Across all categories, the jury will primarily consider:
Only tattoos created entirely during Danube Tattoo Show may be entered in the FRESH categories. The tattoo must be completed during the event to an extent that allows objective judging. For FRESH tattoos, the jury will also consider cleanliness of execution, appropriate treatment of the skin, and the quality of the final result.
This category is intended for realistic and surreal tattoos created predominantly in black, grey, and their various shades. Eligible works include portraits, animals, natural subjects, objects, film-inspired or fantasy subjects, and compositions combining realistic elements with imaginative or dreamlike scenes.
The jury will primarily assess accuracy of representation, correct proportions, depth, contrast, smooth shading, use of light and shadow, and the overall readability of the composition. In surreal works, particular attention will also be paid to the originality of how individual elements are combined and to the credibility of the final scene.
This category includes realistic and surreal tattoos in which colour is a significant part of the finished work. Eligible works include colour portraits, animals, natural scenery, still lifes, film-inspired and fantasy subjects, as well as surreal compositions.
The jury will assess realism, proportions, colour saturation, colour harmony, smooth transitions, contrast, use of light, and spatial depth.
This category is intended for tattoos in which the dominant element is black ink, geometric composition, or typography. Eligible works include blackwork, ornamental and geometric designs, mandalas, dotwork, linework, calligraphy, script, graffiti, and other forms of artistic lettering.
The jury will assess clean linework, evenness of solid black areas, geometric precision, symmetry and repetition of elements, contrast, and how well the composition follows the shape of the body. In lettering works, spacing, consistency of the typeface, flow of the lines, and originality of the typographic treatment will be assessed.
This category is intended for a single tattoo created during Danube Tattoo Show by a minimum of two and a maximum of four tattoo artists. The finished work must represent genuine collaboration, with each artist’s contribution remaining recognisable while forming a natural part of the shared composition.
The jury will primarily assess the harmony between the styles or techniques of the individual artists, the unity of the finished work, originality of the concept, technical quality, and overall visual impact.
The Danube category is the signature themed category of Danube Tattoo Show. It is intended for original tattoos inspired by the Danube, water, flow, movement, nature, history, folklore, architecture, or the cultural connection between the countries and cities along the river.
The style, technique, size, and colour palette are unrestricted. The jury will primarily assess originality in interpreting the theme, creativity, artistic value, technical execution, composition, adaptation of the design to the body, and the overall ability of the work to capture the character or symbolism of the Danube category.
This category includes tattoos created in neotraditional, new school, and anime styles, characterized by bold illustrative treatment, stylisation, dynamic composition, and creative use of colour. Eligible works include stylised portraits, animals, fantasy and cartoon characters, pop-culture subjects, and manga or anime characters or scenes. The jury will primarily assess the quality and confidence of the linework, colour saturation, contrast, proportions, readability of the design, originality, adaptation of the composition to the anatomy of the body, and overall visual impact.
The jury will primarily assess the quality and confidence of the linework, colour saturation, contrast, proportions, readability of the design, originality, adaptation of the composition to the anatomy of the body, and overall visual impact.
This category includes tattoos in old school, traditional, and Japanese styles, characterised by bold outlines, saturated colours, and traditional subject matter.
For old school tattoos, the jury will assess bold and clean outlines, a limited but saturated colour palette, simplicity, contrast, and readability of the design. For Japanese tattoos, the jury will assess composition, the flow of the work across the body, the relationship between the main subject and the background, dynamics, colour harmony, and respect for the defining elements of Japanese tattooing.
This category includes small realistic tattoos and other small-scale works. Eligible works include miniature portraits, animals, objects, architecture, botanical subjects, small illustrations, ornaments, and minimalist compositions.
The jury will assess precision of detail, cleanliness and consistency of fine lines, proportions, readability of the design, use of limited space, and overall technical difficulty. In microrealism, convincing realistic representation in a small format is essential. In fineline tattooing, particular attention will be paid to the delicacy, stability, and elegance of the lines, without unwanted wobbling or unevenness.
Best of Show is the main award of Danube Tattoo Show, presented to the best tattoo created during the event. Winning works from the individual FRESH categories will advance to the final judging.
This category is intended for tattoos with a distinctive artistic signature that cannot be clearly placed in any of the other style categories. Eligible works include experimental, abstract, avant-garde, and multidisciplinary pieces, combinations of several styles, and original techniques or visual approaches.
The jury will primarily assess originality, recognisability of the artist’s personal style, creativity, innovation, technical execution, composition, and overall artistic impact. Being different alone is not sufficient. The work must also be technically accomplished, visually effective, and well considered.
