International Cosplay League at AVCon 2026

Come Watch History Happen

Australia is stepping onto the International Cosplay League stage, and it starts at AVCon.

For the first time, AVCon will host the Australian preliminary round of the International Cosplay League, one of the major international cosplay competitions connecting top cosplayers from around the world. This is a huge moment for Australian cosplay, with one solo contestant and one duo team selected to represent Team Australia at the ICL grand final in Madrid.

Attendees will be able to watch the competition unfold live on the AVCon Main Stage Presented by JP Light and Sound. Expect high-level builds, detailed craftsmanship, polished presentation, dramatic performances and the kind of stage moments that show just how strong the Australian cosplay community is.
Applications have now closed, which means the competitors are locked in and preparing to bring their best craftsmanship, performance and stage presence to AVCon 2026.

What is International Cosplay League?

International Cosplay League, or ICL, is a global cosplay competition created and organised by Japan Weekend in Spain.

Each participating country selects representatives to compete internationally. At AVCon 2026, the Australian preliminary will select:

  • one solo contestant
  • one duo team

The winners will go on to represent Team Australia at the ICL grand final in Madrid!

This is the first Australian preliminary round for International Cosplay League, making AVCon 2026 part of a major milestone for Australian cosplay.

For competitors, it is a chance to represent Australia on an international stage. For attendees, it is a chance to see some of the country’s strongest cosplay talent compete live, right here in Adelaide.

What Will You See On Stage

ICL celebrates both craftsmanship and performance, depending on the category.

Solo Category

The solo category is focused on craftsmanship. Competitors are judged on the quality, accuracy, construction and finish of their costume.

There is no performance requirement for solo competitors, so this category is all about the build.

Duo Category

The duo category combines performance and craftsmanship.

Duo entries are judged on:

  • performance, worth 60%
  • craftsmanship, worth 40%

This means audiences can expect both detailed costumes and full stage presentations, with character work, storytelling, movement and performance all playing a major role.

Watching Respectfully

ICL competitors have put significant time, skill and care into their costumes, performances and build documentation. What you see on stage is only part of the work. Judges also review details such as construction methods, references, finishing, problem-solving and build books, which may not be visible from the audience.

The judges’ decisions are final. You are welcome to have favourites, cheer loudly and celebrate the competitors you love, but negative comments about winners, entrants or judging outcomes are not acceptable at AVCon.

High-level cosplay competitions can be close, and different entries may stand out for different reasons. Please remember that every competitor has earned their place on stage and deserves respect before, during and after the results are announced.

Please also remember:

  • Cheer for the competitors.
  • Keep aisles and walkways clear.
  • Follow staff and volunteer directions.
  • Ask before taking close-up photos outside the stage event.
  • Do not touch costumes, props, wigs, mobility aids or personal items without permission.
  • Be respectful of every competitor, every judge and every stage moment.

Meet the ICL Judges

The International Cosplay League Australian preliminary will be judged by an experienced panel of cosplay professionals with national and international competition experience.

These judges bring expertise across sewing, craftsmanship, stage presentation, performance, international competition standards and high-level cosplay judging.

AVCon 2026 ICL Judge 1 Vye Cos
Photo by StudioTsu

Vye

Based in Melbourne, Vye is known for impressive sewing skills, detailed craftsmanship and a long history in cosplay performance and competition. With more than 18 years of cosplay experience, Vye has taken their work around the world, including France, Spain and the United States.

Vye also has a strong connection to Adelaide cosplay, having represented Adelaide in the Madman National Cosplay Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2017 before winning the competition in 2019.

Before Australia officially joined the ICL family, Vye was selected through the ICL online wildcard process, becoming the first Australian representative in ICL history. Vye has also helped AVCon bring ICL to Australia in 2026 and will be supporting this major step forward for Australian cosplay.

AVCon 2026 ICL Judge 2 MissTwisted scaled e1768453826476
Photo by Eye for Epic

Miss Twisted

Miss Twisted has been cosplaying for more than 10 years and is known for large-scale builds, huge wings, puppetry, tutorials and bold creative work.

