Pop Culture Hiroshima

Overload Preliminaries

A NEW Cosplay Competition has arrived for Overload 2026!
This year Overload will be selecting the first ever duo to represent New Zealand at Pop Culture Hiroshima (PCH) 2026 in Japan.

As an official NZ partner, Overload will be hosting a New Zealand cosplay competition for teams of two as part of the PCH programme. The winning team will then travel to Japan to represent New Zealand in PCH for the international performance showcase.

About PCH

Pop Culture Hiroshima (PCH) is a Japanese pop culture convention held in Hiroshima City that focuses on ‘otaku’ culture. 

The event features cosplay, anime music, talk sessions with voice actors, stage shows, and more. Representing cosplayers are invited from around the world to participate in various events, including a Cosplay Parade and Stage Performance. 

PCH is an incredible opportunity for cultural exchange and international friendship within the global community.

Eligibility

Both team members must:

  • Be New Zealand citizens
  • Be over the age of 18 at the time of Overload 2026
  • Have a valid passport and be available to travel and participate at PCH (approx. October 31 – November 1, 2026)

Costume and Characters Requirements

  • Entries must be duos (two people)
  • Characters must be from the same series
  • Characters may be from any Asian media, including:
    anime, manga, manhwa, manhua, donghua, live-action TV series, video games, or mobile games

  • Costumes must not have previously won another cosplay competition

Rules

A full set of rules can be found here.

Judging Criteria Summary

Please note that the judging criteria is different to the main Overload Cosplay Competition and we highly advise looking at our scoring breakdown and rules before starting!

The focus of the PCH Overload competition is to create an engaging and enjoyable performance.

You do not need to select a complicated outfit/character design to get full marks. Construction points are awarded for neat and clean construction as well as the % of the costume you have constructed yourself. Range of techniques and difficulty of techniques will not be scored.

You may enter with purchased costumes or components. However, you are only able to score points in the construction category for the elements you have made yourself.

This criteria has been designed to support cosplayers in choosing characters and stories they love and want to represent the most on stage. 

If you are seeking a competition with a strong craftsmanship focus, we recommend entering the Overload Cosplay Competition.

Judges

Overload PCH prelims will be judged by an international panel of judges. Stay tuned!

Prize

The winning duo will receive:

  • 2x Round-trip airfares to PCH in Japan 
    (both competitors must depart from the same NZ airport)
  • Accommodation for the duration of the PCH event
  • A scheduled itinerary of events and tours provided by the PCH organisers.

Important Dates

Submissions open
Friday May 1st 2026

Submission closes
 Midnight Sunday 2nd August 2026

Acceptance emails sent out at latest by
Sunday 9th August 2026

Overload Competition
Sunday 27th September 2026 (Overload Event: 26 – 27th September) 
Time TBC

PCH Japan Event
October 31 and November 1 2026

FAQ

Can I compete in both the cosplay competitions? (PCH Overload Prelims and the Overload Cosplay competition)

Yes! These must be different costumes though.

Is there a global final or judging in Japan?

No. PCH in Japan is not a competition.
The team selected in New Zealand will participate as invited representatives, taking part in performances (like repeating their NZ performance) and cultural exchange activities rather than competing for awards.

What costs should the NZ representatives (winners) be prepared to cover?

While the prize covers your major travel and accommodation, winners should budget for the following personal expenses:

  • Transport: Travel to/from NZ airports and all ground transport within Japan (airport transfers, local trains/buses).
  • Excess Baggage: Costs for extra or oversized bags are not covered. We recommend keeping your stage sets simple for your performance.
  • Meals: Meals, drinks, and personal spending. (A 5000 yen per person meal subsidy is provided for the event period.)
  • Insurance: Travel insurance is highly recommended.

Have a question about the PCH Overload preliminaries? Please reach out to us at [email protected]

We look forward to seeing your applications!

Submissions Open Friday May 1st 2026