Comic-Con Masquerade

The 2023 Masquerade on-stage costume competition (or Cosplay Competition for those who favor that term), a tradition at Comic-Con from almost its beginning, will be Saturday evening, July 22, starting at 8:30 p.m.

The event celebrates not only the contribution of costuming to the popular arts, but also the amazing creations that our attendees make and bring to the convention. The costume presentations, intermission entertainment, and then awards presentation will run 2 and ½ hours and be set in the Convention Center’s 3,900-seat Ballroom 20, with overflow seating again available at the large screen in the Sails Pavilion.

Not a dance or party as the name may imply, it is more akin to a talent show set on a large stage before an audience, showcasing amazing costumes crafted by our non-professional but still very creative and talented attendees. Most costumes will be impressive re-creations from movies, television, anime, comic books, fantasy, Broadway shows, video games, and history; others will be completely original designs from the imagination. Some will be solo entries; others will be groups with a shared theme.

All genres are welcome, but NO purchased costumes are allowed.

For more information and to enter the competition, visit: https://comic-con.org/cci/masquerade

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The event is free to participate in, or to have a seat in the audience, for anyone with a Comic-Con convention badge valid for Saturday.