Completely self-taught, Miss Twisted has learned from workshops, online tutorials, seamstresses, puppeteers and even a boat builder. During the pandemic lockdowns, she began sharing her process and builds online, growing a dedicated audience through skits, tutorials and ambitious costume work.

Miss Twisted has competed and judged across Australia, with appearances at events including TGX, DreamHack, Mack PopCon and Pixel Expo.

Vamprea Studio Tsu Tsu e1768454448176
Photo by StudioTsu

Vamprea

Vamprea is a professional seamstress with more than 19 years of sewing experience and over 10 years in cosplay.

After first learning to sew in high school and completing a Certificate in Fashion, Vamprea found her way into cosplay through convention costumes and has since earned national and international recognition for craftsmanship and performance.

Her achievements include winning a round of Crown Cosplay in Sydney, the Madman National Cosplay Competition, and representing Team Australia at ECG 2024 in France.

Outside of cosplay, Vamprea runs a bespoke costuming business specialising in custom burlesque outfits for performers around the world. She brings strong sewing, construction and international competition experience to the ICL judging panel.

ICL Preliminary Rules

The ICL Australian preliminary follows specific competition rules, including eligibility, costume source requirements, safety requirements, craftsmanship scoring, performance requirements and category-specific rules.

For attendees, the key thing to know is that this competition is built around high-level cosplay. Competitors are judged against international standards, with a strong focus on costume accuracy, construction quality, presentation and performance where required.

For accepted competitors, please read the full rules carefully and follow all instructions from the AVCon Cosplay team.

  1. All contestants must be over 18 years old by the 3rd July 2026 and either be an Australian Citizen or have Australian Permanent Residency.
  2. Costumes that have previously won (Overall/First place) in competitions or have represented their country in international competitions cannot compete in ICL.
    • Costumes worn by runner-ups or that have previously won awards (not including 1st/Overall as mentioned above) in Australian competitions/preliminaries are allowed on the conditions that:
      • The costume has been upgraded/modified by at least 30%. You must show photographic evidence of the before and after of the upgrades to demonstrate the minimum 30% change. The final decision on whether the costume meets this criteria is up to the discretion of AVCon.
      • If participating in the duo performances, the skit is new.
  3. If selected as the Australian representatives for ICL, the entrant/s can not compete in the following year for ICL preliminaries. (E.g. if you win in 2026, you can’t compete again until 2028).

  1. Costumes must originate from an official, commercial source and must have an official reference image showing the full design (comic, manga, books, cartoons, anime, movies, TV-movies, musicals, video games). Fan art-based designs are not permitted. Costumes from biopics are permitted, provided there is an actor representing the historical figure/person/etc. We recommend reaching out to the AVCon Cosplay team at cosplay@avcon.org.au about these costumes to check they are permitted. The only non-official and non-commercial designs allowed are Sakizô and Hannah Alexander illustrations. genderswaps and gijinka designs are not permitted from any source unless the design is officially licensed. If you wish to cosplay Sakizô and Hannah Alexander designs, please message us with the design first so we can confirm it is valid.
  2. Independent web series, personal projects, beta versions of games, or unpublished works do not qualify as official sources, even if they have been publicly announced or previewed. Only commercial works that have been officially released and distributed by an external publisher, platform, or company by the date of ICL Australian prelims will be accepted. Self-published content or independently released material without external commercial distribution will not be considered valid sources.
  3. Characters must be from sources that have been officially released by the date of the ICL preliminaries. Cosplays based solely on trailers, leaks, previews, or unpublished media are not permitted.
  4. Designs featured on merchandising (such as posters, dolls, and artbooks) are allowed if the original source is listed above and if the design is officially approved and commercialized by the original creators.
  5. Customizable characters are not allowed unless an official, default design exists and is strictly followed. If multiple official designs are available, the contestant must clearly specify which official version is being portrayed. Skins of the same character are allowed if those can’t be edited by the cosplayer.
  6. Cosplayers must be able to provide a full reference image showing the entire costume. Collages are permitted if all images clearly belong to the same official design. Exceptions may apply in the duo category if needed for storyline purposes and approved by ICL.
  7. Offensive costumes or make-up are prohibited. Contestants must respect the cultural diversity of the competition.

