A special costume contest showcasing the risque side of fandom!
Please read all rules and regulations carefully before registering. The Contest will take place on Friday May 2nd 2025. All competitors must have a valid entry ticket to the show on the day of the competition.
PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED AS FOLLOWS (Additional awards may be created at the Judges’ discretion):
● Best in Show: $250 Cash Prize & Award Trophy
● Director’s Choice: $150 Cash Prize & Award Trophy
● 1st Runner Up: $150 Cash Prize & Award Medal
● 2nd Runner Up: $100 Cash Prize & Award Medal
● Best Group: $100 Cash Prize & Award Medal
● Judges’ Awards (3): Award Medals
AWARDS: All awards, with the exception of the Judges’ Awards, will be chosen by a majority vote of the Judging Committee. The Judges’ Awards will be chosen by those respective individuals.
AFTER DARK COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS
Registering For The Competition
Registration is open to all attendees who have a valid entry badge or wristband for the date of the competition and are at least 18 years of age at the time of the event. No competitors under the age of 18 will be allowed to compete. Proof of age is required upon check in at the show.
Competitors may register in advance via the online form linked below or at the COSPLAY INFO BOOTH on the day of the competition. Competitors must register by 8:00pm in order to confirm their participation in the competition. Late entries will only be accepted at the discretion of the contest organisers.
Competitors may register independently or as part of a group (maximum 10 people).
One entry per person. A person cannot compete both individually and as part of a group.
There is a limit of 50 entries.
Costume Guidelines
● This is a runway-style contest with no pre-judging. Costumes may be handmade or store-bought.
● All costumes must come from an established cartoon, comic book, anime, video game, manga, novel, or movie.
● No Nudity. While this is an 18+ event, we still can’t allow any nudity.
● No costumes that are found to be racist, derogatory or otherwise promote hate will be allowed. The contest organizers have final say on the eligibility of all costumes and reserve the right to disqualify and eject competitors found to be in violation of this rule.
● Competitors must be able to wear their costumes for 2+ hours without inducing medical distress such as dehydration, muscle strain or impaired mobility.
● No harmful or potentially harmful materials are allowed. This includes, but is not limited to: water, cigarettes, flames, fireworks or sparklers, smoke, silly string, confetti, and any other substance that can be fired, launched, or dropped.
● All props and costumes used in the competition must adhere to GalaxyCon’s Prop and Costume Rules. Props must be tagged by Prop Check.
Arrival at the Show:
Once at the convention, Contestants should check in at the Cosplay Information Booth. This can be done at any time before the contest while the booth is open. Directions to the prejudging room will be given at check-in, as well as any time or location updates.
ROLL CALL: All entrants must arrive at the contest venue at least 30 minutes prior to the competition for roll call. Late arrivals may not be admitted into the competition.
Appearing on Stage:
Contestants will line up and appear on stage according to their assigned competitor numbers. Once on stage, the Emcees will announce the contestant’s name and character. The competitor will have 30 seconds to cross the stage and show off their costume.
PLEASE NOTE: While competitors are welcome to approach the judges’ table, please refrain from physically touching the judges. Please do NOT hand the judges anything explicit or unsanitary. Doing so will result in immediate disqualification from the contest.
Once they have exited the stage, contestants should find a seat in the audience to watch the rest of the contest. Anyone not present for the awards ceremony will be disqualified and will not receive the award if chosen.
No lighting or music requests will be allowed.
Competitors may pose/use their props at the costume competition. There is to be no throwing or brandishing of props in any way which may cause harm to the performers, fellow competitors, hosts and crew, and damage to the stage and technical equipment. Competitors found to be in violation of this may have their prop confiscated and face disqualification from the competition.
The Costume Competition has a Clean Stage Policy. No harmful or potentially harmful materials will be allowed. This includes, but is not limited to: water, cigarettes, flames, fireworks, silly string, confetti, and any other substance that can be fired, launched, or dripped. Please leave the stage as clean as you found it.
We ask that all competitors practice good sportsmanship. Sabotage, bullying and/or trash talking will not be tolerated. Improper behavior will get you removed from the competition and possibly the convention.
By entering the competition, competitors consent to having their likeness captured by official photographers and videographers. The resulting materials, including photographs, video, and audio recordings, may be used by GalaxyCon or local promotional entities, without restriction or financial compensation, in news materials, promotional materials, on the web, and other properties.
If you have any questions, please email us at
The Nightmare Weekend Chicago Costume Competition is our biggest cosplay event of the weekend, featuring the best cosplayers at Nightmare Weekend!
Please read all rules and regulations carefully before registering. The Contest will take place on Saturday May 3rd 2025. All competitors must have a valid entry ticket to the show on the day of the competition.
PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED AS FOLLOWS:
● Best Youth $50 cash prize and medal
● Best Group $100 cash prize and medal
● Best Individual $100 cash prize and medal
● Best Craftsmanship $250 Cash Prize and medal
● Best Special Effects Makeup $250 Cash Prize and medal
● Best in Show $400 cash prize and medal
● Judges’ Awards (3): Custom Medals
AWARDS: All awards, with the exception of the Judges’ Awards will be chosen by a majority vote of the Judging Committee. The Judges’ Awards will be chosen by those respective individuals.
