COMPETITION CATEGORIES 2025
SATURDAY
Newschool Tattoo / Healed
Neotraditional Tattoo / Healed
Black and grey Sur/Realistic Tattoo / Healed
Ethnic Tattoo (tribal, blackwork, geometry, traditional Japanese) / Healed
Old School/Traditional Tattoo / Freshly Done
Small Graphic Tattoo (maximum A5 size) / Freshly Done
Newschool Tattoo / Freshly Done
Large Graphic Tattoo (larger than A5 size) / Freshly Done
Color Sur/Realistic Tattoo / Freshly Done
Best Tattoo of Saturday
SUNDAY
Graphic Tattoo / Healed
Old School/Traditional Tattoo / Healed
Color Sur/Realistic Tattoo / Healed
Ethnic Tattoo (tribal, blackwork, geometry, traditional Japanese) / Freshly Done
Neotraditional Tattoo / Freshly Done
Black and grey Sur/Realistic Tattoo / Freshly Done
Best Tattoo of Sunday
Two-Day Tattoo
Cooperation
COMPETITION RULES 2025
Tattoo entry conditions:
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Tattoos submitted in categories marked “freshly made” must be created exclusively during and within the festival grounds. Tattoos started earlier or retouched will not be accepted. They must be completed within a single day, regardless of whether it is Saturday or Sunday.
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Tattoos submitted in categories marked “healed” must be fully healed.
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The “Two-day tattoo” and “Collaboration” categories will take place on Sunday at the end of the day, and are only for freshly made tattoos completed entirely during the festival.
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Each tattoo may only be submitted to one category.
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Tattoos created by multiple artists during the event may only be submitted in the Collaboration category.
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Tattoos in the Collaboration category can be created over one or two days.
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A maximum of 3 people may participate in the “Collaboration” category.
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Any tattoo intended for the “Two-day tattoo” or “Collaboration” must be registered via email at festiwal@tattoofest.pl no later than June 6. Additionally, there is an option to register on-site — on Saturday, June 7, until 11:00 AM at the information point next to the contest stage. Information about tattoos done over two days or involving more than one artist will be forwarded to the medical staff present at the festival. This is to ensure ongoing health monitoring of models throughout the tattooing process
Registration and verification:
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Daily contest registration opens at 10:30 AM.
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Entries must be submitted no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of each category.
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At registration, the tattoo or a photo of it must be presented for preliminary verification.
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The organizer reserves the right to reject a tattoo submission that does not meet the criteria of the selected category or presents an insufficient quality level.
Booth requirements:
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No booth is required for submitting a healed tattoo.
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A purchased booth is mandatory for submitting a freshly made tattoo.
Final provisions:
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Results and awards will be announced Saturday at 8:45 PM and Sunday at 8:15 PM.
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By submitting a tattoo, the participant declares that they have read and understood the rules of the contest and selected category.
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Any serious violation of the rules by a participant may result in disqualification and revocation of the award. In such cases, the organizer will inform the public via all their channels (Facebook, Instagram, newsletter) and select a new winner.
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The organizer has the final say in resolving disputes and interpreting the rules.
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Contest participants — understood as artists and their models — agree to the publication of their works for promotional purposes.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
Technical aspects:
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Linework: Precision, cleanliness, and consistency throughout the piece.
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Filling: Evenness and accuracy of color fill or shading (including pepper shading).
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Color palette: Color harmony, saturation, blending, and tonal transitions.
Composition:
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Anatomy: How well the tattoo fits the anatomical shape of the body.
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Proportions and perspective: Accuracy in anatomical proportions and spatial depth (if applicable).
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Details: Precision of small elements and fine lines (if applicable).
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Flow and movement: Overall dynamic and flow of the design (if applicable).
Design:
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Originality: Uniqueness and creativity, artistic interpretation of the theme or style.
DESCRIPTION OF CATEGORIES
Old School / Traditional
The work must embody the spirit of traditional American tattoo style. It should be characterized by simplicity or even a certain rawness, bold black outlines, and a limited color palette: yellow, red, green, black, purple/brown. Colors should be packed solidly, with no tonal gradients. Subtle shading in black and gray tones is allowed.
Neotraditional
Neo-traditional tattoos draw on the core elements of traditional style, though the design, theme, and composition are more complex and detailed. The outline remains bold but may vary in thickness. The color palette is broader than in traditional tattoos and allows for tonal transitions and blended colors. The tattoo may also include more realistic elements.
