2025 LTU EXPO COSPLAY
GUIDELINES

LTU Expo loves its cosplayers! To keep the event a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, please observe the following policies regarding cosplaying at LTUX. Please bear in mind that our event is family friendly and open to the public, so the cosplay(s) you choose to wear should be appropriate in a family environment.

COVERAGE

1. Cosplays must provide the same coverage that a standard swimsuit provides.
2. Undergarments must be worn beneath all cosplays.
3. Cosplays must cover the private areas of the body. Thong, G-string, and Brazilian-bottomed cosplays and other buttock-revealing cosplays are not permitted.
4. It is strongly recommended that dancer’s belts be worn beneath form-fitting cosplays to reduce visibility of private body areas.
5. Nudity and implied nudity are prohibited.

BODY PAINT

1. Body paint must be completely dry prior to arriving at LTUX to avoid damaging other attendees’ clothes/cosplays, vendor displays, and venue property.
2. Body paint cannot be used as a cosplay in and of itself.
3. Fake blood must be dried and/or set. Fake blood that drips, runs, or comes off with a touch are not permitted as it may damage other attendees’ clothes/cosplays, vendor displays, and venue property.
4. All glitter must be applied with sealant to avoid damaging other attendees’ clothes/cosplays, vendor displays, and venue property.
5. Other enhancements, including beads, feathers, powder, crystals, and fringe, must be securely attached to the cosplay or cosplayer. Help keep our venue clean!

PROPS

1. No live steel or props with sharp edges are permitted.
2. No firearms, projectile weaponry, flames/fire, or explosives are permitted, real or fake. You will be asked to leave these items in your vehicle.
3. Prop bows must be unstrung.
4. All realistic firearms must have a visible orange tip.
5. All prop weapons may be checked by staff and security.
6. Props cannot exceed 8 feet in length.
7. Any weaponry purchased from vendors must be taken, unopened, to your vehicle immediately.
8. Any misuse of props that may result in causing harm to yourself or to others will not be tolerated.
9. The LTU Expo staff and venue security reserve the right to revoke prop privileges at any time.

SAFETY

1. Please avoid wearing cosplays that impair and/or reduce your mobility. This includes stilts, expanding wings, heavily weighted cosplays, and cosplays involving large assemblies and/or props.
2. Please avoid wearing cosplays with sharp edges, with glass components, with mirrors, or with other elements that can intertwine with and/or cause harm to other attendees.
3. Foot coverings must be worn at all times. Barefooted cosplays are not permitted.
4. Joint cosplays — cosplays that physically link two or more cosplayers together — are not permitted.
5. Cosplays that contain or imply derogatory, negative, or otherwise harmful imagery or words are prohibited.
6. If you are coughing, sneezing, suffering gastrointestinal distress, are fevered, or are feeling otherwise unwell, please stay home for your own sake and for the health of our other attendees, staff, vendors, and volunteers.
7. If you are taking a selfie of your cosplay or taking photos of your cosplaying friends, please do so off to the side. This will prevent congestion in the venue and will keep the flow of traffic moving.
8. Be respectful of your fellow cosplayers! Remember: cosplay is not consent!

By attending the LTU Expo, you agree to follow and abide by these cosplay guidelines as well as by Lawrence Technological University regulations and local/state/federal law. Any illegal activity or behavior will result in the notification of the local authorities and your expulsion from the con. Disrespectful, threatening, or harmful behavior towards your fellow cosplayers, attendees, staff, volunteers, and vendors will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate removal from LTUX. Anyone refusing to abide by these Cosplay Guidelines runs the risk of being removed from the con. These guidelines are subject to modification at any time.

COSPLAY COMPETITION GUIDLINES

Thank you for choosing to take part in our LTU Expo cosplay events! We ask that all participants read through the following guidelines prior to registering.

COSPLAY CONTEST

The LTU Expo Cosplay Contest is a competitive event for participants who have handmade a percentage of their cosplays.

DIVISIONS

Novice

The cosplay must be at least 50% handmade and the participant has never before participated in a cosplay contest or has never won 1st place or Best in Show.

Journeyman

The cosplay must be at least 65% handmade and the participant has won 1st place and/or Best in Division/Show 1 to 4 times.

Master

The cosplay must be at least 75% handmade and the participant has won 5 or more 1st place and/or Best in Division/Show awards.

THE CONTEST

Contest participants may register for the cosplay contest online through Saturday, April 12.

The contest is limited to 30 competitors. Any spaces remaining after April 12 will be available first come, first served on site at the LTU Expo.

Contest participants will select a pre-judging appointment time, during which they will appear before our panel of cosplay judges to have their cosplays evaluated.

Cosplayers are asked to bring a reference photo for their character for our judges; build books are welcome.

Contestants will be given a badge number and a time to report for line-up.

During the contest, each contestant will be presented and have the opportunity to pose before the audience.

Awards will be presented to the winner and runner-up in each division as well as to the Best in Show. In addition, three Judge’s Choice awards and one Host’s Choice award will be presented.

Cosplay contest participants may not compete with a cosplay that has previously won 1st place, Best Craftsmanship, Best in Division, or Best in Show at another cosplay contest.

The cosplay director and/or the cosplay judges reserve the right to reclassify a competitor if they believe that contestant better fits a different division.

Should a participant mistakenly register for the Cosplay Contest when they should be in the Cosplay Showcase, they will be transferred if space allows.

Participants are expected to behave with respect and courtesy to their fellow cosplayers, the cosplay director, the cosplay judges, and all LTU Expo staff and volunteers. Negativity and poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated.

Any participant not following these posted guidelines or any instructions provided by the cosplay director, judges, or LTU Expo staff may be disqualified.

COSPLAY SHOWCASE

The Cosplay Showcase is a non-competitive event for cosplayers not wishing to go before our judging panel or whose cosplays are purchased, commissioned, or otherwise not handmade from scratch. Cosplay Showcase participants each take a turn in the spotlight, sharing their cosplays with the audience. Sign-ups for the Cosplay Showcase will be held on site just outside the cosplay pre-judging hall. Participation is limited to 30 cosplayers.

HALL COSPLAY COMPETITION

The Hall Cosplay Competition is for cosplayers who prefer not to go before our judging panel or on stage but whose cosplays are at least 50% handmade by the participant. Sign-ups for the Hall Cosplay Competition will be held on site just outside the cosplay pre-judging room. Awards will be presented to the winner and runner-up at the end of the cosplay contest.