Tattoo Contests

Awe yes, no Tattoo Show would be complete without following the long tradition of showing off the incredible work that inspired us all to be Tattoo Artists and to be Tattooed. There will be contests daily for convention goers to enter on there own and get some respect for the hard earned hours spent getting artwork put on them.

Also there will be THE BEST OF DAYS contest at the end of each day and BEST OF SHOW at the end of the show. This is for all the artist to show everyone what they can do and what they love.

contests 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 

All Best of Day tattoos must be started and finished THAT DAY ONLY

Friday 4:00-8:00

Best sleeve 

Best realistic 

Best anime 

Best abstract 

Saturday 4:00-8:00

Best bio

Best Neo trad 

Most unrealistic 

Black and Grey small

Color small

Sunday 4:00-6:00

Black and Grey large 

Color large

Worst tattoo 

Best painting

The Best of Show category is the grand finale of the tattoo convention, 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:

Only tattoos started and completed on the convention floor are eligible. The piece must be artistically ambitious, finished to a high degree, and reflect the best of what modern tattooing has to offer.

Winning Best of Show means more than taking home a trophy. It represents a career-defining moment for the artist—and often sets the bar for the entire tattoo community. This is the title that crowns a legend.