AWARDS AND CATeGORIES

NEW CATEGORY: BEST POP CULTURE

FRIDAY 6TH NOVEMBER

• BEST BANNER (Voted by the general public)

• BEST BOOTH  (Voted by the general public)

• BEST LETTERING

• BEST BLACK WORK 

• BEST FINE LINE (10cm and over)

• BEST POP CULTURE

• BEST DOTWORK/GEOMETRIC/PATTERN/TRIBAL

• BEST SMALL COLOUR (30cm and under) 

• BEST SMALL BLACK AND GREY (30cm and under) 

• BEST OF DAY

SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER

• BEST LARGE COLOUR (30cm and over)

• BEST TRADITIONAL

• BEST NEO-TRADITIONAL

• BEST CONTEMPORARY ASIAN 

• BEST JAPANESE

• BEST OF DAY

SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER

• BEST REALISM

• BEST FREE HAND 

• BEST LARGE BLACK AND GREY (30cm and over)

• BEST OF DAY

• BEST COLLABORATION

• BEST OF SHOW  

CONTEST RULES

• Only Artists who have a booth at the Iron Gate Tattoo Convention 2026 can participate in the contests.

• Each artist can enter a MAX of 1 tattoo per category.

• Each tattoo can be entered into a MAX of 3 categories. 

• Best of day, Best of Show and Best Collaboration must be started and finished at the show.

• Small Black and Grey, Small Colour, Lettering, Black Work, Fine Line, Pop Culture, Large Colour, Large Black and Grey, Neo-Traditional, Traditional, Japanese, Contemporary Asian, Realism, Dot Work/Tribal/Geometric/Pattern, Free hand can be healed. 

• The first 2 for each category will be awarded. First Place and Runner Up (Except Best of Day, Best Banner and Best Booth)

• Maximum of 20 entries per category.

SCHEDULE

Friday - Starts at 6:00pm

Saturday - Starts at 5:00pm

Sunday - Starts at 4:00pm