Cosplay-Contest - Anime Festival Kassel 2025

With their impressive costumes straight out of the world of anime and manga, cosplayers enchant the audience and are the centre of attention at every anime event. The Anime Festival Kassel is no exception! Join us on Saturday at 5:10 pm in the grand ballroom for the eagerly awaited cosplay competition. The 1st place winner will receive not only a generous voucher from AnimeFanShop.de but also an exclusive weekend trip to the Anime Messe Babelsberg 2026!

Your creativity and passion for cosplay will take center stage in this competition! Every participant has the chance not only to shine with their costume but also to bring their character to life on stage. Whether dramatic, humorous, or a mix of both – show your personality and let your talent shine!

We can’t wait to see all the talented cosplayers and find out who will impress the jury and the audience the most. Fantastic prizes await the best of the best. Show your enthusiasm, cheer for your favorites, and experience an unforgettable day at the Anime Festival Kassel! Register now via the online form! If you’d prefer a more relaxed experience or just want to try performing on stage for the first time, we recommend the “Show Us Your Cosplay” program on Friday.

1st Place:

€150
Weekend trip to Anime Messe Babelsberg 2026, where the winner will open the cosplay contest with a non-competitive performance and serve as a jury member. The trip includes train travel from within the EU, hotel accommodation, and a 3-day ticket for the convention.

2nd Place:

€100 and a 3-day ticket for Anime Messe Babelsberg 2026

3rd Place:

€50 and a 3-day ticket for Anime Messe Babelsberg 2026

Schedule:

90 minutes before the cosplay contest: mandatory costume judging. Meeting point: weapon check area.
15 minutes before the contest: meet again at the weapon check. After a short briefing, you’ll proceed to the stage.
After all performances: group photo and award ceremony. If time is short, the awards will be presented at the closing ceremony.

Judging Criteria:

The jury will evaluate based on: execution, craftsmanship, presentation, audience reaction, and overall impression.
Execution and craftsmanship are judged during costume inspection; the rest on stage.
Each category is rated on a scale from 1 to 10.

Registration / Participation Rules:

Online registration is preferred; on-site registration is only possible to a limited extent.
There are 15 performance slots. Additional registrations will be placed on a waiting list.
Participants can register solo or as a group (maximum of 6 members).
Participants must be at least 16 years old on the day of the competition and have a convention ticket.
A reference image of the original character must be submitted during registration.
Media files (images/music/videos) must be submitted no later than 7 days before the contest. For special media or lighting requests, a script is required. Templates and guides will be provided.
Costumes, whether purchased or self-made, should be based on anime, manga, games, etc. Original creations are also allowed.
Costumes must comply with cosplay guidelines; disqualified weapons may be used as props during the contest.
Appropriate costumes and performances are required since this is a youth event.
Performance duration: max. 3 minutes. You decide how to showcase your cosplay – for example, through a dance, song, skit, or comedy act.
Please leave the stage clean. Do not use confetti or hard-to-remove materials.
Always keep safety in mind. No fire, dangerous stunts, or throwing objects into the audience.
Any changes to costumes or group members must be reported in advance.
If you must cancel, please inform us early so others on the waiting list can participate.
By participating, you agree that video and photo recordings made during the contest may be used by the organizers.