Graphic Tattoo (engravings, fineline, trashpolka, watercolor)
This category includes tattoos and compositions with abstract forms and/or those referencing printmaking and painting techniques. Such tattoos often incorporate symbols, lines, and shapes reminiscent of techniques like relief printing, engraving, etching, or dotwork (creating shapes using individual dots). Thin lines and precise contours—similar to traditional drawing techniques—are commonly used. The design may also include decorative elements like ornaments, lettering, or floral motifs. It may draw on painting techniques such as oil or watercolor, using a range of shades to create the effect of an abstract painting on skin.
Separate competitions will be held for freshly made tattoos smaller than A5 and larger than A5.
Ethnic Tattoo (tribal, blackwork, geometry, classic Japanese tattoo)
This category is for tattoos directly inspired by tribal, ancestral, or culturally specific tattooing traditions. Geometric tattoos with simple and coherent forms will also be evaluated here.
Ethnic tattoos refer to the culture and traditions of a specific region or country. They often incorporate motifs and symbols typical of that culture, such as geometric patterns, religious symbols, animals, or plants. The style can range from traditional to modern, but always references authentic cultural designs and symbols.
Proper color and technique use is important to capture the distinctive aesthetic of the referenced culture. These tattoos can vary in size and body placement and often stand out with their unique aesthetics and cultural value. They can also serve as an expression of respect for the culture and its traditions.
The main judging criteria will be composition and technique.
Newschool
This category is for newschool, cartoon, anime, and comic-style tattoos. This style originates from old school and neotraditional, but is more experimental and open to mixing techniques and blending styles. It features thick outlines, vivid and bright colors, and often caricatured depictions of subjects.
Newschool tattoos are influenced by video games, comic books, cartoons, TV shows, graffiti, and other elements of pop culture.
Black and grey Sur/Realistic
A tattoo that reflects reality or is based on a photo. More elaborate and abstract or surrealist forms combined with realism are allowed. Color use is limited to accents only. Works done using silver tones are also accepted in this category.
Sur/Realistic Color
A tattoo that reflects reality or is based on a photo. More elaborate and abstract or surrealist forms combined with realism are allowed. The full color palette is permitted.
Two-Day Tattoo
This category is for tattoos in any style created by one artist. The work must be completed entirely during the event; tattoos started earlier or touch-ups are not allowed.
Cooperation
This category is for tattoos in any style created collaboratively by two or a maximum of three artists. The work must be completed entirely during the event; tattoos started earlier or touch-ups are not allowed.
Best Tattoo of Saturday
The tattoo must be fully completed by one person during a single day of the festival—Saturday. It can be done in any style and size—what matters is the quality of execution, composition, creativity, and overall artistic impression.
Best Tattoo of Sunday
The tattoo must be fully completed by one person during a single day of the festival—Sunday. It can be done in any style and size—what matters is the quality of execution, composition, creativity, and overall artistic impression.
JURY – BASIC PANEL
Daria Stahp is a Polish tattoo artist known for her distinctive, attention-grabbing tattoos that stand out not only for their style but also for their flawless execution. She started out as a self-taught artist and later honed her skills at Pink Machine Tattoo in Warsaw. Her work combines bold, striking forms with meticulous attention to detail. She now runs her own studio, AURA TATTOO, in Bydgoszcz, where she creates tattoos that are impossible to ignore.
Timur has been involved in tattooing for nearly two decades. His surreal style and exceptional technique have made him one of the leading tattoo artists. Focusing primarily on the visual aspect, he uses distinctive color blends, which have contributed to his recognizability. Timur’s style, rooted in surreal botanical, animal, and abstract motifs, creates a unique visual language.
Nikson has been shaping the tattoo industry for over two decades. His area of expertise is black and grey realism, in which he has reached an exceptional level. What sets him apart is not only his precision and attention to detail but also the wealth of experience gained over the years. Despite the passage of time, his passion for tattooing remains strong—on the contrary, he continues to grow and refine his skills.
Bartosz Panas is a renowned tattoo artist and a multiple award winner, especially recognized for his spectacular and intricate neo-traditional compositions. With a tattooing career spanning 20 years, he has walked a long, intense, and hard-working path, constantly deepening his passion for the craft. The evolution of his style is evident—starting with black and grey realism, he has mastered the art of smoky neo-traditional tattoos enriched with a subtle touch of realism. His tattoos reflect not only his talent but also his extensive experience and relentless pursuit of perfection.
