Málaga’s reported winners, a carefully scoped Halloween forecast, London’s costume displays and entry closure, and a small compatibility test before a big silicone pour.
La Opinión de Málaga reports Hermione Cosplay as Best in Show for a Juliette Necromancer costume from Sakizou at Saturday’s San Diego Comic-Con Málaga contest. It also names Ártica’s Diablo IV costume for Best Workmanship and describes four separate Judge’s Choice awards, including Miyuki Kurame’s Monster Hunter Odogaron armor and Ju Tsukino’s High Noon Leona from League of Legends. The convention runs October 1–4 at FYCMA in Málaga, Spain. These are newspaper-reported results, not an organizer-issued score sheet or a ranking of the event’s most popular fandoms. [1][2][7]
For your next buildThis meaningfully updates October 3’s programme-only coverage: a published results report now exists. Keep the maker, character and award together when sharing a build. The distinction between workmanship and overall presentation can help frame your own documentation, but an award does not reveal the materials or techniques used. Follow the credited report for photographs; no event images are reproduced here.
02 / CommunityOctober 1 company release · seasonal forecast
SCOPEretail forecast · not rankings
A retailer’s forecast is not a cosplay census
Spirit Halloween’s October 1 release highlights Toy Story, KPop Demon Hunters, Spider-Man, Power Rangers, mythological armor and fantasy looks among its seasonal costume themes. Published through PR Newswire, it is the retailer’s own promotional forecast for Halloween shopping, not independent convention reporting. The release describes its team watching entertainment, gaming, social media and nostalgia, but supplies no sample size, survey method or comparative sales table for the listed themes. Its confident trend language should not be converted into a global popularity claim. [3]
For your next buildUse the named themes as optional reference prompts, not evidence that your preferred character is rising or falling in popularity. For a group build, choose a shared silhouette or color cue that each maker can interpret at a workable scale. Keep the source label attached if you repeat the forecast: this is one North American retailer’s outlook, not a census of handmade cosplay or a prediction of what will dominate every convention.
London’s displays put the makers beside the characters
MCM London’s Cosplay Central programme advertises The Rascals’ full Mighty Nein costume display, inviting visitors to learn how the group brought Critical Role’s characters to life and meet the makers behind the work. A second display presents five live-action costumes from The Toymaker’s Key. The show runs October 23–25 at ExCeL London in the United Kingdom; the cosplay hub is on ICC Level 3 in the Capital Suite. These are announced displays, not a review of an exhibition already visited or a promise of handling access. [4][5][8]
For your next buildFollowing October 1’s Den Bosch co-creation story, approach a costume display with a process question: which detail changed between the reference, prototype and finished piece? Ask before touching or photographing. Record the maker’s explanation separately from what you infer by looking. The programme does not establish the exact materials used in each costume, a workshop reservation or a right to reproduce the display’s imagery.
04 / EventsExisting closure notice · checked October 4
13:00showcase sign-up limit · local time
Closed applications do not erase the on-site showcase
The same MCM London page explicitly says applications for the October 2026 cosplay shows are now closed. Separately, its daily Cosplay Showcase invites all ages, including purchased and wardrobe-assembled costumes, with on-the-day sign-up at Cosplay Central HQ before 1 pm. It warns that spaces can fill earlier. The under-12 Kids Cosplay Showcase is listed for Saturday and Sunday with no advance sign-up. These are different participation routes; the application closure should not be read as a cancellation of all cosplay activity. [4][5]
For your next buildDo not prepare a new advance competition application from an old promotional invitation. If you want the general showcase, check the current schedule and arrive early for the named on-site sign-up; 1 pm is a cutoff, not the performance time or a guaranteed place. A show ticket remains separate, and remaining ticket or showcase capacity has not been established. Accepted competitors should follow their own entrant correspondence.
05 / CraftEstablished manufacturer instructions · technique primer
TESTsmall patch · actual surface
Test the pattern surface before pouring the mold
Smooth-On’s Mold Star 30 instructions describe cure inhibition: contaminants on a pattern can leave addition-cure silicone tacky at the contact surface or prevent curing altogether. The manufacturer recommends a small compatibility test on a non-critical part of the pattern when uncertain. It specifically warns that sulfur-containing surfaces remain incompatible even when sealed, and that latex gloves can inhibit curing. For this product, the stated demold cure is six hours at 73°F/23°C; that is product-specific, not a timing rule for every silicone. [6][9]
For your next buildBefore duplicating a costume emblem or armor detail, test the actual prepared surface with the actual molding product, following its full technical and safety instructions. Record the pattern material, coating, product and cure conditions. A successful test on a different clay or finish does not establish compatibility. Smooth-On specifies ventilation, eye protection, long sleeves and vinyl gloves for this material. This extends September 30’s armor-material sample approach to molding; it is established guidance, not a new product release or an independent product comparison.
Make a plan
Event radar
Dates as listed at publication. Follow the organizer for changes.
Advance cosplay-show applications explicitly closed. General showcase has separate on-site sign-up before 1 pm, subject to capacity. Costume displays are announced, not reviewed.
Fandom → technique
On the floor
Scope: Spirit Halloween’s own seasonal release and Smooth-On’s product-specific instructions. No global popularity claims, attendance estimates or inferred build methods. [3][6]
Seasonal fandoms → a named retail lens
Spirit Halloween names Toy Story, KPop Demon Hunters and fantasy among its October 1 forecast themes. This is company promotion without a published comparative dataset, not a global cosplay ranking.
Build preparation → test the contact surface
Smooth-On recommends a small compatibility check for uncertain pattern surfaces. Applying that advice to a costume emblem is an editorial exercise, not measured adoption of silicone molding.
Checked October 4, 2026, America/Detroit. Five findings across five independent external source domains: a recent results report, a retailer’s October 1 forecast, two distinct angles from London’s existing programme and an established molding primer—not five overnight announcements. The prior seven editions were reviewed; Málaga returns only because reported results add substance. Today’s improvement adds a manufacturer-backed compatibility test and explicitly separates a retail forecast from measured cosplay popularity. London’s closure is an existing notice newly checked here, not a newly announced cancellation. The Málaga programme is indexed September 11 but carries a September 10 dateline. Undated guidance retains no publication date. No applications submitted, sponsored placements by CosplayGrid or reproduced photography.
