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Winter 2026-27 Tattoo Conventions: November 2026 Dates, Venues and What to Expect
Tattoo conventions November 2026 through February 2027: 30 shows with dates, venues and ticket prices, each one checked on the organizer's own website.
TL;DR: We confirmed 30 tattoo conventions from Nov 6, 2026 through Feb 28, 2027, each on the organizer's own site on Oct 12, 2026. November has eight our fall guide missed, December is thin in the US, and January and February are packed. Dates move, so recheck before you book a flight.
Tattoo conventions in November 2026 start stacking up fast. On the weekend of Nov 6 to 8, five shows we missed in our fall guide open in Tennessee, Indiana, California, Nebraska and Mississippi. Then the circuit rolls into winter: an exhibit hall in Wichita Falls, hotels in Rosemont and Austin, a convention center in Honolulu, a New Year's weekend show in Noblesville.
Picture a January Friday. Carpet, bad lighting, a hundred machines running, somebody's backpiece in progress behind a rope.
This is the follow-up to our fall tattoo conventions guide, which stops at Nov 22. Here are the November shows it missed, then everything we could confirm from December through February.
We checked each show's own website on Oct 12, 2026. Listing sites helped us find candidates, but nothing made the cut unless the organizer's site backed up the dates and city.
Which November 2026 Tattoo Conventions Did Our Fall Guide Miss?
Eight: five on Nov 6 to 8 in five different states, San Antonio and Denver on Nov 13 to 15, and Tampa on Nov 20 to 22. Hell City in Columbus is also Nov 6 to 8, so that weekend has six shows. You're picking one.
| Dates | Show and city | Venue | Tickets as posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6 to 8 | Middle Tennessee Tattoo Expo, Nashville, TN | Fairgrounds Nashville, Expo Buildings 1 and 2 | $25 a day, $50 for three days, plus sales tax |
| Nov 6 to 8 | Evansville Tattoo Fest, Evansville, IN | Old National Events Plaza | $25 a day, $40 two days, $60 three days, plus fees |
| Nov 6 to 8 | NorCal Tattoo Expo, Redding, CA | Win-River Resort & Casino Event Center | No prices posted; advance and door |
| Nov 6 to 8 | Ink The Island, Grand Island, NE | Big Iron Events Center | $35 a day, $90 weekend, before fees |
| Nov 6 to 8 | Inkin the Coast, Biloxi, MS | Not named on the show's site | $20 a day, $50 three days, at the door |
| Nov 13 to 15 | Villain Arts San Antonio, TX | 3201 E Houston St | $20 a day, $40 weekend |
| Nov 13 to 15 | Denver Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), CO | DoubleTree by Hilton Denver | $25 a day, at the door |
| Nov 20 to 22 | Villain Arts Tampa, FL | 333 S Franklin St | $25 a day, $50 weekend |
Ink The Island is the big swing. It's a first-year show, and its site claims 500-plus artists and a 55-category tattoo competition. Military, first responders and college students pay less at the door with ID. Older listings call the building the Heartland Events Center. The show's site says it's the same place, renamed.
Nashville says parking at the Fairgrounds is $10 a day, cash only.
What's Happening in December 2026?
Not much in the US. We confirmed one American show: Wichita Falls on Dec 4 to 6. Overseas, Tattoo Lab Project in Naples runs the same weekend, and Germany's Bad Hersfeld show runs Dec 5 to 6.
| Dates | Show and city | Venue | Tickets as posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4 to 6 | Wichita Falls Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), TX | Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall | At the door; Friday listed at $20 |
| Dec 4 to 6 | Tattoo Lab Project, Naples, Italy | Mostra d'Oltremare | On sale; day one needs the 3-day pass |
Naples is more art lab than tattoo floor. Per its Italian-language site, artists paint live, and on day one each sets up a backpiece design on paper. That day is sold only with the 3-day pass.
