Fascinated with the art of tattooing and its counter-culture? You’d be pleasantly surprised to know festivals and events dedicated to this field of art, exist and thrive throughout the world. Here is a definitive list of mind-blowing tattoo conventions that feature the world’s best talent.
1. The Biggest Tattoo Show On Earth, Las Vegas
As far as Tattoo festivals and events go, Las Vegas’ Biggest Tattoo Show On Earth is exactly what it says it is. Over 1000 of the most talented tattoos artistes from all over the world converge to show off and sell their designs to interested ‘inkees’.Β Buying a tattoo is like buying a car only less painful and less expensive. Just like cars, tattoos come in all sizes, colors and prices. Artists charge different prices based on the complexity and time it takes to tattoo you. Tattoos can cost as little as $75 to as much as $3,000 at the event.
If you aren’t interested in getting inked, there is tons of other stuff you can do. From shopping for clothes and jewellery, checking out bikes and enjoying live music to meeting and seeing your favourite celebrities getting inked, you’ll be left quite entertained.
2. Β The International London Tattoo Convention
Touted as one of the greatest, most respected and prestigious tattoo convention in the world,Β The International London Tattoo Convention is a mammoth and energetic congregation of the weird and wonderful world of tattoos. 400 unique artists are invited to the event, including stars like Ami James from Miami Ink and Phil Kyle from London Ink. The convention has some significant history behind it, making it an important event in tattoo counter-culture. Currently over 20,000 people attend the event religiously.
3.Β Germanyβs Rock n Ink Tattoo Festival
This event brings together two significant aspects of German counter culture (that also complement each other quite perfectly) i.e rock music and tattooing.Β The artistes that featured in the recently concluded Rock n Ink Tattoo Festival that took place this September proved just why there can be no better canvas than the human body.
4.Β Nepal Inked Convention
Love getting inked? Then you would love to attendΒ Nepal Inked Convention,Β a special tattoo art and culture convention that is held in the Himalayan countryβs capital,Β Kathmandu . The main focus of the event, which is an annual affair, is to promote tattoos as an art and a major business venture in Asia, as well as to promote Nepal as a destination for this form of art.Β The event aims at erasing the negativity linked with this unique art, and is a superb platform to invite and encourage people from different fields to step into this industry.Β With a main exhibition area as well as an outdoor garden, Nepal Inked Convention will also feature various entertainment arenas, information kiosks, travel tour desks, product sales/promotion stalls, food and drinks area etc.
5. Tattoo Jam UK
This exciting festival is often the most talked about tattoo events in the world. It takes places in Doncaster, UK with several floors of convention space for artists to show of their supreme skills. Free seminars, workshops, trade stands and the tattoo masters ball are on the roster.Β The Tattoo Master’s Ball has a different theme each year, 2015 was “ASYLUM” and the efforts made for this infamous fancy dress competitions were something to behold!
6.Β New Zealand Tattoo & Art Festival
As Australasia’s biggest tattoo event, expect to see the who’s who of the tattoo world at the TSM Stadium in Plymouth, New Zealand. 250 of the world’s finest artists, great food, tattoo competitions, bar crawls, fire dancers, freestyle motocross, BMX shows and amazing live music are only SOME of the events you can witness at the event.
7. Heartwork Tattoo Festival, Delhi
The Heartwork Tattoo Festival is going to be the first of its kind in Delhi β an epic celebration of body art that will blow your mind. If youβre a tattoo enthusiast, aspire to be a tattoo artist someday, or simply love getting inked, head to the venue at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. This exciting festival bringing some brilliant artists from all over the world, as well as showcasing some amazing homegrown talent. World-renowned tattoo genius Paul Booth from the United States, Andy Shou from Taiwan and Anil Gupta from New York, USA are headlining the festival, and you get to watch them use peopleβs bodies as creative canvases!
8. Β The Goa Tattoo Festival, Goa
The time has come for Goa to unite its best and brightest tattoo artists for a convention of sorts, where live art displays, galleries, competitions, awards and seminars on the art of tattooing will be integrated quite seamlessly into an event.Β The Goa Tattoo Festival will bravely attempt to emulate its international counterparts, and help showcase tattooing and talent from all over the world on the Indian front.