Competitions and Judging

The Guild of Nerds is committed to hosting fair and transparent cosplay competitions that celebrate creativity, craftsmanship and performance in cosplay. The rules, guidelines, and training that judges receive all are in support of goal to uphold the highest standards, while fostering inclusivity and support for all participants.

Competitions Overview

Competing in Guild-led competitions is a chance to showcase your skills, and join a supportive community of cosplayers. Here’s what sets our competitions apart:

  • Diverse Opportunities: From craftsmanship to performance-focused competitions or classes, there’s a space for every cosplayer.
  • Clear Guidelines: Our competitions are structured to ensure fairness and accessibility for all participants, with clear rules and guidelines.
  • Supportive Environment: We prioritize inclusivity and constructive feedback to help cosplayers grow.
  • Thoughtfully Selected Judging Panels: We aim to have a judging panel that encompases both a variety of skill sets and diversity of backgrounds. Judges are trained on the competitions they judge for and all judges participate in unconscious basis training.

Upcoming Competitions

The Guild organizes and supports competitions at some of the biggest events in the cosplay calendar. Here’s what’s coming up:

  • MegaCon Masquerades: Celebrate craftsmanship and performance at one of the UK’s premier cosplay competitions. Learn More ➡
  • GamerFest Cosplay Contest: A showcase of creativity and gaming-inspired designs. Learn More

Competitions Transparency

Transparency is at the heart of how we run our competitions. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Diverse Judging Panels: Our panels include guest judges, cosplayers, and individuals with varied skill sets and experiences.
  • Unbiased Scoring: Judges follow clear scoring rubrics to ensure consistency and fairness.
  • No Conflicts of Interest: Judges cannot enter competitions at events they are judging, and Guild staff with competition oversight will not participate in decision-making.

Learn more in our Competitions Transparency Statement.

Why Compete with the Guild?

Participating in Guild-organized competitions offers cosplayers the chance to:

  • Gain recognition for their skills and creativity.
  • Receive constructive feedback from experienced judges.
  • Be part of an inclusive, supportive community.

Judging Opportunities

Do you have an eye for detail and a passion for cosplay? Become a judge with the Guild of Nerds and help recognize the incredible talent within our community. Judging cosplay competitions is an exciting opportunity to:

  • Celebrate creativity and craftsmanship.
  • Provide valuable feedback to cosplayers.
  • Represent the Guild’s commitment to fairness and inclusivity.

How to Become a Judge

Interested in judging? Here’s how to get involved:

  1. Review the Expectations: Check out our Judges Code of Conduct to understand what we expect from our judges.
  2. Submit Your Interest: Fill out our Expression of Interest Form to apply as a judge.
  3. Complete Training: All judges are required to complete unconscious bias training and familiarize themselves with our scoring rubrics. These trainings are facilitated by the Guild

Questions?

If you have questions about judging or competitions, please contact us at cosplay@guildofnerds.org.

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