A valid JAFAX 28 admission ticket for the day of the contest is required to participate.
All costumes are welcome from any genre or series, but must follow all convention, local, and state rules and laws — including props.
Real weapons are NOT allowed. This includes live steel, guns, knives, projectiles, and overly heavy objects. All props must be prop checked and peace bonded. Please read our official weapons policy for complete details.
This is a family friendly event. No nudity or overly suggestive costumes are allowed. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
Foot covering must be worn on stage. This includes sneakers, flip flops, wooden shoes, or any other foot covering. Socks alone do not count as footwear.
Each contestant may only sign up and appear on stage once per contest — either as a group or as an individual, but not both.
No throwing, jumping, or tumbling on or off the stage. This includes throwing anything into the audience. Failure to follow this rule will result in immediate disqualification and removal from the event.
Glitter, water, confetti, smoke, fake/liquid blood, streamers, poppers, fire, or anything similar are NOT allowed. Anything that cannot be picked up as you walk off stage, or that could set off fire alarms, is prohibited.
By signing up, you agree to be respectful of all other contestants, judges, and volunteers. Good sportsmanship is required at this event.
Contestants 16 years of age or younger must have parent or guardian permission. A parent or guardian must be present to sign a liability/participation waiver at sign-up.
By signing up, you agree to allow your likeness and costume to be photographed or filmed for future JAFAX 28 promotional materials.
Costumes that have won a previous award at another convention may re-compete, but must have been altered by 50% or more since the last competition. Contestants re-competing must disclose this to judges at prejudging and bring photos of the changes. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Costumes that have won a previous JAFAX 28 event are not eligible to re-compete.
Costumes must be self-contained and fit through a standard door frame. Costumes with low visibility must have a handler present. Note: you may need to use stairs, doorways, or elevators to reach the contest area — please plan accordingly.