  1. ICL will take place on stage. If a costume is not suitable for the stage, either due to size or structure, the contestant will be disqualified.
  2. It is forbidden to jump off the stage towards the audience or jury. Contestants violating this rule will be disqualified.
  3. Loose decorations such as glitter, confetti, small feathers, or similar debris are not allowed due to safety and cleanup hazards.
  4. Effects of fire, sparks, smoke machines, gunpowder-based effects, and laser lights are strictly forbidden. Contestants may not throw objects into the audience, dirty or damage the stage, or bring liquids, glass, or animals onto the stage.
  5. Costumes and props must not contain any prohibited items listed in the AVCon Code of Conduct.
  6. Costumes and props must be safe for public spaces and comply with South Australian laws and venue regulations.
  7. Minimum costume coverage must include modesty panels, undergarments, or dance belts. Outlines of genitals must be covered.
  8. Performance videos containing excessive flashing (more than three times per second) are prohibited.
  9. Suitable footwear is required at all times. Bare feet are prohibited.
  10. Costumes and props must not violate any Australian laws or depict illegal actions.
  11. Contestants must comply with all instructions given by the organisation. Misconduct before, during, or after the event may lead to immediate disqualification and future bans from ICL.

  1. The quality of the costume will be evaluated as a whole; isolated high-quality parts will not compensate for lower-quality sections. Costumes must have a consistent level of craftsmanship throughout all elements.
  2. The diversity of methods and materials used will be positively valued, as long as they contribute to a better final result. The jury will judge the costume based on the final overall quality and accuracy rather than the level of personal challenge or experience of the contestant.
  3. The costume must be handmade by the contestant. Use of free, commissioned or store-bought, patterns, embroidery files or 3D files, including prefabricated or ready-made parts are permitted without any significant modifications being required, as long as they only constitute no more than 10% of the total costume for solo entries, and no more than 20% for duo entries.
    • Patterns refers to both garment patterns and armour/prop/etc templates.
    • Prefabricated and ready-made parts can refer to, but are not limited to, shoes, undergarments, etc.
  4. The selection of materials appropriate to the character’s historical or fictional time period will be positively valued. For example, if a character is from the Middle Ages, the choice of fabric should reflect that era. Choosing an obviously inconsistent material to the period will lead to point deductions.
  5. Costumes will be evaluated in direct comparison to the official reference image. However, the jury will not consider the physical appearance, body type, or gender of the contestant when judging resemblance to the character.
  6. Make-up and wig styling will be evaluated and must be completed by the contestant. Any absence of preparation in these elements will negatively impact the craftsmanship score.
  7. It should be noted that a simple costume with neat and excellent craftsmanship will score higher than a complex costume with poor execution.

  1. Files required for submission for both solo and duo entries:
  2. At least one high resolution main reference of the character(s) per costume.
    • Applicants may submit additional images showing alternative angles and details of the
      character(s), but must ensure they are taken from the same official design as the main
      reference image provided.
  3. A costume build book/folio:
    • Duo applicants are to submit a combined build book for both for the group.
    • The build book should not exceed:
      • Solo application – 20 single sided A4 pages.
      • Duo application – 40 single sided A4 pages.
    • The build book should be uploaded as a PDF.
    • The build book must show the costume(s) in its current state of completion. Ideally, being worn by the applicant or displayed on a dressform/mannequin.
    • The application must include at least 10 clear images per costume, depicting the process of creating the costume.
    • Applicants should include annotations/descriptions alongside the progress photos, describing their processes, for example (but not limited to) the patterning process, materials used, construction methods, and other important information.
    • If the costume has been entered in a prior competition, clear photographic comparison of the before and after must also be shown in the build book, demonstrating the minimum 30% change to the costume required. The applicant must clearly annotate the changes/upgrades.
  4. Promotional photos:
    • Applicants are required to submit 3 photos each (6 photos total for duo) wearing past costumes
      for promotional and media purposes for the competition. These photos won’t be judged.
    • Applicants must ensure they have permission by the copyright holder (e.g. photographer) of the
      photos to be used for promotional and media purposes by AVCon and ICL.
  5. Please note, if applying as a duo, the following are not due until after acceptances have been sent out.
    • Video file (.mp4)
    • Stage props/sets setup diagram
    • Stage lighting cues
  6. In addition to the scoring criteria that the costumes are judged on, the current percentage of completion demonstrated in the applicants submission will also factor into the pre-selection process.

