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Masquerade Rules

Updated: 2/4/2026

2026 MASQUERADE COSTUME CONTEST RULES

Please review, as some rules have changed! 

  1. Eligibility: 

    All participants must have a Phoenix Fan Fusion credential valid for the day of the Masquerade Costume Contest (including Attendee, VIP, Media, Exhibitor, and other specialty credentials). Members of the Phoenix Fan Fusion staff and crew are ineligible to compete in the Masquerade Costume Contest.

  2. Registration and Pre-Judging.

    All registrations will be done online from the Phoenix Fan Fusion website or at the2026 Masquerade Application. We can accommodate approximately 50 entries, including group and individual participants. GROUPS MAY NOT HAVE MORE THAN 7 MEMBERS. Registration closes Sunday, 04/19/2026. No late entries will be accepted.

In order to be considered for one of the Masquerade Costume Contest openings, candidates must submit work-in-progress photos along with a reference photo (or drawing) showing what the finished costume should look like. These photos will be uploaded to a Google Drive folder. Work in Progress must be at least 75% complete by Sunday, 04/19/2026, in order to be accepted, and is completely at the discretion of Phoenix Fan Fusion staff. Applications will then be reviewed and selected entrants will be notified by email no later than Friday 04/24/2026. 

  1. Pre-Judging:

    Workmanship pre-judging will begin with a questionnaire provided to the contestant upon final acceptance into the contest. Questionnaires, submitted work in progress photos, and any other information submitted by the contestant (i.e., updated photos, videos) will be uploaded for judges to review. We encourage contestants to provide detailed close-up photos of all work, including views of the work at different stages. This content will be weighed heavily in the judging process. In-person pre-judging will take place on Saturday (06/06/26) at the Phoenix Convention Center. Times and location will be communicated to the selected contestants. At this time, judges will view costumes again in person before the final stage of judging, which is the stage performance. 

  2. Categories:

    Entries will be separated into three categories:

NOTE: THE YOUTH CATEGORY HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE “YOUTH MASQUERADE AND FASHION SHOW” TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY (SEE PROGRAMMING GUIDE FOR DAY AND TIME). YOUTHS 14 AND UNDER MAY NOT ENTER THE  PHOENIX FAN FUSION MASQUERADE COSTUME CONTEST.


  • Novice - FIRST TIME CONTESTANTS WHO HAVE NEVER ENTERED A COSTUME CONTEST OR CONTESTANTS WHO HAVE ENTERED, BUT NOT WON AN AWARD AT ANY COSTUME CONTEST. This includes entries into events not produced by Square Egg Entertainment (Phoenix Fan Fusion, Comicon, etc)  where costumes were judged by a panel. 

  • Journeyman - CONTESTANTS WHO HAVE WON ONE MAJOR AWARD WITH ANY COSTUME AT A COSPLAY/COSTUME CONTEST. This includes entries into events not produced by Square Egg Entertainment (Phoenix Fan Fusion, Comicon, etc)  where costumes were judged by a panel. 

  • Master - CONTESTANTS WHO HAVE WON TWO OR MORE MAJOR AWARDS WITH ANY COSTUME AT A COSPLAY/COSTUME CONTEST. This includes entries into events not produced by Square Egg Entertainment (Phoenix Fan Fusion, Comicon, etc)  where costumes were judged by a panel. 


Any of the three category entries may be individuals or groups. GROUPS WILL BE JUDGED BASED ON THE MOST EXPERIENCED MEMBER OF THE ENTIRE GROUP, REGARDLESS OF CREATIVE INPUT. SO, IF THERE IS ONE MASTER LEVEL AND THREE NOVICE LEVEL PARTICIPANTS, THE ENTRY WOULD BE JUDGED AS A MASTER LEVEL. GROUPS MAY NOT HAVE MORE THAN 7 MEMBERS.

  1. Previously Used Costumes:

    Previously used costumes that have won any major awards (First, Second, Third, Best in Show) at any convention are entered into the Masquerade Costume Contest in the Master category only. 

