10 September 2026
One of Comic Con Africa’s most outstanding features is Cosplay. Yet despite its visibility and the crowds of Cosplayers at the con, it is also one of the festival’s most enigmatic fandoms. Cosplay is part performance art, part design and production, and part imagination brought to life, all underpinned by skilled crafting, patience, and determination. Comic Con Africa with Capitec is proud to provide a platform for this incredibly meaningful artform, and to support the cosplay community with a multitude of cosplay offerings at the convention. From casual dress-ups to international championships, there is something for every level of cosplayer at Comic Con Africa.
What is Cosplay?
The word cosplay is a contraction of the words “costume” and “play” and is used as a noun and a verb, as it refers not only to individual cosplay pieces, but also to the act of cosplay. While it began its life as a niche hobby, cosplay has evolved into a sophisticated artform that transcends age, gender, appearances, and cultural boundaries. Cosplayers create wearable costumes of their favourite characters from novels, comics and graphic novels, Anime, TV series, films, video games, and even their own original characters. Creating and wearing these costumes is as much about the visual as the theatrical, with cosplayers taking on the mannerisms and attitudes of the characters in order to truly showcase them in the real world.
Creating Cosplay
Cosplayers are highly accomplished crafters and innovative designers. The design of a cosplay includes the interpretation of a 2D design into a wearable costume, patternmaking, and fabric and material selection. Creating the cosplay includes sewing, sculpting, painting, accessory and prop-making, wig making, and shoe customisation, but could also include embroidery, 3D printing, and even the rigging of electrical elements like LED lights and moving accessories. The final touches of a cosplay incorporate make up, contact lenses, hairdos, and body painting.
Performance Art
After the creation comes the performance. To fully embody their chosen character, cosplayers employ their acting skills. One might notice a mild-mannered friend’s demeanour flip to brash, confident or sassy so as to truly capture the essence of the character they are depicting. This is because cosplay is multidimensional, and it is not only the look of the cosplay that conveys the character: it is also the human wearing the cosplay that must bring the character to life. Without the performance, the cosplay is all costume and no play.
Cosplay is Good for Mental Health
Many cosplayers turn to cosplay to free themselves from the day-to-day humdrum of their lives. We all know that life can be prescriptive at the best of times – perhaps even stifling at others. For many, cosplay is more than a pastime, and there is a lot of research available around the connection between cosplay and mental health. Stepping outside of yourself and acting as someone else allows you to explore different attitudes and ways of living.
Careers in Cosplay
There is a huge demand for custom-made cosplays and accessories. Not everyone wants to get glue under their fingernails or figure out how to sew like a pro. They turn to master cosplayers to create their costumes and props for them. Says Blu Rohbot Studios, “The exposure from being on the Comic Con Africa stage helped me turn my passion for cosplay into a career, turning creativity and dedication into opportunities to do what I love every day.” Many cosplayers have been able to monetise their incredible cosplays through social media, by selling designs, collaborating with brands, and attending conventions around the world showcasing their creations.
Meet International Cosplayers
The con brings local and international stars of cosplay to meet and greet with fans at custom stands in Cosplay Central, sign merchandise, and share their career highlights, experiences, and skills. They participate in live interviews on the Main Stage, where they also take questions from con-goers. In the international space, Comic Con Africa has announced the attendance of costume maker and cosplayer Going Ape, and cosplayer Yugoro. Both are well-known international cosplayers with over a decade of experience each.
The Cosplay Central Crown Championships
Comic Con Africa hosts the regional finals of the international Cosplay Central Crown Championships. This means that the overall champion of the Comic Con Africa competition gets flights and accommodation to MCM Comic Con in London the following year. Comic conventions held in countries around the world from the United States to Australia and Japan and all the way across Europe send their regional winners to compete in this prestigious competition. Our regional winner also receives a grand prize of R10,000 and a commemorative trophy, while category runners-up receive cash prizes between R3,500 and R6,000. At Comic Con Africa, The Cosplay Central Crown Championships contestants enter in advance and are judged by international professional cosplayers and industry experts over the course of several days, with hopefuls creating their fully custom entries for months in advance. Find out more about the international competition here: Cosplay Central Crown Champs MCM London and meet our championship contestants here: Cosplay Championship – Comic Con Cape Town | Africa 2026
Daily Cosplay Competitions for Casual Cosplayers
There’s something for everyone at Comic Con, and the festival hosts two casual cosplay competitions daily. This is the opportunity for entrants who may have bought their costume at a store, or whose costumes do not meet the 85% handmade requirements of the championship competition, to compete. Entrants sign up on the day at Cosplay Central, and these casual competitions are as much about panache and attitude as they are about the costumes. The winners score awesome prizes alongside the glory of placing first on the con’s Main Stage in front of cheering crowds. Around 480 casual contestants will compete over the four days of the con.
Telkom’s Next Gen Squad Cosplay Competition
Telkom VS Gaming is bringing the Next Gen Squad to Comic Con Africa 2026. Fans ready to step into character can compete for a share of R30,000 in cash prizes. Taking place on Saturday, 26 September on the Main Stage, the Next Gen Squad Cosplay Competition challenges fans to bring one of the squad’s four characters to life: S-Tech, Vibey Val, Mobile Mo, or Lucky Lou. A panel of judges will assess each cosplay on elements including overall look and presentation, creativity, character interpretation, stage presence and overall impact.
A Cosplay First with Toyota
Toyota is bringing their TTGE Cosplay Competition to Comic Con Africa – it’s cosplay, but for cars – and it’s the first vehicle-specific cosplay category the country has seen. Entrants are invited to design and build their own original cosplays inspired by any Toyota vehicle. Cosplays can be interpreted in any style, from full-on vehicle recreations to humanoid, futuristic, or stylised designs. The competition is structured to reward imagination and craft rather than budget, and entrants are encouraged to use DIY, recycled, and accessible materials.
Cosplay for Kids
Kids are just as welcome to participate in the daily casual comps as the adults. With a separate category just for them, they get their own time to shine and take home cool prizes. The kids cosplay comps will feature various themes in 2026, one of which is based on Pokémon in honour of the world celebrating 30 years of Pokémon in 2026.
Content and Education
Comic Con Africa hosts professional cosplayers, patternmakers, propmakers, acting coaches, and fashion industry professionals to speak at the con and share their knowledge and skills with con-goers. Fans are advised to check the festival’s programme at www.comicconafrica.co.za for more as there are too many topics to cover in just one article. The variety of talks, panels, and workshops offer invaluable educational content for cosplayers wanting to improve their skills and take their cosplays to the next level.
Comic Con Africa with Capitec takes place from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, from 9am to 6pm daily. Tickets are selling out fast!
Terms and conditions apply for all competitions. Please visit www.comicconafrica.co.za for more
