MAGWest has announced that it has opened submissions for official organized cosplay gatherings during the 2026 event.

Attendees who want to host a gathering will have to fill out a form that includes the name of the fandom, where they want to host it, and what time they want the gathering to take place. Organizers will be responsible for managing the gathering, but MAGWest will have an official photographer on site for each gathering. Those who wish to organize a gathering have until July 31st to submit their cosplay gathering request for MAGWest 2026.

Organizers are also expected to follow and enforce MAGWest’s Code of Conduct, Safety and Security Policy, and Dress Code. This includes badges worn at all times, props having a safety tag, and cosplayers following the dress code of both the event and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose. Organizers who fail to uphold the policies will have their gathering canceled, and violators will have their badges confiscated.

Planning for MAGWest 2026

At the time of writing, Lotus Juice and Johnny Gioeli of Crush 40 are the only confirmed musical guests. Additional musical performers along with special guests will be announced in the coming weeks and months. Details about the concerts, indie game showcase, panels, and special events will also be announced in the future.

Badges for MAGWest 2026 are now on sale starting at $99, but the price will rise the closer it gets to the event. Hotel blocks for the event have also opened.

MAGWest is the West Coast spin-off of MAGFest, one of the largest video game music festivals. The event brings together industry insiders, composers, and video game-themed performers. The 2026 event will take place from August 14th to the 16th at the DoubleTree by Hilton in San Jose. This year’s theme is Undertale, the iconic 2015 RPG by Toby Fox.

To have an idea about the event, check out our coverage of the gaming line-up and the cosplay scene.

8Bit/Digi is an independent news outlet that provides insight into the video game and fandom community of the San Francisco Bay Area.