You have worked hard on your costume, and you would like to show it in front of an audience? Don’t miss your opportunity at the Otakuthon Masquerade! Come show your costume to our judges, and your craftsmanship and presentation efforts just might get rewarded.

Don’t have a costume? Come admire the Masquerade and applaud the participants’ hard work!

Witness epic battles, heartfelt stories, and witty comedy as teams of two cosplayers bring together their passion for craftsmanship and love of the stage in a 2.5 minute performance. Only one team will get the honour of representing Canada at the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) in Nagoya, Japan!

Interested in competing?

The World Cosplay Summit (WCS) Canadian Preliminaries is a cosplay contest open to teams of two.  Teams are evaluated on both a 2.5 minute stage performance and the construction of their self-made costumes. Both costumes must be from the same Japanese anime, manga, video game or tokusatsu.

Rules for the World Cosplay Summit Canadian Preliminaries will be available spring 2026.

The Cosplay Chess event is a theatrical performance inspired by the famous giant chess game from the film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." You can expect an improved version with short matches, but several epic battles and even a new Combat & Cosplay activity!

Get your cosplay ready for this one-of-a-kind event! 

As it is a performance, participation in Cosplay Chess requires attendance at the event and its official rehearsals. Optional in-person preconvention rehearsals will be held throughout the summer. Those interested can also sign up during the festival to portray the remaining chess pieces.