Military uniforms, fake beards, and horns: what is banned at Russian cosplay festi...

Military uniforms, fake beards, and horns: what is banned at Russian cosplay festivals

In the fifth year of the war, numerous restrictions are in force at Russian cosplay festivals: military uniforms, angel wings, and performances to songs by “foreign agents” are all banned. «Verstka» studied the rules of 130 cosplay festivals held in Russia in 2026 and found out which restrictions occur most often.

At roughly half of the festivals, military uniforms, military cosplay, and symbols of security agencies are prohibited. Restrictions on military cosplay also vary: some festivals ban only the uniforms of active armies and security agencies, while others ban even historical looks.

At a festival in Kungur, costumes with angel wings, horns, tails, and demon hooves were banned. At two Moscow festivals, girls are not allowed to wear fake beards—the organizers fear this could be deemed “propaganda of gender transition.” And at one of the festivals, participants were banned from bringing even sheets of paper larger than A4.

“We assumed it was so no one could bring in campaign posters. People usually like to walk around with free hugs posters—free hugs. Not this time,” one cosplayer told «Verstka».

Organizers explain the restrictions by fear of denunciations, inspections, and fines.

Read about how Russia’s cosplay industry is balancing between repressive legislation and self-censorship, and whether there are cosplayers in the “special military operation zone,” on «Verstka»’s website (with a VPN):

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«Verstka»

Military uniforms, horns, and “sexual deviations”: what is banned at cosplay festivals in 2026

Festivals across Russia are imposing restrictions to avoid fines and inspections