A snow leopard fursuiter plays accordion at the Furnal Equinox 2026 Masquerade

Photo by LekoTheDonkey

Furnal Equinox Masquerade

The Masquerade is a variety show-style event where performers can show off their talents and skills for the convention attendees. Performances can be rated by our judges, and one participant is announced as that year's winner. Each performer is required to have a planned act or skit. In the past we have had dancers, musicians, magic, mentalism, sketch comedy, standup comedy, and much more! If you have a unique talent, we want to see it! Creativity and originality are encouraged!

Think you have what it takes to perform on the big stage?

Before you submit your application, please read the FAQs below. If you have any questions or concerns, please email fepanelsandevents@furnalequinox.com.

Masquerade Application FAQs

What basic requirements should I keep in mind for my act?

All acts must be under 5 minutes.

All content must be rated G or PG-13, and follow our Code of Conduct.  Performances may not include excessive violence or sexual situations inappropriate for a general audience.  If you’re unsure about the content rating of your act, contact fepanelsandevents@furnalequinox.com for help.

No AI-generated content may be used in your act. If you are unsure where to source media made by humans for your act, contact fepanelsandevents@furnalequinox.com for help.

Do I need to be in fursuit for my Masquerade act?

No. You are not required to wear a fursuit or fursuit parts to perform in the masquerade. What you wear on stage is totally up to you! (Provided it follows our Apparel Guidelines.)

Can I submit more than one act?

While performers are permitted to submit a single performance for consideration under their name, they may participate as part of other group performances. Typical participation of any individual is limited to one individual act, and one group act to allow the maximum possible number of attendees to participate.

What should I submit with my application?

Participants are required to submit an outline of their act(s) in their application, including song titles, drafts of scripts, lyrics, any media or technical requirements, and an outline of props your performance requires.

All media files used in your act must be submitted with or linked in your application. MP3 and H.264/MP4 are the preferred formats for media.

What technical assistance can Furnal Equinox provide for my Masquerade act?

We can provide basic audio support in the form of microphones and stands, and hook-ups for instruments. For special technical requests such as stage crew assistance during the performance, video playback or specific lighting cues, please contact us prior to rehearsals and our team will do our best to accommodate your act.

Beyond this, you are responsible for sourcing your props, musical instruments, costume pieces, or other specialty items for your act. If you are unsure where to obtain these items, contact our Masquerade team at fepanelsandevents@furnalequinox.com for help.

What happens after I apply?

After your application has been submitted, please keep an eye on the email you wrote down in the form. We’ll contact you if we have any questions about your act, and reach out closer to the convention to send you some important information.

At the convention, you will be invited to participate in rehearsals for review and selection. Rehearsals are a closed session where we run through your performance on the stage, test our tech and sound, and get any additional details from you. Rehearsal information will be sent to applicants at a later date, before the convention.

Will all acts be selected for the show?

Applying and rehearsing does not guarantee your performance will be selected. Selection and sequencing of acts and performances are coordinated by the Masquerade organizers based on time constraints, diversity across all selected performances, technical attributes, and other criteria in an objective manner. We recommend reaching out via fepanelsandevents@furnalequinox.com to discuss your performance if you have any questions.

Please note that if you are not selected, it is not a statement on you as a performer. We get a lot of applications each year, and as the convention grows, we may not be able to include everybody who applies and auditions, though we will strive to include anybody who has never performed in our Masquerade before.

How are the performances judged?

Performances are judged on a broad set of criteria, such as the originality of your performance, entertainment and audience appeal, aesthetic appeal, use of space, and technical performance.

Can I opt-out of being judged?

Yes, you can opt-out of your act being part of the judged competition. You will perform like everybody else, and get to come up on stage at the end, when we announce the winner, to close the show.

For 2027, applications for the Masquerade are open until January 10, 2027!