James believes it is important that the event provides “something for everybody” which is why the convention focuses on being a holistic, fun day out for families
Belfast Tattoo Convention is back in June
The organiser of the Belfast Tattoo Convention has urged first-time visitors to come and see what it is like for themselves, as they pride the annual event on offering ‘something for everyone’.
The third instalment of the Belfast Tattoo Convention is due to take place over June 5, 6 and 7 at the Europa Hotel. The popular show will see several thousand people pass through over its three days, with the convention’s founder saying it is “not just for tattoo lovers.”
If you have ever wondered what a tattoo convention is like, the Belfast event next month will be the perfect opportunity for you to find out. James Conway, 36, from Lurgan, launched the event in 2024 after identifying a market need. He said the city hadn’t had its own convention for some time, despite being home to some “world-class artists.” Attendees can contact artists they want to work with before the event to get tattoos done at the event.
This year, over 150 artists from across the globe will take part in the three-day spectacle, which will feature plenty of entertainment for the entire family. High-profile tattooists will include Chris Crooks, Isnard Barbossa, who was the runner-up of the popular television show Ink Master and Lorena Morato. Alongside the artists will be 25 shops, the Working Class Podcast, a variety of food offerings, including a vegan vendor and children’s entertainment.
James said, “We don’t want guys to think that they should leave the wife and kids at home because we have lots for them to do at the event as well. It is an international convention, so probably over 100 of the artists are from overseas. Every major city has a tattoo convention, and this is a relatively new show that isn’t related to the old one, because for a while Belfast didn’t have a show of our own.
“I’ve been all around the world visiting shows. When we go to other cities, we get treated really well, but we couldn’t return the favour for when people came here because there wasn’t a Belfast convention. A lot of these guys from overseas think we are still in The Troubles, so it is important that we show artists from other countries how beautiful Belfast is. When people come here, they are blown away. The event is a welcoming place for everyone, so we encourage people to come and check it out.
“We have a lot of world-class talent here in our city. This convention gives people a chance to have our own show.It also gives people who live here a chance to get tattooed by artists they normally wouldn’t have access to. We have serious world-renowned artists who are really good business people that are coming over for the event.”
James believes it is important that the event provides “something for everybody” which is why the convention focuses on being a holistic, fun day out for families. A lot of what is on offer will be included in the ticket price; more information can be found by searching for ‘Belfast Tattoo Convention’ on social media. The event will feature different music, three stages of entertainment, a hypnotist, an arcade of retro machines, Julian Simmons and other celebrities.
The shops on offer will include toy shops, a taxidermist, alternative clothing and a variety of food vendors. Some artists at the event will also work with vegan products when creating their tattoos. For children, there will be face painting, a clown, sticker collecting, a sideshow, and a balloon artist. Attendees will also have an opportunity to win a free tattoo as part of the convention’s quiz competition.
James said the family-friendly focus is a reaction to the evolution of the tattoo scene. The industry has become more modern in contrast to the images conjured up by some people of old bikers solely being those who are tattooed. Nowadays, he said, there is a cross section of different people who are now artists, including more women, people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
The highlight of the show for the artists will be a custom-made belt on offer for the best in show tattoo. The belt will be created by a man who makes them for some of the biggest boxing organisations in the world. James said he is hoping a local artist can take the honours home this year for the first time in the convention’s history.
The show will have disabled access, card and cash facilities, and the option to pay on the door.
For more information about the event or to book tickets, click here.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
