COSPLAY POLICY

First and foremost, cosplay is not consent. Just because someone is cosplaying a character you resonate with, it does not give you the right to touch them, photograph them, or even their attention.

Cosplay is an art form that is one of the most powerful forms of storytelling. Cosplay is meant to express and share fandom and to have fun with others. Lore Con believes that cosplay is for everyone. Whether you are a beginner or pro and whether you put in the hours for the craft or simply bought your cosplay, we want to see all of it. To keep the floor safe and welcoming for everyone which includes families and younger attendees, we have a few guidelines in place:

Coverage Requirements

All cosplay must provide coverage equivalent to what would be appropriate at a family-friendly public venue. If you wouldn’t wear it to a public beach or community pool, it does not meet our standard for the convention floor. This applies regardless of the character being portrayed. Attendees at staff’s discretion may be asked to cover up more or leave based on coverage.

Coverage must hold whether you are standing, sitting, moving through crowds, or posing for photos. If your cosplay shifts or gaps during normal movement, make adjustments before you arrive.

Mobility and Safety

Your cosplay needs to move with you safely through a busy convention floor. It has to fit through a standard doorway and an elevator. You must be able to exit quickly in an emergency without your cosplay being a hindrance. If your build limits your vision, hearing, or mobility, you must be able to remove or adjust it immediately when needed.

Skates, scooters, hover boards, etc, are not permitted for movement on the floor. If skates are part of your cosplay, you may wear them for photos but not to travel through the space.

Materials and Construction

Full metal armor and full chain mail are not permitted
No sharp points, edges, blades, claws, or spikes regardless of material
Cosplay that incorporates sound or light effects is welcome as long as it can be switched off quickly when requested; panels and programming areas require silence
Any mounting structures, poles, or frames must comply with our Weapons and Props Policy
No hate symbols or imagery on any part of the build.
No materials or construction that would endanger or harm others is permitted

Signs and Banners

Handheld signs are permitted as long as they follow the imagery and language guidelines above and do not exceed 3 feet by 2 feet. Signs on poles or pickets must be canonically tied to the character being portrayed and must comply with the Weapons and Props Policy.

Flags and banners are welcome provided they follow content guidelines, are manageable to carry without dragging on the floor or escalators, and any mounting complies with the Weapons and Props Policy.

Signs soliciting donations or other behavior from attendees are not permitted.

Purchases from the Vendor Hall

Any weapons or props purchased from vendors on the convention floor must be boxed immediately and removed from the floor as soon as possible. Many vendors will hold your purchases for pickup at the end of the day — take advantage of that option if your purchase falls under the restricted props category.

When in Doubt

If you’re not sure whether your cosplay meets our guidelines, reach out before the event at info@loreconvention.com. We would rather help you figure it out in advance than have that conversation at the door. Lore Con staff will also be available on the floor during the event.