2026 MODEL CONTEST

We’re baaaaaaaaaack for 2026!

Welcome back to the annual Anime North Model Contest. Last year we had a staggering number of amazing entries and we expect the competition to be as fierce as ever in 2026, so pick out your kits, ready your tools, and let inspiration take hold; it’s time to get building!

The contest will take place at Anime North on May 22-24, 2026. It is open only to those at the convention. Judging and Awards Ceremony will take place on May 24th, and entry cutoff is at Sunday, 11:30 AM.

There will be NO GBWC at Anime North this year. Bandai has decided to postpone GBWC to 2027. See the official Bandai announcement: https://gbwc.bandai-hobby.net/en/faq/

However, we have exciting news to share! We are pleased to introduce a new category to this year’s Model Contest: Gundam Tiny Scale!

Tiny Scale will now include SD Model kits, as well as Bandai Artifact, Gundam Assemble, and Shokugan Gundam Superior Define kits. In addition, for this year only – we’re accepting qualifying entries to this new category EVEN IF they’ve won in a prior years contest! Competition will be fierce!

We will have then have 8 categories this year:

Gundam Open – Large Scale
Gundam Open – Small Scale
Gundam Open – Tiny Scale
Gundam Out-of-Box – All Scales
Other Mecha – All Scales
Open Figures Sci-fi/Fantasy/Retro – All Scales
Open Vehicles Sci-fi/Fantasy/Retro – All Scales

In honour of the 10th year anniversary of Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans, any entries that utilize an official Gundam IBO model kit will also be entered in this year’s Special Themed Category – Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans.

We hope to see new and returning contestants for this year’s Anime North Model Contest!!

Please see the FULL RULES set in this link below:

2026 model contest rules

2026 judges will be announced soon.
For now, let’s celebrate the wonderful folks who judged last year!

2025 JUDGES

PRIZES

As always, there are prizes for the top 3 placements in each category. We also award the Best in Show prize dedicated to the memory of John Martin, who organized the Anime North Toy Display and Model Contest for many, many years. There is also the Best Junior Builder prize for the best entry submitted by anyone 18 and under.