In the Solo Craftsmanship category competitors are judged on the overall quality of their costume only. The judging panel consists of experienced cosplayers, who will select one (1) winner and one (1) runner-up from the category. The winner will join the Finnish Championship team and represent Finland in the ICL Finals in Spain in Fall 2026.
Will you be the next Solo Craftsmanship Champion? Please carefully read the rules and evaluation criteria before applying!
The application period begins on January 27, 2026 at 18.00 and ends on February 10, 2026 at 18.00. Applications are submitted via a Google Forms application. 10 contestants will be selected for the category, as well as two (2) reserve spots. Contestants will be selected based on their applications, and all applicants will be contacted by email about the outcome of the selection process. If all contestant spots are not filled by the end of the application period, an additional application round will be held.
SOLO craftsmanship RULES
These rules apply to the Solo Craftsmanship category and the ICL Finnish qualifiers held as part of Arctic Lights Comic Con 2026. In the Solo Craftsmanship category contestants compete individually and they are evaluated based on their costumes only. The winners of the category will represent Finland at the ICL finals, held at Japan Weekend in Spain in September 2026. Please remember to read the original English rules regarding the finals and representation in the event's official rulebook. Changes to the rules for the qualifiers or the finals may occur.
The applicant must be at least 18 years old by 16 May 2026, and must either be a Finnish citizen or hold a permanent residence permit in Finland. If the applicant has previously represented another country in international cosplay competitions, they should review the original English rules regarding eligibility. Previous organizers of ICL selections are not allowed to compete.
The competition is organized by Cosvision ry in collaboration with Arctic Lights Comic Con.
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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 contestant will have eight (8) 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 to the pre-judging session. The contestant must be able to describe their costume 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) winner and one (1) runner-up for the category, The judges’ decisions will be based on the contestants’ costume scoring.
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Costume: 100% of the total evaluation
Construction, proportions, fit and mobility
Difficulty, variability in the used techniques and craftsmanship quality
Choice of materials and colors
Attention to detail and finishing
Likeness of the character
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
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3.1. COSTUME
3.1.1. Purchased or modified costumes and props are not permitted. The contestant must create their entire costume themselves, including all handheld props and must be able to provide an explanation of the costume’s construction process to the judges. When using automated production tools, such as a 3D printer or embroidery machine, the contestant must also create the digital files for these machines themselves. Patterns, files, or pre-made/customized garments designed or purchased by others may only be used if they do not exceed 10% of the overall costume.
3.1.2 Smoke machines in the costume are not allowed for safety reasons. A small system integrated into the costume can be accepted with a special permission from the competition organizers in advance and the machine must be tested on site.
3.1.3. The contestant’s costume must be completed upon arrival at the event for the competition venue. However, any damage caused during travel may be repaired after arrival.
3.1.4. A contestant may participate with a costume they have used in previous competitions, provided that the costume has not been used to win a qualifier for an international competition held in Finland, nor has it been used in the finals of an international competition.
Examples: Extreme Cosplay Gathering, Nordic Cosplay Championships, Finnish Cosplay Championships, World Cosplay Summit, Cosplay World Masters, EuroCosplay Championships, International Cosplay League, Europa Cosplay Cup, or any other preliminary competition leading to an international cosplay contest.
3.1.5. 3.1.5. If the contestant is selected to represent Finland at the ICL finals, the costume used in the qualifying round may also be used in the finals, as long as:
The contestant has not won any international cosplay competition qualifiers with the costume, excluding the qualifier contestant was selected to represent Finland in the upcoming ICL finals.
The costume may have been used previously in international cosplay competition qualifiers.
The costume has not been used previously in any international cosplay competition finals.
The costume cannot be used in any other competition before the finals after contestant has been selected.
3.2. CHARACTER CHOICE
3.2.1. The chosen character must be a fictional character from a licensed source and the contestant must provide published images as references for the judges. Approved sources are:
Manga and comics
Anime and cartoons
Books
Movies and TV series
Musicals
Video games
3.2.2. Unofficial characters are not allowed in the competition. This includes characters or costumes created by the contestant themselves. Independent web series, personal projects, beta versions of games or unpublished works are not accepted as official sources. Only commercially produced works that have been officially released through an external publisher or distributor are considered valid. Customizable characters are not allowed unless an official, default design exists and is strictly followed.
