AWA Photoshoot Schedule
Thank you for your interest in the AWA Official Photoshoot schedule! Whatever anime, manga, video game, or series you geek out over, we want YOU to meet and greet fellow fans with your own photoshoot!
Check back for 2025 Photoshoot applications!
For Photoshoot Organizers
- AWA does not provide photographers for Official Photoshoots. It is up to the captain to find a photographer.
- All team captains must create a public Facebook group OR event for their photoshoot prior to their submission and provide the link to the group in their application.
- All team captains must purchase their own membership to AWA 2025.
- Once we have approved your application, we will contact you and update the schedule
- We ask that all captains who have submitted a panel for AWA, please list the name of the panel so our department can assist in ensuring that your panel will not be scheduled during your photoshoot.
Scheduling Info
- Sign-up is on a “first come, first served” basis. If you want a specific time or location, please sign up early.
- We will schedule one shoot per fandom per day.
- Photoshoots are set for 1 hour by default. You may request longer (up to 2 hours) or shorter as needed.
- In the week following the release of the schedule, captains may request to change their scheduled time/location once. Changes to photoshoots will be locked at that point.
