DC Tattoo Expo 2026

Exposed Temptations' invite-only DC Tattoo Expo brings 220+ top tattooers and 25+ live contests to the Washington, DC metro each year.

Event details

• Dates: October 16-18, 2026
• Venue: Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, Arlington, VA (2026; awaiting final confirmation on official site)
• Location: Washington, DC
• Organizer: Exposed Temptations Tattoo / Exposed Arts, Inc.
• Founded: 2012
• Frequency: Annual
• Attendance: N/A
• Artists / booths: 220+ artists
• Tickets: Single-day and weekend tickets sold online and at the door (Fri-Sun); see website for pricing.
• Tattoo competitions: yes, judged categories run across the weekend
• Website: https://dctattooexpo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dctattooexpo/

About

Now in its 15th edition, the DC Tattoo Expo is an invitational convention produced by Exposed Temptations Tattoo and Exposed Arts, Inc., drawing over 220 hand-selected ("invite only") tattoo artists to the Washington, DC metro area (Arlington, VA hotels). The three-day event runs Friday through Sunday with live tattooing, body piercing, industry seminars, vendors, and entertainment.

For artists, the draw is the curated, competition-heavy format: 15 separate live tattoo categories plus 10 art categories and special contests (Tattoo of the Day, Best of Show, Sleeve, portrait and color divisions, plus pin-up and pet contests). The invite-only roster and capital-region location make it a recognized stop on the U.S. convention circuit for established professionals.

What to expect

• Invite-only roster of 220+ tattoo artists
• 15 live tattoo competitions plus 10 art categories
• Live tattooing, body piercing, seminars and vendors
• Special contests: DC Cherry Blossom Beauty Contest, DC Dog
• Three full days (Fri-Sun) in the Washington, DC metro
• Produced by Exposed Temptations Tattoo / Exposed Arts, Inc.

Best for

Established pros seeking a curated, competition-driven East Coast convention

Notable: Strictly invite-only: 220+ tattooers are hand-selected rather than booth-sold.

How we check this listing

We last confirmed these details on 2026-07-06. Dates and prices are taken from the organizer and change between editions, so treat the organizer's own page as final before you book travel or a booth.

Checked against: https://dctattooexpo.com/, https://dctattooexpo.com/show-info.php, https://dctattooexpo.com/contest.php, https://www.worldtattooevents.com/dc-tattoo-expo-2026/