Malden Gaming District
The Malden Cosplay Celebration has something for everyone, whether you're an experienced cosplayer or just looking to learn more! The cosplay community will be hosting engaging panels, displaying amazing crafting and photography skills, showcasing stunning performances, and more at our yearly event! Completely FREE and guaranteed to be a fun time for all ages!
Thank you to everyone who attended our 2026 event!
Over 70 cosplayers attended, and we reached 150 people in the plaza during the idol showcase.
Our next event is:
Saturday, October 9th, 2027 at Malden City Hall Plaza!
(rain date Sunday, October 10th)
For updates and photos, check out our instagram @maldencosplaycelebration!
Photos taken by Barry
Thank you to:
Our sponsors - Malden Cultural Council for providing the grant funding, Malden Safe Streets, the City of Malden, Council President Amanda Linehan for funding food at Pearl Street, and Malden Community Connections Grant for funding the afterparty!
The local businesses we partnered with - VIGI Studio, Pearl Street Station, Maplewood Events Services, Cornucopia, Mixer, Santa Fe, Zenith Comics, Rock Spot, District Kitchen, Idle Hands, Ronori Beauty, Read My Lips Boston, Nebula Books, Crying Thaiger, Zuru Zuru, Phat Thaiger, and Thaiger Den!
Our volunteers - Miz Sylver, Symnon, Zakenna, RandomC, Onesadcatto, Lady Aria, Ky, Masha, Ross, Lisa, and Noah!
Our photographer and videographer Barry!
Everyone who hosted a panel or event, or performed!
It truly takes an entire community to make an event like this happen, and we are extremely grateful.
-From the MCC Organizers (Team Mike, Allie, Bunsonbunscosplay and NineHeartsNE, Leharc Blueheart, Oliviazira, and Ascalons)
Our sponsors: Malden Cultural Council, City of Malden, Malden Safe Streets, Council President Amanda Linehan
Afterparty Sponsors: Malden Community Connections Grant
Map
Events
City Hall Plaza
10:00 - 10:30: Opening Ceremony
By Malden Cosplay Celebration Organizers
An introduction to the day! Learn about all the great events and activities happening throughout the day.
10:30 - 11:00: Cosplay Magic Show
By The Nerds Magician
Card Tricks, mind reading with Anime, and even a Rubix cube?! Welcome to the magic of The Nerds Magician, Ryan Wallace. Ryan has been performing magic for over 20 years, and his show always gets the audience involved, cheering and laughing.
11:00 - 12:00: JPOP and KPOP Random Dance Play
By Jacky Ha & Nine Hearts NE
♪(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)♪ Anime & K-pop fans, it’s time to dance! Join us for an Anime & K-pop Random Play Dance featuring a mix of fan-favorite songs and trending hits. Know the choreography? Jump in! Don’t know it? Cheer on the dancers and enjoy the energy! Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just looking to have some fun, everyone is welcome!
11:30 - 12:00: Cosplay Deathmatch
By Miz Sylver & Oliviazira
Two cosplayers face off head to head for the crowd! There can only be one - and the audience’s cheers will decide the victor! Each winner acts out “slaying” their opponent and moves on in the bracket, until the audience decides their Cosplay Deathmatch Champion!
Limited capacity. Signups are on the day of the event, at our tent.
12:00 - 1:00: Cosplayer Interviews
By Miz Sylver
Want to be interviewed for some of our social media content? We’ll be interviewing cosplayers, asking about cosplay and community. We’re so excited to hear everyone’s stories!
If you would like to be interviewed but cannot make this timeslot, visit our tent or find Miz Sylver and we can find a time that works.
1:00 - 1:30: Cosplay Runway
By Miz Sylver & Oliviazira
Show off your cosplay! When you're announced, make sure to strike your best pose for the camera! We'll make all the pictures available afterwards!
Unlimited capacity. Show up 10 minutes beforehand to prepare.
2:00 - 2:30: Intro to Wota Culture: Call & MIX
By Aniwaza
Ever wondered what those people are "chanting" in unison at idol performances? Come learn about it as we dive into the culture of "Wota"! Learn these "chants" and elevate your concert experience!
2:30 - 4:30: Idol Showcase
By Nine Hearts NE
Join us for our highlight event - the Idol Showcase! You will see amazing performances from solos and groups! Don’t miss it!
4:30 - 5:00: Closing Ceremony
By Malden Cosplay Celebration Organizers
The grand finale! We'll offer some closing thoughts, pick the raffle winners for the Stamp Rally, and also give out some awards! And perhaps we’ll give some information about next year as well!
(only cosplayers who entered the Cosplay Deathmatch or Cosplay Runway are eligible to receive the awards)
VIGI Photography
10:00-1:00, 6:00-8:00: Studio Photoshoots
By VIGI Photography
Ever wanted to get photos of your cosplay in a real photo studio? Well, now you can! We’re excited to partner with VIGI Studio again to offer photoshoot packages for cosplayers.
Individual A ($40) - 10 minute photoshoot returning 1 professionally edited image and all raw photos
Individual B ($60) - 15 minute photoshoot returning 2 professionally edited images and all raw photos
Duo/Group ($120) - 30 minute photoshoot returning 4 professionally edited images and all raw photos (6 people max)
Zenith Comics
10:30 - 11:30
Love Live! School Idol Jeopardy!!