The Ink Masters site also lists Amarillo on Dec 10 to 13 and Jan 7 to 10. We left both out. The December page gives Dec 10 to 12 in one place and names two different hotels.
Where Are the January 2027 Tattoo Conventions?
Ten shows, from a New Year's weekend in Indiana to Maine and Nashville on Jan 29 to 31. Jan 15 to 17 is the crowded one: Minneapolis, Chattanooga and Honolulu all run that weekend, plus Braunschweig in Germany on Jan 16 and 17.
| Dates | Show and city | Venue | Tickets as posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to 3 | Tattoos Saved My Life Invitational, Noblesville, IN | Embassy Suites conference center | Eventbrite; price not on site |
| Jan 8 to 10 | Villain Arts Philadelphia, PA | 143 N. Broad St | None posted yet |
| Jan 8 to 10 | Vancouver Tattoo & Arts Festival, Canada | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Halls B and C | Online or door; no prices on pages we saw |
| Jan 15 to 17 | Villain Arts Minneapolis, MN | 1300 Nicollet Mall | None posted yet |
| Jan 15 to 17 | Chattanooga Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), TN | Embassy Suites by Hilton | Not posted |
| Jan 15 to 17 | Oahu International Tattoo Expo, Honolulu | Hawaii Convention Center | $25 a day, $40 two days, $60 weekend, plus fee |
| Jan 22 to 24 | Lille Tattoo Convention, France | Lille Grand Palais | Not on the page we saw |
| Jan 22 to 24 | Villain Arts San Diego, Del Mar, CA | 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd | None posted yet |
| Jan 29 to 31 | Villain Arts Maine, Portland | Thompsons Point | None posted yet |
| Jan 29 to 31 | Nashville Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), TN | Quattro Evento Receptions | Not posted |
Tattoos Saved My Life is run by a nonprofit focused on mental wellness, with 100-plus artists over three days. Under 18s get in with a parent or guardian.
Vancouver is a first-year show, and its site claims more than 350 artists. Friday is adult night with no kids, and Saturday and Sunday are free for ages 12 and under.
Which Tattoo Conventions Run in February 2027?
Ten, starting with a four-show pile-up on Feb 5 to 7 in Rosemont, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Milan. The month ends with Austin and the Washington, D.C. area on Feb 26 to 28.
| Dates | Show and city | Venue | Tickets as posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 5 to 7 | Rosemont Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), IL | Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare | $25 a day, at the door |
| Feb 5 to 7 | Pittsburgh Tattoo Expo, PA | Not named; site says "all-new venue" | At the door |
| Feb 5 to 7 | Villain Arts Jacksonville, FL | 1000 Water St | None posted yet |
| Feb 5 to 7 | Milano Tattoo Convention, Italy | SuperStudioMAXI | Not on the page we saw |
| Feb 12 to 14 | Grovetown Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), GA | Columbia County Exhibition Center | $25 a day, at the door |
| Feb 12 to 14 | Ink & Oil Convention, Herning, Denmark | MCH Messecenter Herning, Hall D | Shared with Motorshow Herning |
| Feb 19 to 21 | Villain Arts Cleveland, OH | 300 Lakeside Ave E | None posted yet |
| Feb 19 to 21 | Kansas City Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), MO | Marriott, 200 W 12th St | Not posted |
| Feb 26 to 28 | Austin Tattoo Expo (Ink Masters), TX | Austin Marriott South | At the door |
| Feb 26 to 28 | DC Tattoo Expo, Arlington, VA | DoubleTree Crystal City | $75 weekend, $30 to $35 a day |
DC is the one with a full price list: $75 for the weekend, $30 on Friday and Sunday, $35 on Saturday, with kids under 12 free with a paying adult. Heads up: DC's own show-info page still lists older prices ($60 for three days), so go by the ticket page and recheck at checkout. Its site says 220-plus invite-only artists. Pittsburgh doesn't name its venue yet.
