Motor City Tattoo Expo
- Dates
- Mar 5 to 7, 2027
- Status
- Announced
- Venue
- Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Sep 5, 2026
Motor City Tattoo Expo comes to Detroit, MI, Mar 5 to 7, 2027. Froligo tracks ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Motor City Tattoo Expo takes over the Detroit Renaissance Center on the downtown riverfront for a weekend the organizer bills as its 31st year and one of the largest tattoo conventions in the country, with more than 300 artists and vendors, tattoo contests and seminars. On-site bar carts serve drinks, still photography is allowed, and a discounted Marriott room block is offered to weekend guests. Show hours run Friday noon to 11pm, Saturday 11am to 11pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm; an adult admission price had not been published as of 5 September 2026. The organiser's own venue page adds that an on-site bar cart serves beer, wine and mixed drinks, and that discounted hotel room rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Detroit Marriott in the same Renaissance Center complex, which is also the expo's own venue. The weekend's contest schedule runs daily 'Best of Day' judging in black-and-gray and color, building to Saturday's full category list (portrait, lettering, size and color divisions) and a Sunday 'Best of Show' award spanning the whole weekend, each entry carrying a $10 fee. A one-off Art Fusion event, a collaborative piece by featured and surprise guest artists, is auctioned on the Sunday with proceeds going to charity. The organiser's own venue page adds that an on-site bar cart serves beer, wine and mixed drinks, and that discounted hotel room rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Detroit Marriott in the same Renaissance Center complex, which is also the expo's own venue. The weekend's contest schedule runs daily 'Best of Day' judging in black-and-gray and color, building to Saturday's full category list (portrait, lettering, size and color divisions) and a Sunday 'Best of Show' award spanning the whole weekend, each entry carrying a $10 fee. A one-off Art Fusion event, a collaborative piece by featured and surprise guest artists, is auctioned on the Sunday with proceeds going to charity
What happens on the floor
Pieces go on in the open, start to finish. You can watch, and talk to artists between clients.
Finished and same-day work is judged on stage in named categories, usually late in the day.
Teaching sessions aimed at working artists. Usually ticketed separately from admission.
Machines, inks, aftercare, art and clothing. Aimed at artists, but open to anyone through the door.
Who is tattooing
No artist roster has been published for this edition, so there is no way to pick an artist in advance from the official pages.
The official Artists page listed roughly 300 or more names for the 2027 edition (names only, without studios or Instagram handles). The full list was not transcribed into this record; the site is the source. Notable listed names include Bob Tyrrell and Joe Capobianco
Contests and judging
How entries work
Entry $10 per piece.
$10 entry fee per tattoo entered into a category. All judging is held on the main stage
Around the tattooing
Also running
- Best of Day: Black & Gray / Color (Friday)Entries must be started and finished on Friday, March 6th. $10 entry fee per tattoo
- Best Black & Gray / Best Color (small, medium, large), Best Portrait, Best Overall, Best Lettering (Saturday)$10 entry fee per tattoo
- Best of Day: Black & Gray / Color (Saturday)Entries must be started and finished on Saturday, March 7th
- Best Cover-Up, Best Traditional, Best Arm Sleeve, Best Leg Sleeve, Best Chest, Best Back Piece (Sunday)$10 entry fee per tattoo
- Best of Day: Black & Gray / Color (Sunday)Entries must be started and finished on Sunday, March 8th
- Best of Show: Black & Gray / ColorEntries must be started and finished across the course of the show (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- Art Fusion w/ Special GuestsA limited-edition collaborative art project with featured and surprise guest artists; the finished artwork is auctioned off immediately after, with proceeds to charity
What it costs
Admission is the only price the show sets. Tattoo prices are set by each artist; no artist price list is published.
Extras, bought separately
Tattoo contest entry: Not admission
The $10 contest entry is not an admission price. Children under 12 are free
Hours and the floor
The Detroit Renaissance Center on the downtown riverfront hosts the expo in its Marriott hotel space, which the organizer bills as one of the largest tattoo conventions in the country
On-site bar carts serve beer, wine and mixed drinks. Still photography is allowed; video policy varies per artist
Getting there
How do I get to Motor City Tattoo Expo?
By car
Most people drive to Motor City Tattoo Expo. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🚙 Car hire
Where
Venue
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Motor City Tattoo Expo?
Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
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