Competition

Join in with
the best of the best

Thirteen categories across three days, judged on the floor by an international jury. Registration for the 2026 edition is open.

The jury

Meet the judges

Categories

What you
can enter

The rules

Competition
conditions

The work

  • Every tattoo entered must be started or finished at the show
  • Pieces started here must be finished during the show
  • Healed tattoos can only enter the healed category - no touch-ups, no exceptions
  • One artist per entry, in attendance, except Best collaboration
  • One tattoo per artist per category

On the day

  • Models must be present at registration
  • Artist and collector must both collect the trophy
  • Winners stay in the show area until the award is handed over
  • Judges may inspect fresh tattoos up close
  • Fewer than five entries and the category is cancelled

Photographers from tattoo and lifestyle magazines shoot the winners and entrants. The Art of Ink Show may publish those photographs for promotion and documentation; entering confirms you agree.