Written by HK Cheapo
Got some wicked tats that you mostly keep hidden away from disapproving eyes? There’s no better place to show them off — and maybe get a new one — than the Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition.
What happens?
The Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition attracts top tattooists from all over the world who are keen to share their love of ink, and help promote tattoos as a form of art.
In addition to the tattooists’ booths where you can make your design come to life, there is also food and drink, entertainment, and a tattoo competition of truly awesome work. Tattoo artists can use this opportunity to connect with industry traders for supplies, accessories and merchandise.
One of the event’s goals is also to remove the negative image that tattoos have in Asia, where traditionally body ink has been considered socially unacceptable — as anyone with tattoos may have found out while attempting to visit an onsen in Japan.
The convention is the brainchild of local tattoo artist Gabe Shum, who has run tattoo studio Freedom Tattoo for close to two decades, leaving his mark both in Hong Kong and on celebrities like David Beckham and LeBron James.
The first convention, held in 2013, was a three-day event that featured more than 100 international tattooists from countries like Japan, Poland, the US, Singapore, Spain, and of course Hong Kong and China. Every year the event has grown, firmly putting Hong Kong on the global tattoo map.
Tickets 2026
1-day tickets cost HK$160.00 (regular tickets cost HK$240.00), whereas the 3-day pass costs HK$240.00 (HK$300.00 regular).
How to get there
This year’s event takes place at Soho House, a short walk from either Sheung Wan or Sai Ying Pun Station.