Darin De Paul to Host BlizzCon 2026 Night

Blizzard Entertainment announced that voice actor Darin De Paul will host BlizzCon 2026’s Community Night, closing the first day with a celebration of fan creativity.

De Paul, known for voicing Reinhardt in Overwatch and N’Zoth in World of Warcraft, will serve as Community Night’s master of ceremonies.

Judges announced for this year’s contests

The submission deadline for Community Night contests is approaching, and Blizzard revealed the panel of judges evaluating entries. The Cosplay Contest will be judged by an international group of creators, including past winners and industry professionals.

Tiffany Gordon Cosplay won Best in Show at BlizzCon 2023 for her portrayal of Lilith. She focuses on crafting costumes and props from materials like leather, foam, and fabric, and offers tutorials to help others build their own cosplays.

SameerTikkaMasala, a cosplayer from India with over 40 awards, joins the panel. Since 2016, he has worked in film and television, applying his expertise to design costumes, props, and sets. His judging experience includes some of the largest cosplay competitions worldwide.

The panel also features Kamui Cosplay, a duo recognized for their elaborate costumes and DIY content on social media. Cinderys, a professional cosplayer and 3D artist, won BlizzCon’s Grand Prize and Outstanding Creation awards in 2019 for her Prime Evil Leah cosplay. She streams her crafting process and shares her work at conventions.

Cestlasara has been cosplaying since 2002 and specializes in sewn armor. A Community Night finalist in 2018 and 2019, she later joined Blizzard as an IT Support Engineer. This year, she will also serve as a BlizzCon Ambassador.

While external judges evaluate the cosplay contest, Blizzard’s creative teams will assess entries in the Art, Short Film, and Talent categories, continuing their past practice.

Deadline looms for creators

The submission window for all Community Night contests closes on May 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM PDT. With just over one week left, the company is encouraging creators to finalize their entries for a chance to showcase their work on the convention’s main stage.

Community Night has long been a highlight of BlizzCon. The event offers fans a platform to display their passion for Blizzard’s games, often drawing hundreds of submissions. Winners receive recognition, prizes, and the opportunity to present in front of thousands of attendees.

Additional information about the contests, judging criteria, and BlizzCon 2026 is available on the official website.