EXPERT JUDGES
Sławomir Nitschke // Old school/Traditional
He was born and lives in Poznań. A graduate of an art high school and the Faculty of Painting at the University of the Arts in Poznań (UAP). He has been tattooing for 15 years and has been running the “Czaszka i Sztylet” studio for 13 years. He has been interested in tattooing since childhood. He has had — and continues to have — the opportunity to work in many studios around the world and regularly invites tattoo artists from abroad to visit Poland.
“In traditional tattooing, as the name suggests, I’m interested in tradition — the theme, the adaptation of classic motifs, their history, and the choice of techniques. That’s mainly what I focus on, although I’m very open to various twists and innovations. It’s not just about copying old designs, but about bringing even a small touch of new spirit into old frames.”
Iwona Koźlarzewska // Neotraditional
Iwona Koźlarzewska, known as Evil Yvonne, is a tattoo artist and illustrator specializing in the neotraditional style. She currently lives and works in Brno, Czech Republic. Her work blends dark, pagan, and metal motifs with Art Nouveau aesthetics, giving her pieces a unique character. In her designs, she often depicts women, animals, skulls, demons, and other fantastical figures, drawing inspiration from Slavic mythology and metal culture. Her tattoos are characterized by vivid colors, dynamic compositions, and rich details.
Adrian “Gruchan” Gruszczyński // Newschool
“A dragon on my dad’s friend’s arm was the first tattoo I remember — and at the same time, the beginning of an inseparable and important part of myself. The curiosity that accompanied me back then has not slowed down to this day.
After more than 15 years in the profession, I’m still discovering new areas in the world of tattooing. I specialize in comic/cartoon style with a touch of neotraditional. I try to keep an open mind — I really value criticism and different perspectives. I believe that the reflection that comes from this is an important key to growth.
Despite this… tattoos get in the way of my playing — but we’ve come to an understanding.”
Krzysztof Krajewski // Ethnic Tattoo
Krzysiek has been tattooing for 12 years, a period that has contributed to refining his technique and experience, now used in geometric tattoo training sessions. He has won numerous awards at various tattoo events. He currently works at the “Nice and Easy Tattoo” studio in Warsaw. His first convention was the Tattoofest in 2015, and this year he will take on the role of expert judge.
“The ethnic tattoo category combines styles that use varying degrees of graphic techniques. When evaluating a tattoo, I usually focus on how many techniques have been employed in its creation. For this reason, selecting the best works will be a challenge.
For healed tattoos, large compositions will certainly dominate, and the starting point for evaluation will be how well it fits the body shape, whether the tattoo looks interesting from every perspective, how it moves with the body, and how the details are distributed on the skin.
Fresh tattoos, due to time constraints, will likely be smaller, but anatomical fitting is still crucial in their case. From experience, I know that in all ‘fresh’ categories, tattoo size doesn’t matter as much as the precision of execution and careful consideration of the design, so that within a single session, the artist can showcase the full breadth of their design and technical skills.”
Oksana Lukianenko Oxi // Sur/Realistic Color Tattoo
Oksana Lukjanenko (Oxi) is an artist whose works not only catch the eye but also remain memorable for a long time. She specializes in realistic color compositions that stand out due to her painterly approach, a keen sense of composition, and perfect alignment with the body’s anatomy. She tattoos daily at the Nie Mów Mamie Tattoo studio in Gdańsk.
Her works are the result of extraordinary precision, impressive tonal transitions, and a deep understanding of light and color. She is also successful in creating cover-up tattoos, transforming old designs into spectacular new projects.
Last year, Oxi won the Best of Show title and first place in the “Two-Day Tattoo” category at Tattoofest 2024, showcasing a breathtaking, full-size composition that captured the hearts of the jury.
Fabian Staniec // Graphic Tattoo
Fabian Staniec is a tattoo artist from Gdańsk and the owner of Patogen Tattoo studio. He specializes in blackwork, linework, and woodcut styles, creating pieces inspired by engravings, dark symbolism, and medieval aesthetics. His tattoos are characterized by precise lines and intricate details, often referencing occult and Gothic motifs.
Tattooing is a field that combines craftsmanship and artistry. With the dynamic development of the industry, many new styles have emerged, extending beyond the traditional ones. Therefore, we treat each tattoo individually. Our experts and judges place great emphasis on compliance with the chosen category, as well as on the execution technique, such as lines and fillings, proper adaptation to the body’s anatomy, and the originality of the design. One of the competencies of the tattooist, subject to evaluation, is proper preparation for the competition: adjusting the size of the tattoo both to the place of execution and to the time constraints during the event.
