NY Empire State Tattoo Expo
A Manhattan tattoo convention uniting 500+ elite international artists at the New York Hilton Midtown for three days of live tattooing.
Event details
- Next edition: May 2027 (TBA)
- Venue: New York Hilton Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY
- Location: New York, NY
- Organizer: Empire State Tattoo Expo
- Founded: 2014
- Frequency: Annual
- Attendance: N/A
- Artists / booths: 500+ artists
- Tickets: Approx. $35/day - $70 weekend; via Eventbrite or at the door
- Tattoo competitions: yes, judged categories run across the weekend
- Website: https://www.empirestatetattooexpo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyempirestatetattooexpo/
About
The NY Empire State Tattoo Expo is one of the largest tattoo gatherings in the Northeast, held annually at the New York Hilton Midtown in the heart of Manhattan. Founded in 2014, the 2026 edition (#12) runs May 22-24 and brings together more than 500 tattoo artists from around the world for live tattooing, contests, and seminars.
The expo pairs a working convention floor with a heavy entertainment program, including burlesque performances and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. For artists, its central NYC location, large international roster, and daily judged contests make it a strong venue for visibility, networking, and walk-up clients.
What to expect
- Daily judged tattoo contests across 18+ categories, ending in Best of Show
- 500+ international tattoo artists working live on the floor
- Seminars and workshops for working artists
- Burlesque performances throughout the weekend
- Coney Island Circus Sideshow: sword swallowers, fire eaters, aerial acts
- Central Manhattan venue at the New York Hilton Midtown
Best for
Artists seeking high-traffic East Coast exposure and walk-up clients
Notable: One of the largest gatherings of elite international tattoo artists in the Northeast, with 500+ artists.
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://www.empirestatetattooexpo.com/info/, https://www.empirestatetattooexpo.com/contests/, https://www.worldtattooevents.com/new-york-empire-state-tattoo-expo-2026/