Cosplay Central Crown Championships: C2E2 Qualifier Application

This application is for the Crown Championships Qualifier at C2E2 2026. This application will close on 2/23/2026 and participants will be notified of their results on 3/2/2026.

The winner of this qualifier will receive a cash prize and automatic entry into the US Finals at C2E2, Chicago, during the same show for the chance of representing the USA in the Global final. We will confirm if you have a place in the qualifier by Monday, March 2, 2026. Please note: The Cosplay Central Crown Championships will take place on March 28, 2026, and you will require a valid ticket to the event. Acceptance into the contest does not qualify for free entry, you must already have a ticket to C2E2 in order to participate.

I have crafted my own costume
i.e. It is not store bought, commissioned or assembled from readymade clothing. 80% of the costume is handmade by me.

As per the rules:
All significant visible costume elements that can safely be made without assistance must have been constructed entirely by the entrant; If it is impossible or unsafe for a single person to make a costume element, assistance for simple tasks such as holding things in place is acceptable.
It is acceptable to use bought wigs, shoes, and accessories such as spectacles etc. Simple, largely insignificant base layers such as a leotard or pantyhose are similarly permitted. Any customization such as styling a wig or modifying shoes must be the sole work of the entrant.

I will be at least 18 years of age by April 12, 2025

I am a citizen or permanent resident of the USA, Canada or Mexico.

Have you competed in this costume previously in a Crown Qualifier or a similar masters level, multi-round Cosplay Contest with a final? Required
If selecting yes, please include details of the contest in notes at the end of the form

First Name Required
Legal Name. This is only for administration purposes and will not be shared.

Last Name Required
Legal Name. This is only for administration purposes and will not be shared.

Chosen Name Required
The name you use day to day. This is the name we will use in communications with you.

Please share your pronouns with us. Required

Email Address Required
This is only for administration purposes and will not be shared.

Confirm Email Address Required

Social Links

Name to use in announcements Required
This is where you input your cosplay name or how you are known within the cosplay community, for example: If my legal name is Kurt Wagner but I am known as Nightcrawler Cosplay, I would input “Nightcrawler Cosplay” here.

Phonetic pronunciation of any unusual stage/cosplay names.
Example: Sailor Jupiter; SAY-ler JOO-pih-ter

Character Name Required

Where is the character from? Required
i.e. Name of series, movie, book, game, etc.

Phonetic pronunciation of any unusual character and source names.
Example: Sailor Jupiter; SAY-ler JOO-pih-ter

My costume is: Required

In a masters level competition like the Crown Championships many costumes cross over multiple categories so it can be difficult to choose the best one! Please select the one which you feel best fits your costume, the team will advise if they feel you'd be better suited in a different category, if you are successful.

Needlework – Costumes constructed primarily through the use of fabric and sewing, stitching, embroidery, etc.
Armor – Costumes constructed primarily by molding and shaping its outer layers using materials such as acrylic, EVA foam, Worbla, Wonderflex, cardboard, 3D printed PLA etc.
FX – Costumes that focus on less commonly used techniques such as animatronics, optical effects and lighting, mechanical effects, special effects makeup, prosthetics, puppetry techniques and ‘larger than life’ creations, such as those using stilts or techniques that create ‘non-human’ silhouettes.

Which category best fits your costume overall: Required

Please give a brief description of your costume and how you constructed it (150 word maximum). Required
Things to consider: What research, materials and crafting skills did you use for this costume? What highlights or hidden features of the costume would you like attention drawn to? This can be something personal about the costume if you are happy to share.

Please give us an intro that can be read out by the MC to introduce you. Required
Max 100 words. How would you like to be introduced as you walk onstage? One way you can structure this is: a short intro about you, some highlights about your costume, a fun fact and what you are most proud of

NOTE: Large image files can cause the form to crash - please ensure uploaded files are under 3MB, if we require higher quality we will request these on email. Please ensure files are in a commonly used format (JPEG/PNG/PDF). You do not need to be wearing the costume, it can be on a mannequin or similar. The important thing is that the images are clear so the panel can see the quality of your work and that the costume is complete enough to ensure it will be 100% ready to take part in the qualifier.

Please upload and image of the character your costume is based on Required
If you are cosplaying as Fire Nation Katara, please include that character illustration here.

Please upload an image of your costume (FRONT). Required
This must be the costume you wish to enter. It should be 70% complete with allowance for minor unfinished elements.

Please upload an image of your costume (BACK). Required

Any additional images you would like to include?

Anything else we should know?