3.2.3. Unofficial characters are not allowed in the competition. This includes characters or costumes created by the contestant themselves. Independent web series, personal projects, beta versions of games or unpublished works are not accepted as official sources. Only commercially produced works that have been officially released through an external publisher or distributor are considered valid. Customizable characters are not allowed unless an official, default design exists and is strictly followed.
3.2.4. The character may not be a genderbend or gijinka version unless this version is part of the original published source.
3.2.5. The only unofficial sources allowed in the competition are Sakizô and Hannah Alexander illustrations.
3.2.6. Offensive costumes or makeup are strictly prohibited. For additional questions regarding this rule, the contestant may contact the competition organizers.
3.3. PROPS AND THEIR SAFETY
3.3.1. The use of real weapons in the competition is strictly prohibited. Weapon replicas that resemble realistic weapons must be marked with red tape, and the barrels of such weapons must be blocked. The competition organizers will assist with marking of the props on the competition day if necessary.
3.3.2. Realistic prop weapons or weapon replicas are only allowed on stage during the performance and during official photoshoots. At all other times, such props must be stored out of sight or kept safely in the cosplay backstage area.
3.3.3. When transporting the aforementioned props between the photoshoot area, the cosplay backstage and the performance stage, they must be kept out of sight, and the contestant must ensure they can be transported safely.
3.3.4. Contestants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Arctic Lights Comic Con safety rules, available in the convention’s FAQ section.
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4.1. In the category, there is a two-part stage segment during the competition: the catwalk and the host interview.
4.2. During the first part of the stage segment, the catwalk, each contestant takes a turn briefly stopping on stage to pose in various ways to showcase their costume to the audience. The background music is selected by the competition organizers, and the contestant may not choose their own music.
4.3. For the second part of the stage segment, the interview, the contestant must submit 4-5 photos showing details of their costume by the given deadline. These images will be displayed on the stage backdrop for the audience during the interview. The required dimensions and file formats will be provided to the contestant in advance. The photos are intended solely for the audience and will not be evaluated. Examples of how the photos are used and examples of good photos can be found in the Spring 2025 recording.
4.4. Costume changes are not allowed during the catwalk: contestant must wear only one (1) costume.
4.5. The contestant’s performance during the stage segment is not judged, but performing in character is recommended to achieve better photo and video material.
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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.
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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
Costume detail photos for the interview
The contestant’s duties during the two-day long event:
Participating in costume pre-judging
Participating in photo and video shoots
Participating in the catwalk
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.
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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. Each contestant is allowed one helper in the cosplay backstage area to help with tasks such as dressing. Any helper’s details must be provided to the competition organizers in advance, and the helper must have a purchased ticket for the event day in order to enter.
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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.
APPLICATION PERIOD
27.1. - 10.2.2026
Prepare to answer the following questions in the application form:
First and last name
Publicly used name when referring to you as a contestant
Discord username. A Discord group will be created for contestants accepted in the competition.
Your English personal pronouns
Phone number
Email address
Character and source material of your competition costume
Reference images for the costume. The images must fit on a single A4 sheet, and the file must be in PDF format.
Present your cosplay-related skills by listing up to five (5) examples. You may showcase your skills using, for example your most recent costumes, your best costumes, your best competition placements, or other relevant project history.
Photos of the costumes/projects mentioned in the previous question.
Describe the process of your competition costume and yourself as a costume maker. Why did you choose this costume? What techniques or materials have you used or plan to use?
Photos of the competition costume work in process and/or its current state.
Estimate, in percentages, how complete your costume is
Why should you be selected as a contestant? Why do you want to compete in the ICL qualifiers?
Photos: ©tamameru, ©Teklagraphy, ©nyymix | Cosplayers: Iinaban elisha, ainocos
