| APPLY FOR 2026 | |
| COSPLAY MEETUP Open September 27 2025 12:00PM ET Closes November 30 2025 11:59PM ET or when full | CHERRY BLOSSOM STAGE Open October 1 2025 12:00PM ET Closes December 15 2025 11:59PM ET or when full |
Welcome Cosplayers, Cosplay Designers, Performers, and Photographers!
We are here to officially schedule your meetup as part of the convention. Our goal is to help organize and run meetups to create a more seamless, fun experience for all in attendance. We will be scheduling cosplay groups between these locations: the Gazebo, Balcony Right, Fountain, and Outside (Atrium Level Garden). Space for performance groups to meet up and perform will once again be located in the Cherry Blossom Ballroom.
The final schedule will be published with the convention schedule. We will email all the accepted organizers with their time slot as soon as the schedule is finalized.
REASONS TO SCHEDULE WITH US:
- You will have an official slot with no time/location conflicts with other groups.
- Your photoshoot/performance will be on our official schedule, as well as listed on our track in Guidebook (Cosplay Meetup and Cherry Blossom Stage).
- Katsucon Staff will help you keep things organized, safe, and most importantly, fun.
For additional questions, suggestions or requests, please email us at [email protected]
COSPLAY MEETUP
We are here to help officially schedule and coordinate your group cosplay photos in the Gaylord’s most popular areas. By reserving with Katsucon, you are guaranteed the space and time slot for your group with the Meetup Team’s presence to maintain order and assist you if needed.
Cosplay Meetups for Katsucon 2025, will occur Friday & Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and Sunday from 11am to 3pm.
We will be scheduling cosplay groups between the following locations: the Gazebo, Balcony Right, Fountain, and the Outside – Atrium Level Garden.
Want to take photos at Katsucon’s famous icon – the Gazebo? We will have a Gazebo Open Session for everyone, such as small groups and individuals, to take a few photos without having to book a meetup on Friday and Saturday from 1pm-2pm and 5pm-6pm. Line up will begin 5 minutes prior to the start.
Outside scheduling has also been made available. Note that by agreeing to move outside, your meetup will be added to the schedule, but Katsucon Staff will not be present and cannot guarantee the weather cooperation. In the event of inclement weather, we unfortunately are not able to rebook or move meetups. The current popular location for outside shoots is Outside-Atrium Level Gardens, but please feel free to indicate a different location when applying.
All Katsucon scheduled cosplay meetups are open for attendees to participate in and to photograph.
COSPLAY MEETUP POLICIES FOR 2026
Applications are reviewed and approved on a “first come, first serve” basis
The number of participants will be limited at each location:
- Gazebo – 30 to 50 participants
- Balcony Right – 10 to 30 participants
- Fountain – more than 50 participants
- Outside (Atrium Level Garden) – no limit
Cosplay Meetup photoshoots will be limited to 30-minute slots.
- 1-hour photoshoots can be requested for the Fountain and Outside areas only.
The primary organizer(s) must be pre-registered for the convention.
Only one meetup per fandom/primary organizer will be approved.
- If you are a cosplay group who will apply for multiple fandoms, please list a different member of your group as the primary organizer for each request.
Duplicate fandoms/organizers will be waitlisted until applications have closed.
- If approved, duplicate fandoms will be scheduled for different days.
- Sub-fandoms (i.e. a specific grouping of characters or a focused theme/costume set within a fandom) will be waitlisted to give priority to a general fandom request but can be scheduled on the same day.
We cannot guarantee schedule conflicts with main event programming.
An organizer must be present at their scheduled meetup. Meetups without an onsite organizer will be canceled.
Katsucon Staff cannot watch anyone’s personal belongings. Please have a friend available to watch or secure them prior to the photoshoot.
Unofficial meetups are still allowed but are not under our purview. Any location or time outside of official Katsucon Meetup areas are not under our control.
All convention rules must be followed during meetups including the Attendee, Photography, Dress Code, Cosplay Prop, and COVID policies.
If you need to make any changes to your application (i.e. add/remove organizers, change event/group name, or cancel), please email us.
For additional questions, suggestions or requests, please email us at [email protected]
CHERRY BLOSSOM STAGE
Are you a performer or group who wants to showcase your talents, or just looking for a practice space? Are you a DJ who wants to share your mixes with the masses? The Cherry Blossom Stage is the right place for you! Held in the Cherry Blossom Ballroom, the Cherry Blossom Stage is an open room for you to use for performance related purposes!
We provide a basic setup for performers: a stage, a speaker system with aux port and wired microphones. Performers are welcome to bring anything else you might need for your event, such as: additional speakers, additional microphones, an mp3/phone/computer/flash drive for your music, and any additional cables needed to power and connect to your devices.
Dance space and seating will be available for attendees joining us at the Cherry Blossom Stage.
Please bring water if you are performing or attending an event where you may be dancing!
CHERRY BLOSSOM STAGE POLICIES FOR 2026
Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
The primary organizer(s) must be pre-registered for the convention.
Links to active social media, videos, or setlist will be required.
Time requests are 25-minute slots for single/group performances and 55-minute slots for multigroup performances; please ensure your performance accurately reflects your runtime.
We cannot guarantee schedule conflicts with main event programming.
Recording and photography are allowed within the room. If you are a performer who does not wish to be on camera or have a designated camera operator, please notify the Katsucon Staff in the room and we will announce and provide “No Recording or Photography” signage during your performance.
Katsucon Staff cannot watch anyone’s personal belongings; please have a friend available to watch or secure them prior to the photoshoot
All convention rules must be followed during performances including the Attendee, Photography, Dress Code, Cosplay Prop, and COVID policies.
If you need to make any changes to your application (i.e. add/remove organizers, change event/group name, or cancel), please email us.
For additional questions, suggestions or requests, please email us at [email protected]
MEETUP COORDINATION SCHEDULE
Schedule will also be available on the official Katsucon Guidebook under our tracks Cosplay Meetup and Cherry Blossom Stage.
KATSUCON 2026 COSPLAY MEETUP SCHEDULE
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KATSUCON 2026 CHERRY BLOSSOM STAGE SCHEDULE
TBA