  2. Awards:

    There are both ranked and unranked awards given at the Masquerade. Ranked awards include: BEST IN SHOW-INDIVIDUAL, BEST IN SHOW-GROUP, First place in Category, Second Place in category, Third Place in category. Unranked awards may include Judges’ Award, Honorable Mention, etc. Unranked awards are not considered major awards for the purposes of this contest.

  3. Pictures:

    Pictures will be taken during the performance portion of the judging process. These pictures may be used by Phoenix Fan Fusion for the promotion of future events and contests.

  4. Genres:

    This is an open genre costume contest. Genres include, but are not limited to: Sci-Fi, Anime/Animation Comics/Manga, Fantasy, Novels, Steampunk, TV, Film, and Games.

  5. Costume and Weapons Policy:

    All costumes must abide by the rules of the convention dress code and weapons policy as posted here:   https://phoenixfanfusion.com/info-faq/costume-weapons-policy/  . If a policy violation is discovered by any of the Phoenix Fan Fusion Staff or the judge’s panel, that entry will be disqualified. Please note that, due to the nature of our event, prop or weapons policies may need to be updated at any time, including during the event. Should a change be necessary, Phoenix Fan Fusion will attempt to notify all participants as soon as possible. Ultimately, the safety of the event will be given priority over consideration of including a prop or weapon in the Masquerade Costume Contest. PHOENIX FAN FUSION PRODUCERS AND STAFF ARE UNABLE TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO THE WEAPONS POLICY, SO PLEASE DO NOT ASK.  ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING WEAPONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER AT: https://www.phoenixconventioncenter.com/contact-us. THE MASQUERADE IS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT. ANY COSTUME THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ALL-AGES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. DISQUALIFICATION IS AT THE DISCRETION OF PHOENIX FAN FUSION STAFF OR THE JUDGES' PANEL.

  6. Prohibited Items:

    No glitter, confetti, pyrotechnics, live flame, or smoke/fog generators of any kind are allowed in the convention center. LARGE PROPS THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL STORAGE, HAMPER MOVEMENT BEHIND THE STAGE OR IN THE GREEN ROOM, OR THAT CANNOT BE EASILY TRANSPORTED UP THE STAIRS ONTO THE STAGE ARE PROHIBITED.

  7. Power:

    No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power, it must be part of your costume.

  8. Prohibited Participants:

    The Master of Ceremonies (MC) and/or other members of the Masquerade staff cannot be used as part of your presentation in any way. Any people-part of your presentation must be supplied by the participants. This includes moving any props or set pieces on stage for you. If you require assistance onto the stage due to costume restraints, staff will be on hand to help you up and down the stairs. Contestants' assistants/crew do not count towards the onstage time allotment, however.

  9. Hand-Made Costumes Only:

    Fully purchased costumes are prohibited from entering the contest. However, exceptions can be made for costumes that contain pieces that are modified from their original design or purpose. Although this may affect the total craftsmanship score of the participant, it is not meant to discourage participants from entering the contest. Costumes that are considered "kits" are allowed so long as the kit was assembled by the participant. All participants should be prepared to briefly explain the process through which their costume was created, altered, or modified. The costume must be 85% made by the participant(s) in order to qualify for an award. Costumes that are not 85% made by the participant(s) may not qualify to participate in the event. 

  10. One Costume per Participant:

    Each contestant may present or wear one and only one costume, or in cases of group entries, each member may wear one costume per person or may wear one costume together (i.e., large costumes that require several people inside to move). The costume shown to the judges during pre-judging MUST be the costume you are wearing in the contest itself. 

  11. Designer Entry:

    Should a participant decide to enter but chose not to model their costume, or rather have it be presented by a model, the designer must be present at pre-judging and be prepared to explain how the costume had been created. The designer may appear on-stage for performance with the entry.

  12. Contest Performance Portion

    • Your costume must allow you freedom of movement so that you can go up and down steps. THE STEPS ARE NOT REMOVABLE, NOR CAN THEY BE ALTERED IN ANY WAY (I.E. REMOVING THE HANDRAIL). THE STEPS ARE 36 INCHES WIDE. Should assistance be needed, you may have up to two assistants help you, but they will not be provided by the Phoenix Fan Fusion Staff. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS MUST BE GIVEN TO EVENT STAFF PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. 