In addition to the safety requirements:

  1. Costumes will only be judged for their craftsmanship quality and resemblance to the official reference image. Acting and performance will not be scored, although acting in character during the stage walk-on is encouraged to achieve better footage and presentation.
  2. During prejudging; no helpers or companions are allowed unless required for accessibility purposes.
  3. Costume changes during the stage walk-on are not permitted. Only one costume per contestant is allowed for the solo category.
  4. Contestants will perform the stage walk-on independently, without any external assistance unless for the purposes of accessibility. If a specific accessibility requirement is needed, the contestant must notify the organisation in advance of any accessibility needs during the stage walk-on.
  5. During the stage walk-on, contestants should pose in different ways to showcase the costume from multiple angles.
  6. Each contestant will have a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of 60 seconds on the stage. Contestants may supply their own music file (.mp3) for their stage walk-on, ensuring it is no longer than 60 seconds in length. If no file is provided by the contestant, alternative music will be chosen by the organisers. During the stage walk-on contestants will not be allowed to speak or sing, and no microphones will be provided.

  1. Teams will be provided a specified time slot for prejudging which they must attend. If the team is unable to attend or are late, due to exceptional circumstances, AVCon will do their best to accommodate any changes, however, there is no guarantee, and teams may be disqualified from the competition if they are unable to attend prejudging.
  2. The final score will be 40% based on the costumes’ craftsmanship, with a focus on quality and resemblance to the reference material provided, and 60% will be based on the performance, acting and staging.
  3. Each duo team must feature costumes from the same source. For example, if the duo has chosen costumes from the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ movies, they are not allowed to have one costume from the first movie and the other costume from the sequel movie; both costumes must be from the same movie.
  4. The same rule is applied to costume changes during the performance unless it is necessary for the storyline.
  5. If the costume is based on merchandise, both costumes must come from the same collection or design line. If the selected character does not have a design in that collection, the contestant must either search for a different matching design within the same merchandise line, or return to the original source material. It is not allowed for one contestant to represent the original source while the other represents a merchandise source.
  6. Stage props and sets, if used, will not be pre-judged, as they are part of the performance score. They will only be considered in the performance score during the stage presentation.
  7. Stage props and sets must be at least 50% made by the contestants. If any external help is received, it must be disclosed to the organisation. If external help is hidden and later discovered, the duo will be immediately disqualified, and the violation will be noted for future competitions.
  8. Both contestants within the duo group are allowed to help each other with the creation of their costumes. Both contestants must contribute significantly, meaning, each contestant must create at least 50% of one costume. One contestant cannot be responsible for the full creation of both costumes.
    For example:
    • One contestant may complete 50% of costume A, while the other contestant creates 100% of
      costume B and contributes 50% to costume A.
    • One contestant can create all the armour while the other contestant does all the sewing, as long
      as each of the contestants’ efforts contribute to at least 50% of one costume.