After the initial verification of the work – the level of execution and compliance with the category, during the registration process, information such as: the author of the tattoo, the studio and the city, the name of the model or models, is required. This information is not made public before or during the competition until the results of the category are announced. The model receives a number for the category. Before the start of the category, you should stand on the left side of the stage and wait for the number to be called. In the case of a large number of participants in the category, it is permissible to bring a larger group of models onto the stage or call out numbers out of order. You should reserve time for the entire category according to the schedule. From all presented tattoos, a group of up to 10 best ones is selected, which are presented again to the judges at the end of the category. You should wait at the stage for any re-calls. The works from the TOP 10 group are also photographed in the studio near the stage. The announcement of the results in all categories for the day takes place at the end of the day.
Competition times may change in the event of a very large number of entries. In such a situation, there is a possibility that the start of a given category will be delayed. However, competitions will never be accelerated relative to the time indicated in the program.
Everything good must come to an end. Our convention lasts only two days, and therefore we have limited time for all planned activities. We could multiply the competition categories indefinitely, but time constraints will not allow us to do so.
In the categories prepared by us for the competition, we tried to distinguish the basic styles of tattooing. Anime is not a tattoo style, but a theme that can be interpreted in many different ways. We can observe tattoos with an anime theme made in various styles, such as linear, neo-traditional, traditional, dotwork, or minimalist. Evaluating a compilation of anime-themed tattoos in different styles in the same category would be difficult. Additionally, creating a separate category for anime could lead to discussions about the need to create additional categories, such as movie, portrait, floral, or animal tattoos. We mainly focus on styles and execution techniques, rather than on themes, so we encourage you to look at the described styles to properly classify a given work.
During Tattoofest, we offer the opportunity to participate in the competition in many categories. The first division concerns fresh and healed tattoos. Healed tattoos are those that have been made and fully healed before the convention. The tattoo should be submitted in the category, in the style in which it was made, regardless of its size.
The second part concerns fresh tattoos. In these categories, you can submit a tattoo made during the convention. The tattooist can present a tattoo that started and finished on the same day. If the work is continued the next day, it can only be exhibited as a two-day tattoo.
Tattoos submitted for competitions undergo initial verification at the registration point. A tattoo selector appointed by the organizer, in addition to verification, will also provide instructions in case of doubts, help to indicate the appropriate category.
In the case of a fresh tattoo, it should be submitted in the “Cooperation” category. In this category, works from one day and two days can participate.
In the case of healed works, collaborative tattoos can be submitted according to the dominant style of work.
Unfortunately, in such a situation, there is a risk of disqualification. Such conduct would be unfair to other competition participants and treated as cheating. However, if such a situation occurs and the tattoo exceeds the time allotted for the one-day competition, the prize will be revoked, and a new winner will be chosen in advance from the Top 10. Additionally, information about the incident and the steps taken will be communicated through our communication channels.
To register for the competition, you should go to the information point. You must show the tattoo being submitted to the competition or at least its photo. Tattoos will be preliminarily verified for compliance with the category and the level of execution.
Yes, if, in the opinion of the person supervising the competition registrations on behalf of the organizer, the tattoo does not fit the chosen category, the registration may be rejected, or another category may be suggested. If the tattoo is of poor quality, a decision may also be made not to accept the work for the competition.
No, each tattoo can only be submitted to one competition category.
No, only tattoos made during the convention, appropriate to the given day in which the category is held, are considered fresh tattoos.
Yes and no. If you want to submit a fresh tattoo to the competition, you need to have a booth. If you are submitting a healed tattoo, there is no need to purchase a booth.
Yes, absolutely, but only a fresh tattoo made during the convention and only in that one category.
No. We assess fresh tattoos, made during the convention or fully executed and healed before the convention and submitted in the appropriate categories.
No. You should consider in which category you want to exhibit your work during registration.
No, the tattoos submitted must have been fully executed during the convention or fully executed and healed before the convention and submitted in the appropriate categories.
Yes, the tattoo must be completed by the time the works in that category are judged.
Yes, you must be present in person.
Yes, you can submit more than one tattoo to the competition, but each tattoo can only be submitted once.
Your comments can be reported at the registration point during the event or via email: festiwal@tattoofest.pl
In 2006 we hosted less than 30 artists,
now we have an honor of hosting almost 400!
Have you already choose your artist?
