Discover the most prestigious tattoo conventions and award winners of 2025 across Korea and the globe. From Seoul’s Korea Tattoo Convention to the international Gods of Ink in Germany, top artists showcase their craft, winning accolades in categories like realism, neo-traditional, blackwork, and more.
Best Tattoo Conventions and Award Winners in Korea and Worldwide 2025
The tattoo world thrives on innovation, creativity, and artistic excellence. In 2025, major tattoo conventions both in Korea and internationally showcased incredible talent. Here’s a look at the most prestigious events and the outstanding artists who earned top honors.
π°π· Major Tattoo Conventions in Korea
Korea Tattoo Convention (νκ΅λ¬Έμ μ )
Held at Seoulβs iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the Korea Tattoo Convention stands as the nation’s largest tattoo art festival. Celebrating artistry across various genres such as Oriental, Bodysuit, and Neo-Traditional, the event features over 25 competition categories, including Best of Show and career/newcomer divisions.
2025 Event Date: Scheduled for August 30β31, 2025. Winners to be announced post-event.
2024 Highlights:
Best of Best, Leg/Sleeve/Neo-Traditional 1st Place: Joo Yoo-jin (Korea)
Black and Grey Experienced Division 3rd Place: Mr. Salai
TattooStar Awards 2022
Organized by the International Tattoo Artist Association, the TattooStar Awards aim to enhance the artistry and public perception of Korean tattoo culture. Judged by nine prominent tattooists, the awards included categories such as Black & White 2D, Color 2D, Black & White 3D, and Color 3D.
Grand Prize: Hong Hansul (Pinky)
1st Place: Kim Sola (Triton)
π Major International Tattoo Conventions
Cyprus Tattoo Convention 2025
Hosted on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, this convention welcomes over 100 global artists. Categories such as Blackwork, Neo-Traditional, and Realistic are featured.
BEST OF THE SHOW: Kelvin β KTM Tattoo Studio CY
Japanese 1μ: Kelvin β KTM Tattoo Studio CY
Realistic 1μ: Nicolas Christodoulou (Turtle) β Tattoo By Cozzi Crew CY
NeoTraditional 1μ: Eddy Bussler β Silent Water Tattoo GER
Black Work 1μ: Asickpen β Cisse Tattoo Crew CY
Black & Grey Big 1μ: Nicolas Christodoulou (Turtle)
Color Big 1μ: Kelvin β KTM Tattoo Studio CY
Portrait 1μ: Giorgos Pappas β CY
Illustrative Blackwork 1μ: Pieris Tattoo β CY
Dot 1μ: Stromz β Seven Stones Tattoo CY
Old School 1μ: Powtattooer β Three DAGG3RS Tattoo CY
Tattoo Freeze 2025 (UK)
One of the UK’s premier winter tattoo conventions, Tattoo Freeze celebrates styles like Avant-Garde, Oriental, and Realism.
BEST OF CONVENTION: Victoria Stoianova β Vivid Ink Derby
BEST OF SATURDAY: Victoria Stoianova β Vivid Ink Derby
BEST OF SUNDAY: Jacob Lennon β House Of Gold Tattoo Co
BEST AVANT-GARDE: Cameron Collins β New Identity
BEST BLACKWORK: Jessica Brown β Bold As Brass Tattoo
BEST ORIENTAL: Jason Griffiths β Ultimate Ink
BEST TRADITIONAL: Stu Holmes β Lucid Shadow Tattoo
BEST COLOUR: Victoria Stoianova β Vivid Ink Derby
BEST NEO-TRADITIONAL: Jacob Lennon β House Of Gold Tattoo Co
BEST REALISM: Katie J β Katie J Tattoo
BEST BLACK & GREY: Kyle βEggβ Ink β Grindhouse Tattoo
Mondial du Tatouage 2025 (Paris)
Recognized as one of the worldβs largest tattoo conventions, over 500 artists participate. Legendary judges like Mark Mahoney and Kari Barba grace the event. Winners will be officially announced on the Mondial du Tatouage website.
Gods of Ink Tattoo Convention 2025 (Germany)
Hosted by Miki Vialetto, publisher of Tattoo Life Magazine, this prestigious convention invites over 400 top artists from more than 20 countries.
Best of Show: 1μ @uncogrim, 2μ @shooby_tattoo, 3μ @julian.siebert
Best Backpiece/Bodysuits: 1μ @fibs_, 2μ @hanmotattoobin, 3μ @horihiro_tebori
Best Colour: 1μ @ytztattoo, 2μ @yingham.tattoo, 3μ @pablo_frias.tattoo
Best Realism: 1μ @mihail_kogut, 2μ @sziditattoo, 3μ @thomas_vincentink
King of Tattoo 2025 (Tokyo, Japan)
Japanβs flagship international tattoo convention, blending traditional and contemporary tattoo artistry. Global and Asiaβs top artists gather in Tokyo. Official winner announcements are pending and will be available after the event concludes.
Conclusion
Whether in Koreaβs burgeoning tattoo scene or on the global stage, 2025 has been a year of remarkable artistry and innovation in the world of tattoos. These conventions not only celebrate technical skill and creativity but also bridge cultures through the universal language of ink.
Stay tuned for updated results as more official announcements roll in!