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7th-9th November 2025 - Leonardo Hotel, Milton Keynes

Competitions


These are your opportunities to win some amazing goodies!!

Some hosted by HotaruCon, attendees or collaborators!

If you'd like to host a competition with the HotaruCon communittee get in touch via our contact us form.

✨ ConBook Cover Competition ✨

Deadline: Midnight Sunday 29th of June 2025

This is one for all you artists out there! 👀

This year the competition is open to HotaruCon Attendees, Vendors AND so-far unregistered applicants!

The ConBook is every attendee's A5 printed pocket guide to the convention picked up for free in their own conbag at registration. It contains a map of the event, descriptions of all the panels, details on guests and various other useful pieces of information.

You’ve got THREE options!!!

You can submit a FRONT cover (Dimensions: W: 1748 H: 2480 px (300 DPI) CYMK or RGB*, .JPEG or .PNG)

You can submit a BACK cover (Dimensions: W: 1748 H: 2480 px (300 DPI) CYMK or RGB*, .JPEG or .PNG)

You can submit a COMBO FRONT-to-BACK cover (Dimensions: W: 3496 H: 2480 px (300 DPI) CYMK or RGB*, .JPEG or .PNG) (A solo artist may submit both or you can pair up with a friend and submit together!)

*Submissions in RGB will be converted to CYMK for print so some colours may differ on the final ConBook

We've included some helpful templates below to help you get started!

The rules of engagement are simple:

  1. NO AI
  2. Digital and traditional are allowed
    1. Please be able to supply a high resolution scan if submitting a traditional piece
  3. Feature at least one, if not all, of our Mascots preferably incorporating the Seasons theme
    1. Please do not include OCs, other licensed characters or mascots
    2. Original outfits (or cosplays) for our mascots are allowed
    3. Firefly can be in his human or cat form
  4. Post that you're entering and your entry to your social media of choice (Facebook, Instagram, X, BlueSky, Threads or TikTok*)
    1. Tag us @hotaruconuk
    2. Use #hotarucon #hotarucon4competition #hotarucon2025
    3. *You can also just post to our Discord server if you’re not on any of the above
  5. Leave a space for the HotaruCon 4 Seasons logo on any FRONT cover designs (we've included examples below so you can see how it looks with your design)
    1. Please keep in mind we may need to re-size or reposition the logo so please be able to provide a copy of your artwork without the logo if you're selected
    2. BACK cover designs don't need to include space for a logo
  6. Leave a space for the back cover blurb on any BACK cover designs (see Back Cover Template below)
    1. Please keep in mind we may need to re-size or reposition the text and QR code so please be able to provide a copy of your artwork without the blurb if you're selected
    2. BACK cover designs don't need to include space for a logo
  7. COMBO FRONT-to-BACK covers must include a space for the logo on the FRONT and the blurb on the BACK. Keep in mind that for printing the FRONT portion of the design is on the RIGHT (see Combo Cover Template below)
  8. Due to the cutting process when printing any border decoration may look misaligned. We’re happy for you to submit artwork with borders but please keep this in mind. For the same reason, if you are submitting a FRONT-to-BACK spread or paired art for the FRONT and BACK avoid anything that relies  heavily on a perfect centre line. As much as we try to ensure quality at printing, these things do happen.
  9. Please be able to provide an unwatermarked copy for print, winners will be credited in half page bios within the conbook and tagged on social media (detailed in ✨ Prizes ✨)
  10. In the event that NO solo BACK cover designs are submitted but a solo FRONT cover is selected, we will consider other FRONT cover submissions as a BACK cover.

Finally: Emphasis on the friendly competition, like HotaruCon , the aim is to celebrate the creativity in fandom. So bring you A game and cheer each other on.

After the deadline the Committee will review the entries and the winner will be featured on the front cover of the ConBook. A small bio and link to socials of the winner's choice will also be featured inside the ConBook, as well as social media posts tagging the artists.

✨ Front Cover Templates ✨

✨ Back Cover Templates ✨

✨ Combo Cover Templates ✨

✨ How to Enter ✨

  1. Let us know via Cover Art Competition on the Contact Us page
  2. Tell us your social handles so we can keep our eyes peeled 👀👀
  3. Tell us if you'll be submitting a FRONT, BACK, paired or solo Combo FRONT-to-BACK cover or if you haven't decided yet!
  4. If you're submitting a FRONT cover if you're happy for it to be conisdered for the BACK cover as well.
  5. We'll be on hand to answer any of your questions and good luck ✨

✨ Prizes ✨

If separate FRONT and BACK cover winners, or combo entries from paired aritsts, are selected each artist will receive:

  1. A complementary ticket code to register yourself (if you're not already registered) or a friend (if you are already registered)
  2. An additional commemorative copy of the ConBook to share with family and friends
  3. This year’s convention t-shirt in the size of their choice
  4. A full set of this year’s collectable badge designs
  5. A unique HotaruCon Artist badge for their collection
  6. An A4 plastic print of their design
  7. Additional goodies at the committee’s discretion awarded at The Closing Ceremony on Sunday 9thth of November 2025 (In previous years that has included things like complimentary tickets to the NEXT HotaruCon…you know…should there be one)

If combined FRONT and BACK cover winners from one artist are selected they will receive:

  1. Two complementary ticket codes to register themselves or friends
  2. An additional commemorative copy of the ConBook each to share with family and friends
  3. This year’s convention t-shirt in the size of their choice
  4. A full set of this year’s collectable badge designs
  5. A unique HotaruCon Artist badge for their collection
  6. An A4 plastic print of their design
  7. Additional goodies at the committee’s discretion awarded at The Closing Ceremony on Sunday 24th of November 2024 (In previous years that has included things like complimentary tickets to the NEXT HotaruCon…you know…should there be one)

✨ Previous Examples ✨

HotaruCon 3's back cover by Boatiee and front cover by CaptainM00gs respectively:

HotatuCon 2's back cover by IdentityShell and front cover by Boatiee respectively:

HotatuCon's back cover by Whisksarebae and front cover by CeriseQueen respectively: