Rubber City Tattoo Invitational
Akron Tattoo Convention
July 24–26, 2026
Great Scott! The timeline is officially locked.
The Rubber City Tattoo Invitational returns to downtown Akron, Ohio July 24–26, 2026 for a three-day weekend of tattooing, art, entertainment, vendors, contests, and a healthy amount of Back to the Future nostalgia.
Held at the John S. Knight Center, the Rubber City Tattoo Invitational brings together more than 250 tattoo artists, vendors, collectors, and tattoo enthusiasts from across the country for one of the Midwest’s most distinctive tattoo conventions.
This year’s Back to the Future-inspired theme carries throughout the weekend with themed events, the Enchantment Under the Sea pin-up contest, cosplay, tattoo competitions, photo opportunities, and plenty of references for anyone who grew up wishing they had their own DeLorean.
Attendees can explore a wide range of tattoo styles including black and grey realism, fine line, traditional, neo traditional, anime, Japanese, illustrative, and more while meeting artists from around the United States.
Whether you’re looking to get tattooed, book with a traveling artist, shop vendors, compete, or simply spend the weekend around people who love tattoo culture, the Rubber City Tattoo Invitational is built for both longtime collectors and first-time convention attendees alike.
So grab your hoverboard and make your way to Akron this July. The future hasn’t been written yet. ⚡️ Be there or be square.
The Rubber City Tattoo Invitational brings together more than 250 tattoo artists, creators, and vendors from around the country for one weekend in downtown Akron.
Attendees can explore a wide range of tattoo styles including black and grey realism, traditional, neo traditional, Japanese, anime, fine line, illustrative, and large-scale color work while connecting directly with artists throughout the convention.
In addition to tattooing, the vendor area features artwork, apparel, jewelry, collectibles, oddities, aftercare products, tattoo supplies, and locally made merchandise.
Whether you’re looking to book your next tattoo or just spend the weekend surrounded by tattoo culture, there’s something worth discovering around every corner.
Throughout the weekend, the Rubber City Tattoo Invitational hosts tattoo competitions featuring work from artists around the country. Categories include everything from black and grey realism and color work to traditional, fine line, anime, and large-scale tattoos completed both during and before the convention.
Whether you’re competing, collecting, or watching from the crowd, the contests are one of the weekend’s biggest highlights.
From live tattooing and vendor shopping to trivia, contests, cosplay, and the Enchantment Under the Sea pin-up contest, every day at the Rubber City Tattoo Invitational brings something different to the timeline.
Explore the full weekend schedule to plan your trip through downtown Akron and keep track of contests, entertainment, special events, and everything happening throughout the convention weekend.
Turning your trip into a full weekend getaway? The Rubber City Tattoo Invitational takes place in the heart of downtown Akron at the John S. Knight Center, surrounded by hotels, restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, nightlife, and local attractions.
Whether you’re staying downtown for the full weekend or making a quick trip to the convention, our hotel page includes recommended lodging options near the venue along with helpful resources for exploring Akron during your stay.
You’ll also find a link to the official Akron/Summit Visitors Guide for additional restaurants, attractions, local events, and things to do throughout the area.
Free Friday admission for active military, veterans, EMS, firefighters, dispatchers, and law enforcement with valid ID at the door.
🇺🇸 Friday Appreciation Day 🇺🇸
FREE Friday Admsission for active military, veterans, EMS, firefighters, dispatchers, and law enforcement with valid ID at the door!