Tattoo Fest Grand Rapids starts this weekend with the biggest gathering of tattoo artists Grand Rapids has ever seen. Celebrate tattooing, art, and Halloween at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids on October 23–25! The festival will host over 450 tattoo artists exhibiting their work and competing in contests with 20 categories. Competitions will be for healed tattoos as well as competitions each day for fresh tattoos done at the festival.
Our annual Tattoo Fest Grand Rapids Costume Contest will be hosted on Saturday, October 24 at 8pm. Contestants will walk across the stage and have the ability to win prizes from local businesses, with the grand prize being $1000 cash. Categories include Most Original, Best Couple or Group, Scariest, Sexiest, Funniest, and Kids – with one overall Grand Prize Winner. Entry into the costume contest is free with a purchase of a single day or weekend pass to the festival.
We also are proud to host the Worst Tattoo Competition, sponsored by Removery – the World’s Largest Tattoo Removal Company. A free to enter competition, attendees can show off bad or regrettable tattoos they have, with the winner receiving a free removal package from Removery, who has over 150 locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Nationally and internationally recognized tattoo artists will be set up for the public to browse and collect tattoos! Reality tattoo stars from some of your favorite tattoo reality television shows will be on hand tattooing and able to be seen working their craft live in front of attendees of the festival. Artists have already started booking in advance, but plenty will be accepting walk up tattoos. Go to https://grandrapidstattoo.com/exhibitors/#artists to find your perfect artist. Do it quickly before they are booked solid for the entire weekend.
The festival also features vendors ranging from oddities to clothing and makers of all kinds. This event is open to the public and family friendly.
Tattoo Fest Grand Rapids is presented by Tattoo Fest and the Explorer Tattoo Conference – the world’s largest educational tattoo conference.
Organizers and some artists are available for immediate press contact.
Festival Details
What: Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival
Where: DeVos Place - 303 Monroe Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503
When: October 23, 2026, 1p-10p; October 24, 2026, 11a-10p; October 25, 2026, 11a-7p
Details: Family Friendly, Must be 18 with valid ID to be tattooed, Early Bird Tickets on sale now for sale price – Weekend ($60) & Daily ($27.50). Passes available at the door all weekend.
About DeVos Place
Located along the Grand River in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, DeVos Place is a premier convention center that has successfully hosted conventions, tradeshows, meetings, and community events for over 20 years. The facility features a 162,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, and more than two dozen meeting rooms. DeVos Place belongs to a trusted network of Grand Rapids entertainment venues that have been successfully managed for more than 30 years. DeVos Place is managed by Legends Global, the world’s leading premium live experiences company. To learn more, visit DevosPlace.org or follow DeVos Place on social.
About Legends Global
Legends Global is the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner’s rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging the power of our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually. To learn more, visit us at LegendsGlobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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