Hong Kong Team's "Monster Hunter" Cosplay Crowned Grand Champions! "World Cosplay Championship 2026" Report

"World Cosplay Summit 2026," an event bringing together anime and gaming-loving cosplayers from 40 countries and regions to Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, was held over three days from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2.

On August 2, Day 2 and the final day of World Cosplay Summit 2026, the "World Cosplay Championship 2026" was held at the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Main Hall, featuring stage performances competing for the title of the world's top cosplayers.

At the World Cosplay Championship 2026, representative cosplayers who won preliminary rounds held in their respective countries and regions donned handmade cosplay costumes to deliver 2-minute-and-30-second stage performances. Rankings were determined by the combined score of costume quality and stage performance.

Guest judges included voice actor Toshio Furukawa, singer and personality Shoko Nakagawa, Kabuki actor Seishiro Sawamura II, along with Taro Maki (producer of "In This Corner of the World"), Yosuke Saito (Executive Officer / Executive Producer at Square Enix Co., Ltd.), and Tomokazu Tashiro (music producer and songwriter behind tracks like "Hare Hare Yukai").

Joining them were last year's Grand Champions from Team USA, McKayla and Heidi, who watched over the cosplayers' performances.

The event also featured a special live performance by JO☆STARS ~TOMMY, Coda, JIN~, known for "JOJO Sono Chi no Kioku ~end of THE WORLD~", the opening theme for the TV anime "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders", energizing the entire venue.

Beyond the quality of the handcrafted costumes, the 2-minute-and-30-second stage routines—utilizing props and screen visuals—were packed with each representative team's passion and humor, earning high praise from the judges. Following the special awards, 3rd place went to Team Brazil for their cosplay of Alphen and Shion from "Tales of Arise", while 2nd place was awarded to Team Canada, who cosplayed Akira Gunji and Sho Tenkubashi from "Tokyo Aliens".

And taking the title of Grand Champions was Team Hong Kong, who cosplayed as Felyne and Hunter from "Monster Hunter".

The event concluded with a performance of the official theme song "We Can Start!!" by SAKURA GRADUATION (Sakuragu), the official supporters of World Cosplay Summit 2026.