Only fully healed tattoos may be entered in the HEALED categories. The tattoo must show no signs of fresh work or incomplete healing. Healed works are judged on their final quality after healing, particularly the stability of the linework, retention of detail, colour saturation, evenness of solid black areas, quality of transitions, and overall durability of the technical execution.
This category is intended for large, healed tattoos covering a substantial part of an arm or leg. Eligible works include full sleeves, full-leg compositions, and extensive cohesive projects on the limbs.
The jury will assess the overall concept, connection between individual elements, body flow, technical consistency, and use of the available area. The work should read as one cohesive project rather than an unrelated collection of separate tattoos.
This category includes large-scale healed tattoos placed on the front of the torso, the back, or a substantial area of the body. Eligible works include full-back projects, chest and abdomen pieces, complex front compositions, and body suit projects connecting multiple areas of the body.
The jury will assess the scale and complexity of the work, overall composition, respect for anatomy, connection between individual sections, consistency of technique and style, use of negative space, and overall visual impact. For body suit projects, consideration will also be given to how effectively the composition works when viewed from the front, back, and sides.
This category is intended for healed tattoos no larger than A4 format. The category is open to all styles, including colour and black-and-grey work.
The jury will assess technical quality after healing, composition within the specified size, cleanliness of linework, saturation and stability of pigment, transitions, detail, originality, and overall visual impact. The tattoo must form an independent and cohesive composition. The jury will assess only the entered work, not any surrounding tattoos.
Tattoos entered in categories marked as “freshly made” must be created exclusively during the festival and within the festival premises.
Tattoos started prior to the event or retouched afterward will not be accepted.
Tattoos created by multiple tattoo artists during the festival may only be entered in the Collaboration category. The maximum number of tattoo artists allowed in this category is four (4).
Each tattoo may be submitted to one category only.
Tattoos entered in “healed” categories must be fully healed.
Daily contest registration opens at 10:30 AM.
Entries must be submitted no later than 60 minutes before the start of the respective category.
During registration, participants must present the tattoo itself or a photograph of the tattoo for preliminary verification.
The organizer reserves the right to reject any entry if the tattoo does not meet the criteria of the selected category or does not reach the required quality standard.
Results and award ceremonies will take place:
By submitting a tattoo, the participant confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted the contest rules and the conditions of the selected category.
Serious violations of the rules may result in disqualification and/or revocation of awards.
In such cases, the organizer reserves the right to inform the public via official channels (Facebook, Instagram, newsletter) and select a new winner.
The organizer has the final authority in resolving disputes and interpreting the rules.
Contest participants — tattoo artists and their models — agree to the use of photos and videos of their work for promotional purposes.
The convention will be strictly inspected regarding hygiene, both for our reputation and for the reputation of the tattoo community as a whole.
Strict compliance with hygiene regulations is required throughout the entire convention.
Any person failing to follow these principles (cross-contamination, use of non-sterile materials, etc.) will be immediately removed from the convention and permanently banned from the Danube Tattoo Show.
Each sold booth is designated exclusively for one tattoo artist and may not be used by other artists or brands.
Partners and sponsors may not occupy more than one third (1/3) of the total visual space of the booth.
Friday, May 15, starting at 4:00 PM.
Please be prepared to pay for your booth if you have not already done so.
After registration, a welcome drink will follow, hosted by the Danube Tattoo Show crew & ITAL MARKET.
Please inform us in advance if you plan to arrive after 9:00 PM or the following morning.
We encourage walk-in tattoos and flash designs, as we expect high attendance, including many visitors without prior appointments.
If you plan to offer walk-in tattoos or flash designs, please let us know and we will repost the information on our social media channels.
The event organizer acts solely as the organizer and provider of the venue for the event and does not provide tattooing services. All tattoos are performed by individual tattoo artists as independent persons and at their own responsibility. Each tattoo artist is fully responsible for complying with all applicable legal, hygienic, and safety regulations, as well as for obtaining all necessary consents in the case of tattooing a person under the age of 18.
The organizer bears no responsibility for the process, performance, or consequences of any tattooing. All legal, medical, or other liability related to the tattooing is borne entirely by the tattoo artist performing the tattoo. In the event that a person under the age of 18 participates in the competition, a written consent from their legal guardian (parent or legal custodian) must be provided in advance.
The organizer assumes no responsibility for any complications or legal consequences associated with tattooing a minor; the tattoo artist performing the tattoo bears full responsibility for meeting all legal requirements and for carrying out the tattoo.
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