The prize pool for the cosplay contest at The International 2025 has been announced

At the cosplay contest at The International 2025, a prize pool of €18,500 will be up for grabs. The announcement was made by the event organizers and sponsors — the SteelSeries brand and tournament operator PGL.

Anyone can apply to participate in the cosplay contest, but the organizers reserve the right to reject entries that do not meet their criteria. The rules prohibit nudity, dangerous weapons, pyrotechnics, liquids incorporated into costumes, laser pointers, and any other elements that could harm the audience or surroundings. Costumes must not exceed one meter in height or width, and the design must be maneuverable enough for the cosplayer to walk the runway unaided.

All accredited participants will go through an offline selection process on September 11 near the venue of The International 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. Judges will select ten cosplayers for the shortlist — all of whom will have the opportunity to present their cosplay on the TI14 stage. Four winners will be chosen in the following categories: “Best Performance,” “Best Technical Execution,” “Outstanding Transformation,” and “Judges’ Choice.”

The International 2025 will take place from September 4 to September 14, 2025, and will be held in two stages.

As previously reported by CyberScore, Valve has begun accepting media coverage applications for The International 2025.