1.1. Before the competition, the contestant must submit comprehensive reference photos of their character and any possible accessories/props to the competition organizers. The judges will use these references to evaluate the costume created by the contestant. The referene images must show the entire character and all parts of the costume. Collages are allowed, if it can be verified that all images are the same costume.

1.2. Prior to the competition, the contestant will submit a completed information form and build book to the organizers, in which they can describe the creation process of their costume. The form will be provided to the judges, who will review them independently to familiarize themselves with the contestant’s costume and its construction process before the pre-judging on the event day. Instructions for preparing the build book will be provided to contestants later.

1.3. The contestant will meet the judges only once in the pre-judging session, where each contestant’s costume is evaluated individually. The costume will be judged based on the provided reference materials and the judges will not take the contestant’s personal appearance into account. The contestant must attend the pre-judging in full costume, including all accessories and props. Each pair will have 12 minutes for the evaluation of their costume.

1.4. During the pre-judging session, the judges may ask the contestant questions about the construction and final result of the costume. The judges may touch the costume with the contestant’s permission. The contestant is not allowed to bring a portfolio, scrapbook, fabric samples or any additional materials to showcase the making of the costume or performance to the pre-judging session. The contestant must be able to describe their costume or performance in both Finnish and English.

1.5. The judges will not take the contestant’s previous experience as a costume maker, performer or competitor into account. Only the final result matters.

1.6. The judges will not take photos of the contestant, their costume or props in the pre-judging session.

1.7. The judges will deliberate together to select one (1) winning pair and one (1) runner-up pair for the category. The judges’ decisions will be based on the contestants’ costume and performance scoring.

1.8. The contestants’ performance will be evaluated during the competition, after the judges have seen all of the performances.

1.9. Props are not evaluated during pre-judging. Props are part of the performance score and must be at least 50% made by the contestants themselves.

Costume: 40% of the total evaluation

• Construction, proportions, fit and mobility

• Difficulty,  variability in used techniques and craftsmanship quality

• Choice of materials and colors

• Attention to detail and finishing

• Likeness of the character

Performance: 60% of the total evaluation

• Content of the performance: clarity of the performance, how well the narrative is handled, how well the performance suits the nature of the source material and originality of the performance

  • Parody is allowed and will be judged based on how skillfully it parodies the source material and its nature

• Stage performance: how the sounds, music, stage props, and the use of the stage create atmosphere and advance the story

• Stage expression: how the contestant presents themselves with body language and facial expressions

In addition, the following factors will positively influence the contestant’s evaluation:

Eligibility

• The contestant's positive attitude, following the schedules and instructions and willingness to communicate in English

4.1 PERFORMANCE DESIGN AND EXECUTION

4.1.1. The contestant pair must prepare a performance with a minimum duration of 90 seconds (1:30 minutes) and maximum duration of 180 seconds (3:00 minutes).

4.1.2. A background video must be used in the performance. The video may include images or video clips. Excessive flashing lights or strobe effects in the video are prohibited. The stage dimensions and the size of the background video screen will be provided to the contestants in advance.

4.1.3. If the performance includes dialogue, the contestants must produce a high-quality audio track. Poor or unclear audio quality may negatively affect the performance score. The dialogue must be in either English or Finnish. Exceptions to the performance language may be made if the original background track is a song originally performed in another language. If subtitles are used, they must be included directly in the background video, as no separate screen or display for subtitles is available. The use of external voice actors is allowed, but the script must be entirely written by the contestants. It is not possible to use a microphone in the performance: all dialogue and singing must be included in the sound track. The music used in the performance is preferred to be royalty-free.

4.1.4. The performance must be family-friendly in content and language.

4.1.5. No assistants are allowed in the performance.

4.1.6. The video and audio of the performance must be included in a single MP4 file. The contestants must submit the file in advance by the deadline specified by the organizers. Additionally, It is recommended that the contestants save a backup copy of the file on an external USB drive and bring it to the competition.

4.1.7. The contestants must submit lighting requests in advance by the given deadline. The contestants are responsible for planning their own stage lighting. In addition, the contestants may use the background video to create colored lighting effects on stage.

4.1.8. Stage props used in the performance will not be pre-judged. Props are part of the performance score and at least 50% of them must be made by the contestant pair themselves. If any help with any part of the stage props has been provided, it has to be said for it to be scored correspondingly. In case it’s hidden and later revealed, the contestants will be immediately disqualified, and this offense will be considered for the future contests.

4.1.9. The contestants must inform the organizers in advance of any stage props included in the performance. Cosvision ry may provide certain stage elements such as a table or chair on a case-by-case basis, but availability must be confirmed with the organizers beforehand.

4.1.10. The contestants may not compete in the qualifiers with a performance they have previously used in another competition. The performance must be entirely new, or at least 50%different from any earlier version.

4.2. USE OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IN PERFORMANCE DESIGN

4.2.1. The use of generative AI in the creation of competition materials is strictly prohibited. Cosvision does not specify particular programs, applications, or plug-ins the contestants are not allowed to use for producing competition-related materials. The contestants are responsible for the programs and tools they choose to use.

