The Philippine GameDev Expo (PGDX) 2026 has announced a revamped Cosplay Competition that combines online community voting with a live stage finals, giving fans a direct role in selecting this year’s finalists.
The competition, which will culminate during PGDX 2026 from July 24 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, aims to highlight the country’s growing cosplay community while providing performers with greater visibility and cash prizes.
Community voting determines the Top 10 finalists
Unlike traditional cosplay contests that rely solely on judges, this year’s PGDX competition introduces an online voting phase where fans and gamers will help determine the finalists.
Community votes will select the Top 10 cosplayers, all of whom are guaranteed to receive cash prizes based on their final online rankings.
The format places greater emphasis on fan engagement while recognizing creators who have built strong support within the local gaming and cosplay communities.
Live performances will decide the champions
After advancing through online voting, the Top 10 finalists will compete live on the PGDX main stage before thousands of attendees.
A panel of judges will evaluate each performance to determine the competition’s overall winners. The judging panel includes Myrtle Sarrosa, Roxanne Kho, and Loki Heart.
Following the live performances, judges will select the Top 3 winners, who will receive the competition’s highest cash prizes.
PGDX highlights cosplay alongside game development
While PGDX primarily focuses on the Philippine game development industry, cosplay has become one of the event’s major attractions, bringing together gamers, creators, developers, and pop culture enthusiasts.
By integrating online participation with live performances, organizers aim to expand community involvement while giving cosplayers an opportunity to showcase their craftsmanship before local and international game developers attending the expo.
According to the organizing committee, the new format is designed to recognize both the digital effort of building community support and the creativity demonstrated through live performances.
More details to be announced
PGDX said additional information, including the complete competition mechanics and prize breakdown, will be announced through its official social media channels in the lead-up to the event.
The cosplay competition forms part of PGDX 2026, which returns to the SMX Convention Center Manila from July 24 to 26, bringing together game developers, publishers, students, content creators, esports personalities, and gaming fans for three days of exhibitions, networking, business matchmaking, and community activities.
