Masquerade

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Time: TBA
Place: TBA

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!

What is a masquerade?

A masquerade is an amateur competition of costumes that were inspired by fictional or real-life characters. It is an opportunity for anyone to show off their magnificent costumes and their superb skills in craftsmanship and creativity.

A costume can be presented in two ways: in a sketch or a parade/walk-on.

Skit: a short performance including a mise-en-scène that highlights the costume and offers entertainment value.
Parade/Walk-On: a presentation where customers walk on stage, pose at centre stage showing various angles of their costume, and then exit by the opposite side.

Awards are given out for best presentation and best costumes to highlight contestants’ hard work.

How can I participate?

First, read the rules.

Please pay attention because a lot of the process has changed.

For participants in the Junior level (12 years old and younger) ONLY

Registration will be done in person on the day of the event.
Participants in the Junior level must be accompanied by an adult.
Location: Masquerade Greenroom
Date and time: Saturday, August 8, 2026, between 10:00 and 12:00.
The Masquerade direction reserves the right to cap the number of Junior level entries in the case of too-high interest.
Please have in your possession an MP3 file that respects the masquerade rules for your presentation.

Registration for the Novice, Journeyperson, Artisan and Master levels

50 entries are planned for the show.
Online registration will be open from Saturday, June 20, 2026, at noon, to Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 21:00 .
On June 24, 2026, all people who completed a registration form will receive either a confirmation of registration or a notice of waiting list.

Selection method for online registration

As a result of a very high registration popularity, and to not only privilege people with high online proficiency, the selection method will no longer work on a “first come, first serve” basis.
Every person who has completed a registration form between June 20, 2026, at noon and June 23, 2026, at 21:00 will be eligible.
No portfolio will be requested.
The Masquerade direction reserves the right to ensure a minimum of 10 participants in the Novice level to promote the next generation of masquerade participants.
Available slots will be allotted through a lottery system. Ratios determined by the interest shown in each of the levels during the registration period, within the limit of the possible.
- For example, if there are 100 registrations, and 22 of them are Novices, 34 are Journeyperson, 8 are Artisans and 36 are Masters:
  - 11 slots will be allotted for Novices, 17 for Journeyperson, 4 for Artisans, and 18 for Masters.
- Selected participants will receive an email on June 24, 2026. This email will contain a new form in which you will be able to select your craftsmanship judging appointment as well as give more details on your entry.
- Selected participants will have one week to complete this new form (until July 1, 2026, at 23:59). In the event where this deadline is not respected, their slot will be forfeited and awarded to someone on the waiting list unless prior arrangements have been made.

Waiting list information

There is currently no plan to open the waiting list to people who might have missed the initial registration window from June 20, 2026, to June 23, 2026.
People on the waiting list will get an email on June 24, 2026, to inform them of the status of their registration.
This email will include a form to confirm your interest in staying on the waiting list to participate in the masquerade.
When slots become available, the same rules as for regular registration will be followed. This means a lottery system respecting interest ratios by levels will be used until it becomes impossible to do so.
Seven (7) days before the Masquerade, we will send an email to participants on the waiting list to confirm their interest in spots that are made available at the last minute. From this point on, only those who have responded will be contacted.

General rules

IMPORTANT : for your online registration, a valid Otakuthon badge will be required.
By completing your online registration, you commit to participating.
In case of serious or repeated offences, as well as for behaviours going against the competition spirit and the well-being of people involved in the Masquerade, the Masquerade direction reserves the right to exclude certain people from participating.
The Masquerade is an amateur contest.

If you have questions about the Masquerade, you can reach us at masquerade@otakuthon.com.

Welcome to Otakuthon 2026!

Registration is now open!