Registering For The Competition:
Registration is open to all attendees who have a valid entry badge or wristband for the date of the competition.
Participants can enter as individuals or in groups (up to 10 per group).
Registration is limited to one entry per person. Competitors may not compete both individually and as part of a group.
There is a limit of 50 competitors.
Competitors may register online in advance via the Competition Entry Form linked below.
On site registration is first come, first served. Competitors may register at the COSPLAY INFO BOOTH. On site registration must be completed by 12:00 pm on the day of the competition.
Acceptance of late entries is not guaranteed and is conditional on space left in the contest. To have a better chance at being in the competition, please fill out the form ahead of time.
Competitors who wish to be considered for the Best Craftsmanship Award and Best Special Effects award must indicate so on their registration form. Competitors will be assigned a pre judging time during the afternoon before the stage competitor where they will meet with the judges one on one.
In order to qualify for the Best Craftsmanship Award and Best Special Effects Award, competitors must have constructed or significantly altered at least 70% of their costume themselves.
Costume Guidelines:
● Costumes may be handmade or store-bought.
● All costumes must be PG-13 or less. Nudity, simulated nudity, and risqué costumes are not allowed. The contest organizers have final say on the eligibility of all costumes and reserve the right to disqualify and eject competitors found to be in violation of this rule.
● No costumes that are found to be racist, derogatory or otherwise promote hate will be allowed. The contest organizers have final say on the eligibility of all costumes and reserve the right to disqualify and eject competitors found to be in violation of this rule.
● Competitors must be able to wear their costumes for 2+ hours without inducing medical distress such as dehydration, muscle strain or impaired mobility.
● No harmful or potentially harmful materials are allowed. This includes, but is not limited to: water, cigarettes, flames, fireworks or sparklers, smoke, silly string, confetti, and any other substance that can be fired, launched, or dropped.
● All props and costumes used in the competition must adhere to GalaxyCon’s Prop and Costume Rules. Props must be tagged by Prop Check.
A Note on Stilts: Nightmare Weekend allows the use of stilts up to 18 inches. Competitors MUST show that their stilts are securely attached and demonstrate the ability to walk unaided while using them before being allowed onto the stage.
Competing with Previously Made Costumes or “Sandbagging” Policy:
If the costume being entered has already won an award at a GalaxyCon contest earlier that same weekend, it is ineligible to compete. If the costume has won an award at a previous GalaxyCon or other major convention before the current calendar year, it is ineligible to compete. If the costume won at another convention within the current calendar year, it can still be entered.
Checking in at the show:
All competitors, whether they have registered online or in person, MUST check in at the Cosplay Info Booth.
Competitors will be asked to verify their information and will receive their competitor number and instructions for roll call and muster upon check in.
Prejudging:
If you would like to be considered for the Best Craftsmanship and/or the Best Special Effects Makeup awards, you will be assigned a prejudging appointment. Please arrive at the Prejudging Room at any time within your 30-minute prejudging window. Contestants will be seen in order of arrival. The judges will speak to individual contestants for about 3 minutes and to groups for about 5 minutes. Please have any reference/progress photos ready to show at this time.
Once done with prejudging, you are free until it is time to line up for the stage event.
Appearing on Stage:
Contestants will line up and appear on stage according to their assigned competitor numbers. Once on stage, the Emcees will announce the contestant’s name and character. The competitor will have 30 seconds to cross the stage and show off their costume.
Once they have exited the stage, contestants should find a seat in the audience to watch the rest of the contest. Anyone not present for the awards ceremony will be disqualified and will not receive the award if chosen.
No lighting or music requests will be allowed.
Competitors may pose/use their props at the costume competition. There is to be no throwing or brandishing of props in any way which may cause harm to the performers, fellow competitors, hosts and crew, and damage to the stage and technical equipment. Competitors found to be in violation of this may have their prop confiscated and face disqualification from the competition.
The Costume Competition has a Clean Stage Policy. No harmful or potentially harmful materials will be allowed. This includes, but is not limited to: water, cigarettes, flames, fireworks, silly string, confetti, and any other substance that can be fired, launched, or dripped. Please leave the stage as clean as you found it.
We ask that all competitors practice good sportsmanship. Sabotage, bullying and/or trash talking will not be tolerated. Improper behavior will get you removed from the competition and possibly the convention.
By entering the competition, competitors consent to having their likeness captured by official photographers and videographers. The resulting materials, including photographs, video, and audio recordings, may be used by GalaxyCon or local promotional entities, without restriction or financial compensation, in news materials, promotional materials, on the web, and other properties.
Conflicts of Interests:
Cosplayers who are personally affiliated with judges are not permitted to compete. This includes family members, and any cosplayers who may be acting as a judge’s handler at the event.
Questions? Please email cosplay@galaxycon.com.
The Nightmare Weekend Kids Costume Contest is a fun catwalk-style event for kids 13 and under to showcase their costumes!
Registration will be done at the contest’s designated location before the start of the event. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before to sign up.
This contest is for children ages 13 and under. Individual and group entries are allowed. Costumes entered can be store-bought, handmade, or a combination of both. There is no prejudging or craftsmanship requirement for this contest. Children older than 13 are allowed to compete with their siblings under 13. Parents/guardians are welcome to stay with their children during line-up and while on stage if preferred (being in costume is not necessary).
If you have any questions, please email us at