OC Tattoo Festival 2026 Tattoo Contest Schedule

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 Best Healed Categories

• Anime
• Asian Art
• Black & Grey Full Back Piece
• Black & Grey Sleeve
• Color Full Front Piece
• Color Portrait
• Color Sleeve
• Lettering
• Traditional
• Tribal
• Chest Piece
• Chicano

• Best of Day (Saturday)

 Best Healed Categories

• Black & Grey Full Front Piece
• Black & Grey Portrait
• Black & Grey Realism
• Color Full Back Piece
• Color Realism
• Full Arm Sleeve
• Neo Traditional
• Japanese
• Leg Sleeve
• Best Up & Coming Artist

• Best of Day (Sunday)
• Most Tattoo Flash
• A Pound of Flesh Contest
• Best of Show

• Best Healed entries must be fully healed tattoos and cannot have been completed at the festival.
• Done at the Show categories are reserved for tattoos completed during the OC Tattoo Festival.
• Best of Show finalists will be selected from eligible winning entries completed at the festival.
• Best Up & Coming Artist is open to artists with two years or less of professional tattooing experience. Artist tenure may be verified through their shop owner or manager.
• Portrait entries must be accompanied by a reference photo.
• First Place and Second Place awards only.
• One entry fee is required for each category entered and for each tattoo submitted.
• No refunds on contest entry fees.
• Judges may move entries to a more appropriate category if necessary.