• Note: Intelligent tools that analyze and process the material’s own data are permitted. For example, it is allowed to use Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill, which analyzes image pixels and fills selected areas with similar ones.

4.2.2. Image and video materials must not be generated or modified using generative AI. The contestants may not include AI-generated elements such as backgrounds, buildings, characters, or animals in their images or videos. If the contestant pair does not create the visual or video material or its elements personally, they are responsible for ensuring proper usage rights. Third-party materials must not contain any AI-generated content.

4.2.3. The use of generative AI to produce text-to-speech audio tracks is prohibited. All music in the audio track must be human-made and not created by generative AI. Dialogue must be spoken by a human or taken directly from an existing source, such as a video game or movie. Spoken voices may be edited with pitch adjustment or voice-modifying filters and effects in editing software.

4.2.4. When submitting technical details, the contestant must include a short description of the technical production process of the performance. The competition organizers have the right to request additional clarification if they suspect that the contestant pair has used generative AI in their materials.

• Example: “The background track was created using Adobe Premiere. The video footage is mostly taken directly from the game, except for a few of my own drawings. I voice my own character, but my partner’s lines are taken directly from the game.”

4.2.5. If a contestant pair is found to have used prohibited AI-generated elements, points may be deducted in the relevant category, or the contestants may even be disqualified.

4.3. USE OF THE STAGE

4.3.1. The performance must take place on stage and should not extend beyond the edges of the stage, such as into the audience or the area between the stage and the audience. Contestants may exit to scenery during their performance for up to 15 seconds at a time, provided that the stage is never left without both performers for longer than this.

4.3.2. For idol-themed performances (Love Live, Vocaloid, AKB0048, etc.), simple dancing or lipsyncing may not exceed 30 seconds in total.

4.3.3. Fire effects, sparks, smoke, as well as any pyrotechnics and laser lights are prohibited. During the performance, no materials requiring cleanup may be spread on the stage, such as glass, sand, liquids or powdery substances (fake blood, flour, artificial snow, etc.), glitter, or flower petals. If the contestant pair violates this rule, they will not be able to place in the competition.

4.3.4. Stage setup must not exceed 30 seconds. The performance begins immediately after the contestant pair is introduced. Stage props included in the performance will be brought to the stage on behalf of the contestants.

4.3.5. Stage props or set pieces must be light enough that 2-4 people can easily transport them on and off the stage during the performance changes.

• Example: Two (2) tables, each requiring two (2) carriers, totaling four (4) carriers.

4.3.6. The maximum width for fixed stage props, when transported on and off the stage, is approximately 200 cm, and the maximum height is approximately 200 cm. The contestants should note that if a stage prop is close to either of the allowed maximum dimensions, safely transporting it may require more than two people, which reduces the number of other props. The competition organizers have the right to prohibit contestants from using any prop in their performance if transporting it on or off the stage is deemed too challenging or dangerous. The contestants are responsible for ensuring that the props are durable and stable enough for transport. Contestants are encouraged to contact the competition organizers if they have concerns about the suitability of their props.

4.3.7. If the contestant pair personally provides a protective and easily movable covering (e.g., tarp) for the stage during their performance, minor mess may be permitted. However, this always requires special permission from the competition organizers before submitting the technical details of the performance.

4.3.8. The contestants must be able to move onto the stage and perform in their costume without external assistance. The costumes must allow movement so the contestants can move up and down stairs.

5.1. The contestant is required to participate in photo and video shoots during the event. Individual shooting times and additional information will be provided to contestants closer to the event. The shoots will take place on Saturday and Sunday (16–17 May 2026). Contestants who do not participate in the shoots will not be able to place in the competition.

6.1. The contestant commits to following the instructions given by the competition organizers and to submitting all required information by the specified deadlines before the competition. In addition, during the competition weekend at Arctic Lights Comic Con, the contestant must complete all tasks related to the competition and follow the given schedules.

The contestant must submit before the competition:

• Contestant information

• Materials needed for pre-judging

  • Reference images, information form, build book

• Technical details for the performance

  • Description of the technical production process, synopsis, stage map, lighting requests, background video

• A practise video of the performance
  
  

The contestant’s duties during the two-day long event:

• Participating in costume pre-judging

• Attending the stage meeting and performance rehearsals

• Participating in photo and video shoots

• Performing in the competition

6.2. If the contestant is unable to participate in the competition due to unexpected personal reasons, they must notify the competition organizers as soon as possible.

7.1. Contestants participating in the qualifiers will receive a weekend pass to the Arctic Lights Comic Con 2026. If the contestant has already purchased a ticket for the event, the ticket vendor's terms and conditions will apply.

7.2. Light snacks, sweets, and refreshments will be available for the contestants in the cosplay competition backstage area.

7.3. Contestants are not allowed to have any helpers in the cosplay backstage area or use assistants in the performance.

8.1. If a contestant fails to provide the requested information by the given deadline, their participation in the competition may be denied. Failure to comply with the timetable or other rules in the competition will automatically result in point deductions. In some cases, a contestant may be denied prize places or be removed from the competition altogether.

8.2. The competition is governed by Finnish law. Illegal activity or violation of the law will result in the competitor’s automatic removal from the competition, and the incident will be reported to the authorities.