    • IF YOUR ENTRY IS LARGE OR PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO MANEUVER STAIRS YOU MAY BE ALLOWED TO PRESENT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE OR USE THE LIFT. HOWEVER, YOU MUST MAKE YOUR REQUEST AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE MASQUERADE FOR THIS ACCOMMODATION. THIS ACCOMMODATION DOES NOT PERTAIN TO PROPS AND IS AT THE DISCRETION OF PHOENIX FAN FUSION STAFF. 

    • You must remain in the green room before your stage appearance, and in the main ballroom for the entirety of the contest. There are designated areas for waiting pre- and post- judging during the performance phase of the contest and reserved seating in the main ballroom. (Handlers will be allowed backstage and in the green room and other designated areas). Listen to the directions given by the Masquerade Staff/Phoenix Fan Fusion crew and be respectful to your fellow contestants. If you have special needs, please let the stage manager be aware at the pre-judging portion of the contest. 

    • Each single participant will have 60 seconds (1 minute) of time to perform on stage. 

    • In cases of groups, for each additional person you are granted an additional 30 seconds, not to exceed 3 minutes, or 180 seconds. For example, two participants will be granted 90 seconds, a three-person group is granted 120 seconds and so forth.

    • PERFORMANCES ARE 25% OF THE OVERALL JUDGING SCORE.

    • PERFORMANCES MUST BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES. ANY PERFORMANCE THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED AND NOT ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN FUTURE FAN FUSION MASQUERADES. INAPPROPRIATENESS IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE FAN FUSION MASQUERADE STAGE MANAGER AND JUDGES. 

  13. Microphones:

    No microphone will be available for contestant’s use during the Masquerade Costume Contest. This includes the MC's podium microphone. Only the use of pre-recorded audio is allowed.

  14. Providing Audio/Video:

    1. Entrants are encouraged to provide their own music, audio, and video for their presentation. Audio/video must be edited to the allowed performance time (60 seconds for a single participant, 90 seconds for two participants, 120 seconds for 3, up to 180 seconds or 3 minutes).  

    2. If an entrant wishes to provide their own audio/video it MUST be emailed to ashleigh.feiring@phoenixfanfusion.com  no later than Friday 05/08/26  using the following title format:CategoryContactNameCostumeName.format. (Example: NoviceSallySmithBabyYoda.mp4)

    3. IF AUDIO/VIDEO IS NOT ABLE TO BE DOWNLOADED BY PHOENIX FAN FUSION STAFF DUE TO SECURITY, FORMAT, OR METHOD OF UPLOADING INTO THE EMAIL, PHOENIX FAN FUSION STAFF WILL CONTACT THE CONTESTANT TO RE-SEND IN AN APPROPRIATE FORMAT. IF AN APPROPRIATE FORMAT CANNOT BE FOUND, THE STAGE MANAGER WILL SELECT AN AUDIO TRACK FOR THE CONTESTANT’S PERFORMANCE.

    4. If an entrant does NOT provide any audio content, Phoenix Fan Fusion staff will select generic music to play during the entrant’s presentation. This music may not be exactly what you are looking for so providing audio files is HIGHLY recommended. 

    5. For all pre-recorded audio: The Masquerade Costume Contest is open to all ages and there will be children in the audience. We work very hard to present an event that is family friendly. The audio will be screened to ensure that it adheres to the following rules. The tech crew has been instructed to immediately cut off sound and lights if any of the following happens:

      1. Any obscenity or swearing.

      2. Any derogatory references to other contestants.

      3. Any innuendos or off-color jokes.

      4. Anything that sounds like it could be offensive based on (but not limited to) race, gender, orientation, religion, etc.

  15. Prizes:

    Prizes will be presented to Best in Show (SINGLE ENTRY AND GROUP), and first, second and third place winners in the following categories:

    1. Novice

    2. Journeyman

    3. Master

  16. Rule Updates and Changes:

    While no changes to these rules are foreseen, certain circumstances may require the rules or times to be changed.

  17. Questions and Contact:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Masquerade Stage Manager/Producer, Ashleigh Feiring at ashleigh.feiring@phoenixfanfusion.com.

APPLY HERE

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