One of my favorite parts of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is seeing just how creative Disney fans can get, and Mousequerade: The Ultimate Disney Costume Contest once again delivered. There’s something especially fun about seeing Disney Parks-inspired costumes take the stage, and this year brought everything from King Arthur Carrousel to Pirates of the Caribbean, plus a LOT of Muppets!
Mousequerade has been part of D23 since 2015, giving fans a chance to show off original, handmade costumes inspired by Disney characters, films, attractions, and plenty of deep-cut references.
And these aren’t costumes thrown together the week before D23. Submissions for the 2026 competition closed back in April, giving you an idea of how much planning goes into simply making it to the stage. Finalists spend countless hours sewing, painting, sculpting, programming, 3D printing, and sourcing materials before finally modeling their creations in front of hundreds of fellow Disney fans.
Contest rules require costumes to be original and handmade rather than purchased or professionally created. They also have to fit through a standard 80-by-36-inch doorway when not fully worn. Technology is encouraged, with everything from 3D printing to programmable lighting and animated effects allowed.
This year’s creations incorporated satin, velvet, taffeta, rhinestones, foam, polymer clay, feathers, vinyl, shells, and more. One costume alone reportedly contained 30,000 crystals and 500 LED lights!
Meet the 2026 Mousequerade Judges
Returning for her third time as host, Nina West opened Mousequerade with an original musical number before introducing Disney Legend Jodi Benson and D23 head Michael Vargo in the audience.
This year’s judging panel included Ashley Eckstein, the original voice of Ahsoka Tano; Bobby Kim, vice president and global creative director for Disney Consumer Products; and actress, writer, producer, and host Yvette Nicole Brown.
“The bar has been raised,” Eckstein said after seeing the finalists. Kim, judging Mousequerade for the first time, added, “I am blown away by the talent, originality, and creativity.” And Brown had an observation I can certainly get behind: “And there are so many Muppets, which makes me very happy.”
Same, Yvette. Same.
The Mousequerade Categories and Prizes
Competitors were divided into two main categories: Solo Entry and Cast of Characters, the latter allowing groups of two to eight people.
First-place winners in those categories received $2,300, while second-place winners received $500. The new Innovation & Technology Award, sponsored by AT&T, came with a $500 prize, as did the Audience Choice Award, which was decided by fans in attendance through QR-code voting.
Finalists were judged on craftsmanship, originality, color and materials, storytelling, creative use of Disney, and their onstage presentation.
Disney Parks Take the Mousequerade Stage
Some of my favorites naturally came straight from Disney Parks history.
The big winner was Julieanna Trinidade’s “A Jest of a Carrousel Ride,” inspired by Disneyland’s King Arthur Carrousel. The elaborate costume paired a corseted top with puffed sleeves and an intricate skirt, topped by a rotating headpiece featuring a motorized, 3D-printed carousel horse that slowly moved up and down the centerpole.
It won first place in the Solo Entry category AND the Innovation & Technology Award!
Especially fitting for Disneyland just next door to the convention center’s King Arthur Carrousel has been spinning in Fantasyland since opening day in 1955, with many of its horses dating back more than 90 years.
There was “The Auctioneer and the Redhead,” recreating the famous Pirates of the Caribbean figures originally created by Marc Davis. The performers even mimicked the poses and movements of the attraction’s Audio-Animatronics while onstage! Many fans in the crowd started chanting “We wants the redhead!”
And in a group look that surprised many Disney World fans, Animal Kingdom‘s odd and short-lived KiteTails was represented. Simba and Zazu “kites” breezed across the stage, led by a jet ski, before crashing along the side of the stage. Incredible.
I love seeing this kind of thing at Mousequerade! Disney character cosplay is always fun, but recreating an Audio-Animatronic, attraction costume, or even a piece of park décor takes Disney fandom to another level.
The 2026 D23 Mousequerade Winners
The announced winners were:
- Solo Entry, First Place: “A Jest of a Carrousel Ride” – Julieanna Trinidade — $2,300 prize
- Solo Entry, Second Place: “Light the Lamp, Not the Rat” – Ms. Leisure — $500 prize
- Cast of Characters, First Place: “The Muppet Gala” – Glimmerwood — $2,300 prize
- Innovation & Technology: “A Jest of a Carrousel Ride” – Julieanna Trinidade — $500 prize
- Audience Choice: “To Pizza and Beyond” – Charlotte Kryska and friend — $500 prize
— The 2026 Mousquerade winners!
The Audience Choice winner “To Pizza and Beyond” featured Buzz Lightyear and Woody with a Pizza Planet twist, initially appearing disguised as a burger box and drink cup before revealing the characters.
And with The Muppet Gala taking the Cast of Characters win, all those Muppets onstage received some well-deserved recognition — even the Muppet Show curtain with Statler and Waldorf adorned on the back.
Mousequerade continues to be one of the most fun pieces of D23 for me. These fans have already spent months planning and creating their costumes before they ever arrive in Anaheim. Seeing those creations finally walk across the stage, is always a highlight of the weekend! Even if they don’t make it into the Moousquerade, there’s still plenty of fun cosplays to see around the convention center all 3 days!
— Header image and select Mousquerade stage photos credit: D23
