Take your cosplay to the next level at Heroes Made in Asia 2026! Whether you are an experienced cosplayer or just starting out, there is something for everyone. Discover our Cosplay Contest, show your outfit on the Cosplay Catwalk, meet amazing cosplayers in the Cosplay Village and find all the answers you need in our Cosplay FAQ.
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Cosplay Contest
During the Cosplay Contest on Saturday 21 March 2026, some of the best cosplayers from the Netherlands and abroad will show their handmade creations and performances on the Mochi Stage. An international professional jury will judge both your costume and your act, and the winners will take home great prizes and eternal bragging rights.
The Cosplay Contest is powered by Hype Creations and CosplayShop.BE.
Key information
- Contest date: Saturday 21 March 2026
- Age: participants must be at least 18 years old
- Entries: solo and duo entries only
- Performance length: max. 90 seconds (solo), max. 120 seconds (duo)
- Costume: at least 90% handmade by the participant; torso and legs must be fully handmade
- Designs: only official designs as recognised by the IP holder (no fanart, OCs or own designs)
- Content: outfits may not be obscene, offensive, incite hatred or provoke; nudity is not allowed
Registrations
Registrations for the Cosplay Contest are open from Tuesday 3 February 2026, 19:00 until Sunday 15 February 2026, 23:59.
On Wednesday 18 February 2026, 20:00 we will e-mail all participants about their placement.
If you are selected, you will need to submit several files, such as:
- Audio for your act (in .mp3, max. 90 / 120 seconds)
- Reference images of your character
- 20–25 Work In Progress photos of your cosplay (.jpg/.png/.pdf)
- A short written rundown of your act
Without these files, your participation may be withdrawn.
What to expect on the day
If you are selected, most of your Saturday will revolve around the Cosplay Contest. You can expect an approximate schedule like this:
- 10:00 – 11:30 – Prejudging
- 13:30 – 14:00 – Cosplay Catwalk
- 14:00 – 15:15 – Cosplay Contest
- 17:00 – 17:15 – Award ceremony
Please make sure you arrive on time for prejudging, especially if you are travelling by public transport. Missing prejudging without prior communication may lead to last-minute removal from the line-up.
Questions?
First, check the Cosplay FAQ.
Can’t find your question and answer there? You can contact Hype Creations via info@hype-creations.com or Instagram DM.
Cosplay Catwalk
The Cosplay Catwalk is the perfect warm-up for the big Cosplay Contest. Before the contest starts, cosplayers take the Main Stage one by one in a “walk on – walk off” format. You get a short moment in the spotlight to show your outfit to the audience and then quickly return to enjoy the rest of the event.
The Cosplay Catwalk is organised by Hype Creations.
Key information
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Catwalk dates:
– Saturday 21 March 2026, 13:30 – 14:00 (single participation)
– Sunday 22 March 2026, block 1: 13:00 – 13:30
– Sunday 22 March 2026, block 2: 15:30 – 16:00 - Call time: 15–20 minutes in advance at the backstage entrance of the Main Stage
- Ticket: each participant needs their own QR ticket (1 person = 1 ticket)
- Maximum one block: you may only claim tickets for one block during the weekend (either Saturday or one of the two Sunday blocks)
- Event access: the free catwalk ticket does not replace your Heroes Made in Asia entry ticket
Good to know
- The Cosplay Catwalk is not a competition and there is no pre-selection.
- You do not need to prepare an act: it is simply a short walk-on & walk-off moment.
- Your cosplay must comply with all rules regarding weapons, props and the general house rules of the event.
- There is no time to bring large props on stage; big or unwieldy props cannot be used during the catwalk.
- It is not allowed to enter the stage on inline skates, roller skates or any other rolling objects.
- Outfits may not be obscene, offensive, incite hatred or provoke; nudity is not allowed and your body must be sufficiently covered.
- You are not allowed to bring objects on stage that are unrelated to your cosplay.
Hype Creations reserves the right to assess situations and instruct participants in the interest of safety and the show. Failure to follow instructions may result in removal from the catwalk.
Questions?
First, check the Cosplay FAQ.
Can’t find your question and answer there? You can contact Hype Creations via info@hype-creations.com or Instagram DM.
Cosplay Village
Meet your favourite creators and discover new cosplay inspiration in the Cosplay Village!
The Cosplay Village is all about experience, creativity and celebrating your fandom together. Here you will find cosplayers and creators with their own booth, where they showcase their work, talk to fans, sign autographs and sometimes sell prints or small items. The focus is on meeting, entertainment and community, not on large-scale shopping.
Cosplayers are carefully selected based on the experience they can offer visitors at their booth, not on the number of followers they have.
Want to join the Cosplay Village as a creator?
Read more about the selection, rules and how to apply on the Cosplay Village page.
Cosplay- and Fan Meet Ups
Meet your fandom in real life at Heroes Made in Asia!
