Longhorn State Tattoo Expo 2026

The Longhorn State Tattoo Expo is coming to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from Friday, October 30, through Sunday, November 1. It's hosted by Shine and Deanna James and presented by Sullen, and it takes over Exhibit Hall B at 650 S Griffin St in downtown Dallas.

It's a three-day show, and the organizers have extended the hours on Friday and Saturday, so you've got plenty of time to work your way through the floor. The whole thing is built around the tattoo booths, where you can see a wide range of styles side by side. If you're looking for something new, it's a good place to browse different artists and get a feel for who you might want to sit with.

Beyond the booths, there are tattoo contests and seminars running throughout the weekend. The contests are where the work gets put up for judging, and the seminars give you a chance to hear from people who've been doing this a while. There's also live entertainment on the schedule to keep things moving between the tattooing and the talking.

The people behind it describe the expo as a show built by artists, for artists. They frame it as a place where tattooists can work alongside some of the top names in the industry, connect with serious collectors, and get their work out there. That artist-first focus carries through to the sponsors, who come from within the tattoo world rather than from outside it.

So, you've got three days at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, with the longest hours on Friday and Saturday. If you're planning to get tattooed, it's worth keeping in mind that the booths are the main event, and the contests and seminars run alongside them.