TATTOO COMPETITION
RULES AND REGULATIONS
To ensure a fair, professional, and transparent competition, all participants must read the following rules and agree to abide by them.
01. CONTEST REGISTRATION
All participants must register their tattoos with the event organizers before registration closes for each category.
Each tattoo must be entered in a category that corresponds to its style, technique, size, or characteristics.
The same tattoo may be entered in multiple categories, provided it meets the requirements of each category.
The organizers reserve the right to refuse an entry or transfer it to another category if the tattoo does not meet the established criteria.
Participants must be present at the time of judging.
02. FRESH AND HEALED TATTOOS
All regular categories accept both fresh and healed tattoos.
A tattoo does not need to have been done during the Expo to qualify for the regular categories.
Tattoos must be sufficiently visible to allow the judges to evaluate them properly.
Special rules apply to the Tattoo of the Day and Best of Show categories.
03. CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA
Each tattoo must match the style, theme, and size requirements of the selected category.
Tattoos will be judged based on artistic quality, technique, precision, composition, contrast, and overall execution.
Judges will take into consideration the characteristics specific to each tattoo style.
The organizers reserve the right to combine, modify, or cancel a category if there are insufficient entries.
04. TATTOO SIZES – MEDIUM AND LARGE CATEGORIES
The size of the tattoo determines the category in which it may be entered.
MEDIUM CATEGORY
Any tattoo with overall dimensions smaller than a standard 8.5 × 11-inch sheet of paper (21.6 × 27.9 cm) is considered a Medium tattoo.
LARGE CATEGORY
Any tattoo with overall dimensions equal to or larger than a standard 8.5 × 11-inch sheet of paper (21.6 × 27.9 cm) is considered a Large tattoo.
SIZE VERIFICATION
Size is determined by the total area of the tattoo being presented.
The organizers and judges reserve the right to verify a tattoo’s dimensions if there is any doubt.
A tattoo entered in the wrong category may be transferred to the appropriate category or disqualified.
The organizers’ decision regarding size classification is final.
05. TATTOO OF THE DAY
The tattoo must be started and completed at the Expo on the same day it is entered.
No tattoo may be started before the official opening of the Expo on that competition day.
Participants have until the official start time of the Tattoo of the Day competition to complete their tattoo.
The tattoo must be fully completed before the Tattoo of the Day category begins. Tattoos still being worked on once the category begins will not be eligible.
Tattoos started before the applicable competition day are not eligible for Tattoo of the Day.
Only tattoos performed by artists officially registered for Ottawa – Gatineau Tattoo Expo 2027 are eligible.
06. BEST OF SHOW
The tattoo must be designed and executed by one and the same tattoo artist.
The tattoo must have been started and completed during the Ottawa Gatineau Tattoo Expo 2027 weekend.
The tattoo must be fully completed before the final judging.
Only tattoos performed by artists officially registered for the event are eligible.
Tattoos created collaboratively by multiple artists are not eligible for Best of Show.
The winner will be selected based on artistic excellence, complexity, originality, technical quality, composition, and overall visual impact.
Eligibility will be verified before judging.
The jury’s final decision is binding and cannot be appealed.
07. REGISTRATION DEADLINES
All tattoo competition entries must be registered before the registration deadline indicated on the official Expo schedule.
Participants are responsible for verifying the registration and competition times for their category.
Late entries will not be accepted once registration for that category has closed.
08. PRESENTATION BEFORE THE JUDGES
Participants must report to the designated area when their category is called.
The person wearing the tattoo must be physically present for judging.
The tattoo must be clean, clearly visible, and accessible for inspection by the judges.
No photographic filters or digital alterations will be accepted as a substitute for the actual presentation of the tattoo.
Judges may ask participants to change positions to examine the tattoo more closely.
Any participant who is absent when their category is called may be disqualified.
09. JUDGING AND EVALUATION
Tattoos will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Line Work: Precision, sharpness, and consistency.
Saturation: Quality and uniformity of color or black ink application.
Shading and Contrast: Depth, transitions, and balance.
Composition: Harmony, proportions, and how well the tattoo fits the body part.
Readability: Clarity and visual impact of the design.
Creativity: Originality and artistic interpretation.
Overall Quality: Technical skill and final result.
Judges may adjust the importance of certain criteria depending on the category being evaluated.
Judges must evaluate tattoos impartially and may not evaluate their own work.
The jury’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
10. RESPECT AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Respect toward judges, organizers, staff, artists, competitors, and attendees is mandatory.
Intimidation, pressure, interference with the judging process, or any attempt to influence the judges will not be tolerated.
Any disrespectful or unsportsmanlike behavior may result in immediate disqualification.
Participants must also comply with the event’s safety and hygiene guidelines.
11. DISQUALIFICATION, PRIZES AND AWARDS
Failure to comply with the competition rules may result in disqualification.
The organizers reserve the right to refuse or disqualify any entry that does not meet the competition requirements.
Prizes will be awarded to winners according to the categories announced by the organizers.
Winners must be present at the awards ceremony unless special permission has been granted by the organizers.
Prizes are non-exchangeable and non-transferable unless otherwise decided by the organizers.
The organizers reserve the right to modify announced prizes if exceptional circumstances require it.
The organizers also reserve the right to intervene in cases of administrative errors or violations of these rules.
12. GENERAL PROVISIONS
By registering, each participant confirms that they have read these rules and agrees to abide by them.
The organizers reserve the right to modify the contest procedures to ensure the smooth operation of the event.
Any situation not covered by these rules will be reviewed by the organizers, whose decision will be final.
The purpose of these contests is to promote the art of tattooing, recognize artists’ talent, and maintain a professional, fair, and respectful environment.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Regular Categories: Fresh and healed tattoos are accepted.
Multiple Category Entries: The same tattoo may be entered in multiple appropriate categories.
Tattoo of the Day: The tattoo must be started and completed at the Expo on the same competition day and must be finished before the category begins.
Best of Show: The tattoo must be created by one artist only and started and completed during the Expo weekend. Collaborative tattoos are not eligible.
Registration Deadlines: All entries must be registered before the deadlines listed on the official Expo schedule.
