MAGFest Dress Code

In consultation with our host venue, we have put together this dress code to provide greater clarity on what attire is and is not permitted at Super MAGFest, and we are committed to enforcing it as fairly and consistently as possible.

As with all our policies, this dress code applies in all MAGFest event spaces, which includes the entire convention center area, including hallways and elevators. It also includes MAGFest-managed areas in the hotel (e.g. Belvedere Lobby Bar, POSE Lounge, panel rooms & queuing areas, security) as well as high-traffic areas in the hotel (the atrium, the gazebo, elevators & escalators).

These rules cannot cover and are not intended to cover every possible situation. Therefore, please note that final calls are solely at the discretion of senior Festival Security staff (FestSec) or senior event leadership (e.g. employees, division heads, Board members). If you have questions or concerns about what is permitted, either before or after the event, you may contact us at security@magfest.org.

For all genders and body types, in all poses, in all MAGFest event spaces, at all times:

• Badges are required and must be easily visible to staff. Badge pickup is located at Registration, inside Expo E. Help us help you: holding up your badge when entering crowded spaces makes it easier for staff to identify and permit your entry!

• Prop check ribbons are required for handheld accessories and must be easily visible to staff. The prop check table is located outside Expo E. Note that staff may request that you obtain a prop check ribbon for costume pieces that are not handheld, if they judge them to be potentially dangerous or dangerous-looking.

• The nipples and at least 2” of surrounding skin must be covered by opaque, solid fabric. This also applies to any cosplay pieces that could be construed as bare skin (e.g. silicone chest pieces, whether masc or fem).

• The skin of the buttocks must be fully covered by opaque, solid fabric. Skin-tone tights or leggings are acceptable, but please be aware that they are difficult to distinguish from a distance, so you may still be flagged down by staff for proof.

• The genitals must be fully covered by opaque, solid fabric, which must be loose enough that no outlines or features of the genitals are distinguishable. Dance belts are recommended for those with penises.

• Soled footwear is required. Roller skates, inline skates, socks, or other footwear without a conventional sole are not permitted. Shoes are not required in the pool area, of course, but they must be worn to and from the pool area.

• Hate speech and hate symbols are not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, historical symbols that may appear in video games or other entertainment media.

• Body paint, fake blood, makeup, and glitter must be properly sealed and dry so that it does not transfer to surfaces or to other people. None of these things counts as “opaque, solid fabric” for the purposes of the previous rules; in other words, body paint is not a replacement for clothing!

• All prop guns must have an orange tip in accordance with applicable laws and general firearm safety best practices. Please understand that a prop may be considered in violation of this policy regardless of whether it violates the law.

• Handcuffs, leashes, and other connective gear may not connect you to another person or limit your own movement.

• Costume elements that obscure your vision must be removed before traveling through event spaces OR you must have a handler to guide you.

Items that are NEVER permitted, whether as part of a cosplay or for any other reason:

• Live firearms, including airsoft, BB, and paintball guns

• Live ammunition, flammables, or explosives, including fireworks and sparklers

• Loaded prop guns, water guns, or other projectile weaponry/toys. As a reminder, all prop guns must have an orange tip in accordance with applicable laws and general firearm safety best practices. Please understand that a prop may be considered in violation of this policy regardless of whether it violates the law.

• Metal props, including pipes, poles, swords, knives, guns, large chains, etc.

• Items or devices that create smoke, fog, or similar output

• Nunchucks, paddles, or other items designed to be swung

• Roller skates, inline skates, or stilts

• This list is not exhaustive and we reserve the right to add to it if something comes up that may present a danger to you or to others. Again, any final calls are at the discretion of our staff. 

Other notes:

• Cosplay (or any clothing choice) is not consent. Do not catcall or otherwise harass anyone. Always ask before touching or taking a photograph. Respect boundaries if someone says no or seems uncomfortable.

• The dress code applies regardless of activity. Please ensure your outfit covers all the necessary areas while crouching, bending over, dancing, posing, and so on. Consider body tape or pasties if your outfit is likely to cause exposure while moving. 

• For your own safety and that of others, please secure anything that dangles before engaging in energetic movement or before getting onto an escalator (e.g. badge lanyards, low-hanging or draping fabric, loose straps, etc.). 

• Mobility aids and medical equipment will not be restricted; however, you may be asked to remove modifications that pose a danger to other attendees. MAGFest reserves the right to check any medical device that doubles as a prop or that could be mistaken for one. Please stop by the prop check table outside Expo E for a ribbon to prevent repeated questioning.

• Clothing, costumes, or accessories may be removed, cut, or otherwise damaged by EMS or medical personnel to administer care in the case of an emergency. 

If your outfit does not meet these criteria, you WILL BE ASKED TO change before returning to event spaces.

Likewise, if your prop is not approved and visibly tagged with a prop check ribbon, you will be asked to visit the prop check table outside of Expo E to get it approved, or you will be asked to return it to your room or vehicle if it cannot be approved. Repeated violations may result in further sanctions, up to and including having your badge revoked without refund, being removed from the premises, and/or being barred from attending future MAGFest events.

Remember that a dress code is not a moral judgment; if we ask you to change, it is for the safety and comfort of you, other attendees, and our hosts at the Gaylord. Please respect and support our staff in upholding these rules!