Professional Competitions & Industry Recognition
Competitions Schedule
$15 all other contest entries $16 for Debit/Credit Cards
Best of Show: Sunday 6:30
Best of Day: Friday 10:00 / Saturday 10:00 / Sunday 6:00
*Best of Day and Best of Show entries must be started and completed at the show. All other contest categories are open to healed work. The tattoo artist does not need to be an attending artist.FRIDAY 4:00–8:00
- Best Sleeve
- Best Realistic
- Best Anime
- Best Abstract
SATURDAY 4:00–8:00
- Best Bio
- Most Unrealistic
- Black & Grey Small
- Color Small
- Best Neo Trad
SUNDAY 4:00–6:00
- Black & Grey Large
- Color Large
- Worst Tattoo
- Best Painting
The Best of Show category is the grand finale of the show, a celebration of supreme artistry, technical brilliance, and unforgettable visual impact. This award is reserved for a single, extraordinary tattoo that rises above all others in execution, creativity, and difficulty. It is the ultimate recognition of an artist's vision and mastery.
This tattoo isn't just good—it's transformative. It evokes emotion, tells a story, and stops people in their tracks. Whether it's a large-scale black-and-gray piece dripping with detail, a vibrant explosion of color and texture, or a mind-bending design that challenges the boundaries of what a tattoo can be, Best of Show honors the most awe-inspiring work produced during the convention.
Judging Criteria
- Technical Precision: Linework, shading, saturation, and skin trauma management.
- Composition & Flow: How well the tattoo works with the body and reads from a distance and up close.
- Originality & Creativity: Unique design and bold artistic decisions.
- Overall Impact: Visual power, storytelling, and lasting impression.
- Difficulty & Ambition: Scale, complexity, and how successfully it was executed.
Eligibility
Best of Day & Best of Show:
Entries must feature tattoos started during the Summit Invitational. These categories recognize work created as part of the convention experience.
All Other Contest Categories:
Open to healed tattoo work. The tattoo artist does not need to be in attendance for the tattoo to be entered.