Tattoos have spent years fighting their way out of the "hidden under a long sleeve" box in Hong Kong — and the city's biggest ink gathering is back for 2026 with a new venue, a new lead organiser, and a piece of tech that lets you preview a design on your own skin before a needle touches it.
In This Guide
What's new at the 2026 exhibition?
The convention is co-presented as usual by Freedom Tattoo HK and ID Solutions Limited (IDS), but this year's programming has a new hand on the wheel: Hong Kong tattoo-tech brand Oh My Ink, founded by local tattoo artist John Ip ("Jip"), has stepped in as this edition's presenting partner — and brought its own hardware with it.
The headline attraction is what Oh My Ink is billing as the world's first AI tattoo try-on machine. The idea is simple but genuinely useful: the same flash design can look completely different depending on a person's body shape, muscle definition and skin tone, which is exactly the kind of thing that makes people hesitate before booking. Oh My Ink's system uses computer vision and real-time rendering to scan a visitor's body contour and skin tone, then projects a preview of the design in place — adjustable for size and position on the spot, before anyone commits to a session. John Ip has been clear that the goal isn't to replace the artist-client relationship tattooing is built on, but to make the conversation between the two more precise.
Who's tattooing this year?
The international guest list leans into the exhibition's usual mix of styles: Spanish artist Robert Hernandez, known for dark surrealist work; Serbian tattooist Marko Stamenkovic; Japanese traditional (irezumi) master Sousyu Hayashi; and the UK's Bez all feature on this year's artist roster, alongside a wider international and local line-up spanning Japanese traditional, dark geometric and Y2K-influenced styles.
On the design side, Hangzhou-based tattoo artist and illustrator Meow Meow has collaborated with the exhibition on an official limited-edition "2026 CHIBI" commemorative T-shirt, mixing American vintage cartoon references, anime-influenced (ACG) art and classic tattoo lettering — a nice crossover souvenir for anyone who treats the convention as much as a style event as a tattoo one.
Music, custom guitars and the tattoo competition
This year's exhibition leans harder into a "art at the fingertips" theme, pairing the needlework on the floor with a live music stage built around another form of hands-on craft. The line-up includes DJ Fergus, a Boogie/House/Grime-leaning selector with 16 years of touring experience across Europe and Asia; fingerstyle guitar group Just Play The Guitar, led by independent musician Chris Lee; and 1208studio, founded by 2025 Gibson Hero champion Samirze Kong, who will bring a display of custom Shijie Guitars builds to the venue.
The other big draw is the exhibition's tattoo artist competition, which runs on the closing day, 18 October, judged across black-and-grey, colour and student/academy divisions, with a "Best of Show" prize across the field. It's traditionally the busiest single session of the weekend, so turn up early if you want a clear view.
Dates, tickets and how to get there
Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition 2026
Tickets went on sale via Ticketflap on 14 August 2026. At that point, early-bird pricing (20% off) was: one-day pass HK$160 (standard HK$200), three-day pass HK$240 (standard HK$300), and a one-day pass bundled with the Meow Meow "2026 CHIBI" commemorative T-shirt at HK$280 (standard HK$350). Early-bird availability may have moved on by the time you book, so check Ticketflap for the current price before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Good to know
Book any on-the-day tattoo slots early. Guest artists at conventions like this typically take walk-up bookings for small flash pieces on a first-come basis each morning — if there's a specific artist you want to sit for, plan to be at their booth when doors open rather than mid-afternoon.