Indian cosplayers Karan Desai and Karan Prakash won ZIPAIR's Next Journey Category at the World Cosplay Summit 2026, held from July 31 to August 2 at Oasis 21, Nagoya, Japan. Representing India as Yoshimitsu and Devil Jin from the Tekken series, the duo secured another milestone in India's decade-long WCS journey. Their victory follows India's two previous Best Armour Category wins, further cementing the country's growing presence at the global cosplay event, which brings together participants from 41 countries and regions to celebrate anime, manga, gaming, and costume craftsmanship.


Karan Prakash described competing at the World Cosplay Summit as a dream come true. “Competing at WCS has been a dream of mine for a long time. There really is nothing like getting to represent your country on a global stage alongside so many insanely talented cosplayers from around the world. WCS has pushed my limits and helped me grow so much as a cosplayer,” he said.

Sharing his thoughts on India's cosplay landscape, Karan Desai said, “The Indian cosplay scene has grown tremendously because of creators who constantly push boundaries, raise the bar and inspire the next generation. I’m grateful to be part of a community where artists support and motivate each other to learn, experiment and dream bigger. Every person who shares their knowledge, celebrates another creator’s success and continues to believe in Indian cosplay has played a part in this journey. I’m thankful to this community for helping shape the cosplayer and costume maker I am today, and for proving that world-class cosplay can come from India.”


Creating their World Cosplay Summit costumes demanded months of experimentation, meticulous craftsmanship and material sourcing. Karan Desai's Yoshimitsu costume featured a blend of foam, fabric and 3D-printed components, with the armour, helmet and sword custom-built and hand-finished. Meanwhile, Karan Prakash's Devil Jin costume incorporated over 15 different fabrics and a range of stitching, embroidery, embossing and fabrication techniques. The duo also travelled across multiple cities to source the precise materials needed to faithfully recreate their characters.

India's growing cosplay success is backed by a strengthening ecosystem led by Comic Con India, which has nurtured talent through platforms like the Indian Championship of Cosplay (ICC). By providing opportunities to compete, connect and represent the country at international events such as the World Cosplay Summit, Comic Con India has helped elevate Indian cosplayers onto the global stage, with this latest win reflecting the community's rising talent and international recognition.