At Heroes Made in Asia, fans of specific themes, brands, series or characters can come together during Cosplay and Fan Meet Ups. These are informal gatherings where you can take (group) photos, meet people who share the same passion and maybe even make new friends for life.
Cosplay and Fan Meet Ups are not organised by Heroes Made in Asia, but are created by fans, for fans. We love these community initiatives, which is why we support them by giving them visibility on our channels.
Organise your own fan meet up
Would you like to bring fans of your favourite fandom together or create a moment for your cosplay group or community? Organise your own Cosplay or Fan Meet Up and share the details with us. Tell us:
- The name of your meet up
- The date(s)
- The time(s)
- The exact location at Heroes Made in Asia
- Your name as organiser
- A link to your meet up (for example Instagram, Discord, website, etc.)
We will list your meet up on our overview so that other fans can find you more easily.
Please note: Cosplay and Fan Meet Ups are organised by visitors. Heroes Made in Asia only has a facilitating and promotional role.
Cosplay FAQ
Everything you need to know about cosplay at Heroes Made in Asia
Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about cosplay, weapons and props, the Cosplay Contest and the Cosplay Catwalk. For detailed rules, always check the official regulations for each activity.
General Cosplay questions
Cosplay is a combination of the words “costume” and “play”. It is a form of performance art where participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character. Cosplay costumes are often based on comics, manga, anime, cartoons, video games, films and TV series.
No. You are completely free to wear whatever you like. We love seeing visitors fully dressed as their favourite characters, but regular clothes are just as welcome. Comfort first.
Most cosplayers are happy to pose for or with you, but always ask for permission first and be respectful. If someone says no, please respect that.
There are specific rules for weapons and props. Please read the official weapons and props regulations on our website before you come to the event. If you are still unsure, contact Hype Creations or the Heroes Made in Asia team in advance.
Heroes Made in Asia is an all-age event. Costumes must cover a reasonable amount of skin for public display, as there are children present. Outfits may not be obscene, offensive, incite hatred or provoke. When in doubt, please contact Hype Creations via info@hype-creations.com or via their social media channels.
Yes. There are dressing rooms where you can change and complete your outfit.
Cosplay Contest questions
We receive many registrations, so it can take some time to process them. We aim to let you know as soon as possible if you have been selected for the Cosplay Contest. If you think something went wrong, please send an e-mail to info-made-in-asia@easyfairs.com.
Heroes Made in Asia focuses on costumes within the theme of the event: Asian pop culture. This means the character you portray must come from anime, manga, games or pop culture of Asian origin. We are fairly lenient, for example, characters from Metal Gear Solid or Street Fighter are allowed, but a character like Captain America is not. If you are unsure, please contact Hype Creations via info@hype-creations.com or via their social media channels.
No. For the Cosplay Contest, costumes based on fan art, OCs or original designs are not allowed. Your reference must come from an officially recognised source (Intellectual Property) and must clearly show the character and outfit. This is important so that our international jury can compare your costume to the reference and judge how well you have executed it. After receiving your reference, the Hype Creations team will decide whether your entry is allowed. Their decision is final.
(Original designs and OCs are welcome on the Cosplay Catwalk.)
This depends on the prize. If you have already won a prize with this costume in a preliminary or international competition, you cannot use it for the Heroes Made in Asia Cosplay Contest. In most other cases you can. If you are unsure, please ask Hype Creations.
Cosplay Catwalk questions
Yes, absolutely. We actually encourage it. Due to the number of entries, it is great when groups walk on stage together.
To a certain extent, yes. Please contact Hype Creations first via info@hype-creations.com so they can see what is possible.
Unfortunately not. Because of the maximum capacity per block, we cannot move participants to another block afterwards. You can, however, swap your ticket with someone from another block. Each ticket is valid once.
No. Time on the Mochi Stage is limited and we can only accept participants with a valid ticket. Participants who cancel their ticket will release a spot; these tickets may become available again.
No, just like above: we can only allow participants with a valid ticket. Cancelled tickets may reappear for others to claim.
The catwalk is a light, relaxed “walk-on, walk-off” moment. It is ideal for cosplayers who want a short moment in the spotlight on stage and then quickly step off again. You do not have to prepare a full act.
Please be at the backstage entrance about 15–30 minutes before your block starts. You will see a banner marked “Cosplay catwalk/compo meeting point”, that is where you need to be.
No. Every participant needs their own ticket. One person = one ticket.
Yes, as long as your new cosplay also complies with the Heroes NL house rules, which you can find on the event website.
If we detect that a single person has claimed tickets for multiple blocks, we will cancel the entire order without further communication. You must agree to this condition when claiming your tickets.
Join Heroes Made in Asia 2026
Ready to level up your cosplay, meet your favourite creators and celebrate Asian pop culture together with thousands of other fans?
Do not miss Heroes Made in Asia 2026 and make sure you secure your spot for the Cosplay Contest, Cosplay Catwalk, Cosplay Village and/or the Cosplay & Fan Meet Ups.
