3rd KAPATIK World Tattoo Expo happening on January 24-25 in Cebu City

CEBU – Over 250 tattoo artists from all over the world are expected to participate in the 3^rd KAPATIK World Tattoo Expo happening on January 24-25 at the International Eucharistic Convention Center Cebu (IC3) in Cebu City, Philippines.

 

In a media launch on January 3, 2026, Ronnie Macapagal, event producer and a pioneer in the tattoo industry in the Visayas and Mindanao region bared that the two-day event will feature at least 200 booths and up to 250 tattoo artists, with an estimated daily foot traffic of 1,500 to 3,000 spectators and tattoo enthusiasts.

“Tattoo artists/participants are coming from various countries, including Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, France, Austria, Netherlands, and Israel and that the biggest group is from Taiwan, with a total of 45 participants,” Macapagal said.

Macapagal added that this year’s KAPATIK World Tattoo Expo brings in internationally acclaimed board of judges; live music and DJ performances; Bike and motor show; free vaccination and HIV testing from the Department of Health; showcase of Cebu's tourist destinations; live mural or painting exhibit, body painting, and graffiti.

Competition categories include the Best of Day 1 - Black & Gray; Best in Show; Best in Neotrad; Best in Realism; Best in Oriental; Best in Micro Realism; Best in Back Piece; Best in Leg Piece; Best in Arm/Sleeves; Best in Blackwork; Best New Artist; and Best in Hand Poke/Tap.

Cash awards await the winners in the various categories with prizes ranging from P100K, P50K and P30K for best in show, 2^nd and 3^rd placers.  The competitions also offer opportunities for models, some of whom are paid, to work with artists.

“We invite and encourage local artists to participate in the competitions with the global nature of the event and share their personal experiences of receiving offers from artists at events, specifically the interest of foreign tattoo artists in our local talents,” Macapagal said.

Dee Dee Villegas, a tattoo artist and host of the media launch, encouraged everyone to get the inside scoop on KAPATIK World Tattoo Expo 2026, now in its 3rd year highlighting Tattoo competition categories including the Doce Pares Filipino Martial Arts; KAPATIK Babe; Cebuano local band performances; DOH Seminar on tattoo safety & HIV awareness and the pioneers of the first Patik Festival.

Villegas said, the KAPATIK Babe is like a beauty pageant featuring women in tattoos while the Cebu Doce Pares Filipino Martial Arts evokes a special presentation adding context to the historical overview and the native roots and prominence of tattooing in the Filipino culture.

Macapagal added that one of the goals of the event is to promote the local community of tattoo artists and the art of tattooing as well as attracting local tattoo enthusiasts and curious individuals, side by side with well-known international tattoo artists.

“This is one of the biggest events in the world, it is not just a competition but also an opportunity for learning and networking with tattoo artists with diverse backgrounds of the participants, including many American artists. The competition includes various categories with multiple prizes for different positions. We encourage everyone, especially local tattoo artists to take advantage of the opportunities provided by this event,” Macapagal concluded. (Photos: KAPATIK FB/MBCNewman)