The Winnipeg Tattoo Show is home to the most centrally located Canadian venue for one weekend in May, paying homage to the art, the artists, the vendors, and suppliers, that support, promote, and supply the tattoo industry that has caught the attention of the mainstream media and reality TV.

We want to make this convention of the arts different from many in North America; a separation from the image of this industry as an over dramatized T.V. show and a full focus on the grass roots of the north American and global tattoo tradition. What makes Winnipeg ideal is it is the most centrally located major city in Canada, it is rich with artists of all walks of life. A scenic city with a small town feel that carries a deep and interesting history. In addition, like so many other cities in North America, it was at one time illegal to do a tattoo in.

The weekend hopes to educate and inspire artists and the public. The Winnipeg Tattoo Show takes place in the spacious RBC Convention Center. A venue that highlights the wide variety of art and talent in the tattoo industry. From international industry icons that helped bring the art form to where it is today, to the new up and coming artists in the scene that have used their creativity to take a traditional process and continually push its ability to new levels.

The Winnipeg Tattoo Show hosts live tattooing by local, Canadian, and international tattoo artists, suppliers to the industry and a wide variety of local vendors. Vendors include jewellery, apparel, artwork, piercing, airbrushing, custom painters, and more. The course of the weekend sees tattoo competitions for collectors and artists, live entertainment, collaborative art creations, and so much more.

Its a great place for the curious and the already interested to spend the weekend or just a day learning about the industry. Those of all ages and lifestyles will be entertained while checking out all the talent it has to offer, shopping for the unique off the mainstream item, or maybe even getting a tattoo from an artist from another city without having to leave the province.

J&A INKED ENTERPRISES in association with Living Canvas Tattoo and the Winnipeg tattoo community bring you the Winnipeg Tattoo Show. Lets make it the convention to get this city on the map in the tattoo industry!

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Company History

J&A INKED ENTERPRISES Was brought to existence in 2013 by artist and shop owner Abigail and husband Jeff Boivin. The purpose was to work towards bringing the first of many tattoo conventions to the city of Winnipeg.

Winnipeg is one of the most regulated cities in North America with its bylaws and requirements. Abigail, with her extensive industry and process knowledge, teamed with Jeff and his business background and education to work with the city and province to create an accepted operations plan. This will allow us to be able to execute the biggest tattoo convention in Winnipeg to host live public tattooing in a safe, sterile and responsible manner.

In addition to having the ability to get tattooed in a massive public venue we wanted to host a convention that was planned by artists for artists with the focus on artists and the history of the industry. Not the corporate fuelled media image of scripted “tattoo life”.

Artists, art vendors, and enthusiasts populate our planning committee. Our support base for the first year is largely volunteer, and our volunteers are tattoo shop employees, artists, collectors and industry lovers working together to make the Winnipeg Tattoo Show a huge success!

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.