Anime Boston 2025 Cosplay Event Preview

[ksmurf]

The Anime Boston Cosplay Events team is excited to announce the 2025 event lineup!
More details and rule updates will be available on the site in December.
In the meantime, please use the Contact form for the fastest responses to questions.

Contests
Masquerade - Performance Contest - Saturday
Masquerade - Craftsmanship Contest - Judging Friday & Saturday, Awards/Show on Saturday
In Character Contest (Rated Teen but participants must be 18+) - Qualifiers Friday, Finals Saturday
Killing Point! K-Pop Skit Contest - presented by K!Junkies - Sunday

Showcases
Idol Showcase - presented by Idolized! - Sunday
Cosplay Singer - Sunday
Cosplay Runway - Sunday
Drag Show (18+) - Applications CLOSED - participants should have been contacted

Games
Death Match - Friday
Dating Game (18+) - Friday
Lip Sync Battle - Saturday
Big Fat Cosplay Quiz (18+) - Saturday

Most applications open January 4 and close April 4.
Make sure to read all rules when they are posted as some sign-up details have changed.

Please note that due to the scale of the event, the Masquerade with likely overlap with the following events in some capacity: Death Match (craftsmanship judging), Lip Sync Battle (craftsmanship judging, performance rehearsal), In Character Contest (show prep), Singer (feedback sessions)

Also, be sure to check out Shenanigans (18+), Cosplay Bingo, and the Cosplay Scavenger Hunt at the convention!

[ksmurf]

Cosplay Chess

You may have noticed Chess was not included in the Anime Boston 2025 lineup.

As Anime Boston's programming continues to diversify and grow, so does the demand for space in the convention center and on our schedule. Looking at what we have in the pipeline for this year, we are unable to guarantee the space resources Chess needs to support its high quality production.

Given the legacy of Chess at Anime Boston, we want to make sure the event runs at the caliber participants and audience members have come to expect. Rather than 'downgrading' the event, we made the hard decision to exclude it from the lineup this year.

Chess remains on the Cosplay Events roster, along with other events that can rotate in and out of the lineup, depending on resource availability. We thank you for your understanding.

[BreadCosplay]

Are the application opening and closing dates the same for Masquerade, Jan 4th and April 4th?

[Ariandante]

Hiya! Is there any idea of when the updated rules/ submission guidelines for the 2025 cosplay events will go up?

EDIT: Looks like they went up today - thank you!!

[ksmurf]

Are the application opening and closing dates the same for Masquerade, Jan 4th and April 4th?

Yes. All application dates are also posted to the front page of the website if you need a quick refresher.

[Dy1-Dy1]

How do I sign up for the Cosplay Death Match?

[ksmurf]

How do I sign up for the Cosplay Death Match?

Applications requirements and instructions for how to apply through Cosplay HQ can be found in the Cosplay Events rules here: https://www.animeboston.com/activities/ ... ents_rules

[Dy1-Dy1]

How long do applications for cosplay events take to process?

[ksmurf]

How long do applications for cosplay events take to process?

Once applications close, each coordinator gets their team together to select the final participants and waitlisters. The time to go through that process can vary depending on what material needs to be reviewed, how many applications were received, and how many spots are available.

For example, Masquerade (Performance Contest), Singer, and Idol Showcase all need to review media files as a part of their selection process, which takes longer to review than say Death Match, which just reviews the costumes and performer's history.

Generally, all applicants will receive a communication regarding the outcome of their application within 2-3 weeks of applications closing, if not sooner.

[rancidmice]

hi! first time competitor here are all parts of the masquerade on friday & saturday? (judging, performance, awards) trying to figure out what ticket i need to purchase to the convention

[Nyuu]

hi! first time competitor here are all parts of the masquerade on friday & saturday? (judging, performance, awards) trying to figure out what ticket i need to purchase to the convention

Judging appointments are scheduled on both Friday and Saturday, the Masquerade itself (including awards at the very end) is on Saturday.

[BreadCosplay]

Hey guys! I know we're a ways out from AB but was wondering if you have an idea of the finalized days the events are held? I've already heard Masquerade is Saturday and Idol Showcase will be Sunday this year, any other changes?

[ksmurf]

Hey guys! I know we're a ways out from AB but was wondering if you have an idea of the finalized days the events are held? I've already heard Masquerade is Saturday and Idol Showcase will be Sunday this year, any other changes?

Days have been added! Barring any extenuating circumstances, those should not change.

[BreadCosplay]

Hey guys! I know we're a ways out from AB but was wondering if you have an idea of the finalized days the events are held? I've already heard Masquerade is Saturday and Idol Showcase will be Sunday this year, any other changes?

Days have been added! Barring any extenuating circumstances, those should not change.

Thank you so much!! Regarding Saturday, are any of those other events going to have conflictions with someone participating in the Masquerade? (Ex: Someone cannot participate in the In Character Contest Finals if they are performing in Masquerade Performance/Craftsmanship)
I guess also similar question now regarding the In Character Contest and also Deathmatch, lol. Thanks so much for replying so often!

[ksmurf]

Hey guys! I know we're a ways out from AB but was wondering if you have an idea of the finalized days the events are held? I've already heard Masquerade is Saturday and Idol Showcase will be Sunday this year, any other changes?

Days have been added! Barring any extenuating circumstances, those should not change.

Thank you so much!! Regarding Saturday, are any of those other events going to have conflictions with someone participating in the Masquerade? (Ex: Someone cannot participate in the In Character Contest Finals if they are performing in Masquerade Performance/Craftsmanship)
I guess also similar question now regarding the In Character Contest and also Deathmatch, lol. Thanks so much for replying so often!

Unfortunately, we can't disclose that level of detail as the schedule will remain in progress until much closer to the convention. But I can say that given that the Masquerade is a large time commitment, especially for Performance entries, that elements of the Masquerade will conflict with other cosplay events on Saturday.