  1. The performance must last between 1 minute and 30 seconds (1:30 minutes) and 3 minutes (3:00 minutes). No exceptions will be made regarding these time limits.
  2. Rehearsals for duo teams will occur on DATE TBA and are optional to attend. Rehearsals will give the teams an opportunity to rehearse their performances on stage.
  3. A performance featuring an original story and acting will be scored favourably.
  4. When representing a scene that appears directly in the original source as it is performed, the performance will be scored lower in originality. Adaptations can be applied even if it’s not true to the original source to gain originality in the performance score.
    • Body and facial expressions are an important aspect of the performance. Unless it’s because the character lacks any, not having body or facial expression will be lowly scored.
  5. Leaving the stage during performance:
    • Cosplayers may leave the stage temporarily during the performance if required by the storyline.
    • If both members of the duo leave the stage simultaneously, their joint absence must not exceed 15 seconds under any circumstances.
    • There is no limit to the number of temporary exits, provided each absence respects these conditions.
    • If the performance includes an introductory video without any contestants on stage, the absence must also not exceed 15 seconds.
    • The stage must not remain empty for more than 15 consecutive seconds at once.
  6. Contestants must be present on stage for at least 80% of the total performance time, whether individually or together. Both members of the duo must be present on stage together for at least 50% of the total performance time. Exceptions may be granted if requested and approved by ICL.
  7. Stage props must not block the jury’s view of the performance. Blocking the screen will not cause a deduction unless it results in a visibly unaesthetic or confusing performance.
  8. Contestants must avoid turning their backs to the audience unless it is required for storytelling purposes.
  9. Contestants must direct and choreograph their own performances without external creative input.
  10. No microphones will be provided. Any dialogues used during the performance must be pre-recorded and included in the submitted media.
    • If dialogue is included, it must be cleanly recorded and free of background noise.
    • External voice actors may be used for pre-recorded dialogue, provided the content is chosen or written by the contestants themselves.
  11. For idol-themed performances (Love Live, Vocaloid, AKB0048, etc.), simple dancing or lip syncing may not exceed 30 seconds in total. Performances that are solely dance choreography or singing will result in point deductions. Playbacks of songs from the source material are allowed.
    For example:
    • Not valid: a group of ‘Love Live’ cannot dance and lip-sync for the entirety of the performance.
    • Valid: a contestant performing as Ursula from ‘The Little Mermaid’ can perform her song while she is acting.
  12. Erotic, pornographic, or immoral acts are forbidden, as are behaviors that could disrupt the order of the competition or cause discomfort among the audience. These behaviours may result in disqualification.
  13. Contestants can use music, videos or dialogue from the original source.
  14. Costume changes are allowed as long as it is from the same source material. However, basing a performance solely on costume changes that don’t follow the storyline will have a penalty in the performance score.
  15. Only the two contestants are allowed to participate in the performance. Any helpers must leave the stage area before the performance begins.
    • If assistance is required for accessibility purposes, contestants must notify and obtain prior
      approval from organisers if accepted into the competition to ensure accommodations can be
      made.
  16. Preparation time for setting up stage props and sets on the stage must not exceed 40 seconds.
  17. Stage props restrictions:
    • Stage sets and props must comply with safety requirements and rules.
    • Each stage prop and/or set must not exceed two (2) meters in height.
    • The combined total width of all stage props and sets must not exceed four (4) meters.
    • Props may not be placed on the stairs of the stage.
    • If a stage prop/set is initially dismantled, folded, or compressed and then expands during the performance, the maximum dimensions allowed apply to the expanded size. Any stage prop that exceeds the size limits once expanded will result in a penalty according to the rules.
  18. Stage prop/set setup:
    • Contestants are allowed 1 authorised helper to assist with the set up of large stage props/sets. This helper must be nominated within the submission form at the time of the application. Changes to the nominated helper due to exceptional circumstances require the contestant(s) to notify AVCon staff as soon as possible.
    • Contestants are allowed to use:
      • Up to 3 large stage props/sets
        • Each large prop/set must not weigh more than 10 kilograms.
        • Large props will be placed on stage by AVCon staff and authorised helpers.
      • Up to 3 small stage props/sets
        • Each small prop/set must not weigh more than 3 kilograms.
        • Small props/sets will be placed by the contestants themselves.
    • No unauthorised individuals may assist with stage setup.
  19. If stage prop/sets dimensions or weight limits are exceeded, the props/sets will not be allowed on stage.
  20. A background video is mandatory. It may consist of a static image or a fully produced video, but must contribute to the performance. Excessively flashy or bright videos are forbidden, as they can cause backlighting problems, streaming/filming visibility, or impact the health and safety of the audience.