By Onesadcatto
Want to test your knowledge on Love Live! or at maybe learn something new about the series? Play some Love Live! themed Jeopardy and maybe win a prize or two! Right or wrong, do not worry. Participation is guaranteed to win a prize while supplies last. Can you win the "Final Live!" Jeopardy for the Ultimate Prize? Stop by and try your Rubesty!
Pearl Street Station
Free lunch will be provided at
Pearl Street Station during these panels
(courtesy of Council President Amanda Linehan)!
12:00 - 1:00: Level Up Your Sound Game!
An Intro to Audio Production for Idols & Performing Cosplayers
By Lady Aria
You! (yes you!) can create amazing sounding backing audio for your next masquerade skit or idol showcase performance! Join Lady Aria as she demonstrates how she makes a backing track with powerful and easy to learn (and did we mention free?!) open source software and the mic already built into your smartphone along with some editing basics and resources to help you conquor almost any audio challenge!
1:00 - 2:00: How to be a flying cosplayer (like on an airplane)
By Koditsa
Want to bring your giant sword to a con on the other side of the country but not sure how to get it on and off a plane in one piece? Come to this how-to panel to learn the tips and tricks of flying commercial airlines with your cosplays including how to pack large props, evade the dangers of airlines losing your cosplay, and some non-sponsored luggage recommendations!
Idle Hands Brewery
1:00 - 2:00: Speculative Fiction
Authors Panel & Signing
By Nebula Books
Come hear local authors speak about how speculative fiction - science fiction, fantasy, horror, and more - helps us find ourselves and imagine a better world.
2:00 - 5:00: Bookshop Popup & Author Signing
By Read My Lips Boston & Nebula Books
Whether it be romance, science fiction, fantasy, horror, or more, these bookshops have you covered! Buy your next great book, chat with authors, and perhaps have them sign your copy of their book!
7:00 - 11:00: Malden Cosplay Celebration Afterparty
By AniParty & Symnon
Featuring AniParty DJs and local music producer Symnon to fill your night with fun music to dance to!
Rock Spot Climbing
All day, cosplayers who want to try out
climbing can do so for only $10!
2:00 - 3:00: Rock Climbing: In Anime and Real Life
By Team Mike, Lisabesu, and Jayden
You may have watched the anime Iwakakeru: Sport Climbing Girls; now, see it in action at Rock Spot! We'll watch clips of Iwakakeru, with Rock Spot staff explaining and showcasing concepts as they're brought up. You might even be convinced to give rock climbing a try yourself! Cosplayers who attend will receive a 20% off coupon for a future visit.
Stamp Rally
Participate in our Stamp Rally to win prizes!
Take a tour of Malden’s Gaming District! Collect differently colored stickers from at least 7 local businesses to be entered into our Stamp Rally! Prizes include vouchers for a free photoshoot with VIGI Photography, a gift certificate to Read My Lips Boston, and more!
Be sure to return the card to our tent in City Hall Plaza by 4:30pm! Volunteers will mark your card and give you a raffle ticket.
Participating businesses are:
Cornucopia: 9:00am-1:30pm
Mixer Esports: 2:00pm-12:00am
Santa Fe: 11:00am-10:00pm
Zenith Comics: 11:00am-6:00pm
Rock Spot: 10:00am-9:00pm
Idle Hands: 7:30am-11:30am, 12:00pm-11:00pm
Ronori Beauty: 11:00am-8:00pm
District Kitchen: 11:30am-1:00am
(all times are for Saturday)
Deals
Santa Fe
We are running a fundraiser for Malden Safe Streets during our event! All customers who mention the fundraiser to the cashier will have a portion of their purchase donated to Malden Safe Streets - a nonprofit org dedicated to improving walking, rolling, and transit in Malden!
Rock Spot
$10 climbing for cosplayers during the event.
Cosplayers who attend the Iwakakeru Panel will receive a 20% off coupon for a future visit.
Ronori Beauty
Spin the wheel to win a discount, skincare, makeup, or kawaii goodies!
Mixer Esports
50% off for cosplayers during the event
Thaiger Den, Zuru Zuru,
Crying Thaiger, and Phat Thaiger
10% off for cosplayers for one month after the event (to get the discount, you must present your Stamp Rally card with at least one sticker on it).
Parking Passes
We have 50 free parking validation passes for the below parking garage. To acquire a free pass, visit the information table.
CBD Garage / SP+ Parking - 170 Centre St, Malden, MA 02148
If we are out of free passes, you can get 2 hour free parking validation to the same garages from these restaurants:
All Seasons Table, Cornocupia Foods, Exchange Street Bistro, Hugh O'Neils Restaurant, Ming's Seafood, Saigon Noodles, District Kitchen, Pho 99, Darna Restaurant
There is metered parking throughout Malden as well.
Weapon Prop Policy
Our prop policy is "no weapons or weapon props allowed". A "weapon prop" is any prop that is meant to represent a weapon that a character uses in their media. Think, prop swords, prop guns, etc. If you have any questions on what is considered a weapon prop, please contact us and we will get back to you!
If we see someone with a weapon prop, we will request that the prop be either stored somewhere (in a car, room, etc), or we will store it for you at our main tent, where someone will be present and watching during the entire event duration. You can retrieve your prop when you leave.
Why we have this policy:
Because this is a public outdoor event, we cannot control who will attend, and we cannot regulate people who come and go. Thus, having a system where we manually inspect and tag props becomes difficult. This is the same prop policy as Japan Fest Boston, a large outdoor event that has been going on for years.
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