Outside the US, Germany's Die Tattoo Convention tour lists Bad Hersfeld (Dec 5 and 6), Braunschweig (Jan 16 and 17) and Paderborn (Feb 27 and 28). Entry is 10 to 15 euros at the door, with no advance tickets, and kids up to 14 get in free.
Why Do So Many Winter Shows Share the Same Names?
Because two touring circuits run 16 of the 30. Villain Arts runs eight (San Antonio, Tampa, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, San Diego, Maine, Jacksonville, Cleveland), and the Ink Masters Tattoo Show circuit runs another eight. Both circuits book back-to-back weekends in January and February.
Villain Arts says its shows are all ages, with kids under 12 free. Its show pages run from 2 PM Friday to 8 PM Sunday, and refunds end 24 hours before the event starts. Most Ink Masters pages we read say tickets are sold at the door only, with $5 off before 5 PM on Friday. The circuit's contests charge $10 per tattoo to enter.
How Do You Get the Most Out of a Winter Tattoo Convention?
Treat the floor as a place to meet artists and see work, and make the big decision later. Bring photo ID and cash, find out who's booked solid, and plan around winter weather.
Wait on the big decisions. This one is our read. A convention makes it easy to say yes to the first open chair. Grab cards, photograph the work, and sleep on any large piece. Our guides to vetting an artist and what tattoos cost will help you sanity check a quote.
Bring ID and cash. Villain Arts says in its FAQ that you must be 18 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID to get tattooed, no exceptions. Cash covers parking (Nashville's is cash only), door tickets and tips. Vancouver takes cash and cards at the door and has ATMs in the hall. Our guide on how much to tip a tattoo artist covers the math.
Check the artist's books. Villain Arts says many artists take walk-ups, while others book up completely in advance. For a specific artist or a bigger piece, message them before the show. Villain Arts and Vancouver both say an appointment doesn't replace a ticket, and admission doesn't count toward the tattoo.
Pack for a long day. Vancouver's FAQ suggests water, snacks, a blanket, a pillow, earbuds or a book.
Travel smart in winter. Again, our read. Book a refundable room, leave a buffer day for a Maine or Minneapolis January, and plan how you'll look after a new tattoo on the road. The aftercare guide is worth a read before you pack.
Winter is a good time to see a lot of work in one room. The calendar is thin in December, then fills fast from mid-January. Pick one show per weekend, check the organizer's page the week before, and go in with an artist already in mind. Keep any big piece off the floor until you've slept on it.
If you want to scout artists before you travel, browse by style on Tatulogue. We checked these dates on Oct 12, 2026, and shows do change dates, venues and prices, so confirm on the official site before you buy anything. Then go enjoy the noise.
FAQ
What tattoo conventions are left in November 2026? Beyond the ones in our fall guide, we confirmed Middle Tennessee, Evansville, NorCal, Ink The Island and Inkin the Coast on Nov 6 to 8. San Antonio and Denver run Nov 13 to 15, and Tampa runs Nov 20 to 22.
Are there tattoo conventions in the US in December 2026? We could confirm one: the Wichita Falls Tattoo Expo on Dec 4 to 6. Naples, Italy (Dec 4 to 6) and Bad Hersfeld, Germany (Dec 5 to 6) are the other December shows we confirmed.
Which tattoo conventions are in January 2027? We confirmed ten, including Tattoos Saved My Life in Noblesville on Jan 1 to 3 and Vancouver on Jan 8 to 10. Minneapolis, Chattanooga and Honolulu all run Jan 15 to 17.
What ID do you need to get tattooed at a convention? Villain Arts says you must be 18 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID, with no exceptions. Other shows set their own rules, so check the organizer's site.
Do you need a ticket if you already have a tattoo appointment? Yes, at the shows that say so. Villain Arts and Vancouver both say everyone needs admission, and the ticket doesn't count toward the tattoo.