by Maximiliano Crocamo
The 2025 edition of the International Tattoo Expo continues Sunday at the Generali Convention Center in Trieste, after opening to long lines and steady crowds on Saturday. Visitors from across northeastern Italy—as well as Slovenia, Croatia and Austria—filled the hall as tattoo artists began working from the moment doors opened.
Now in its 15th edition and held biennially, the expo has brought 150 tattoo and piercing artists from around the world to Trieste. The program includes stage performances, demonstrations, international guests and competitive contests, alongside commercial exhibitors and food vendors.
Throughout the weekend, many attendees have scheduled tattoo sessions lasting several hours—sometimes the entire day—after choosing from the wide array of styles and artists on site. Designs range from colorful and black-and-white pieces to portraits, cartoon characters, pets, landscapes, lettering and tribal motifs.
A complete list of participating artists, each with a short profile, is available on the expo’s official website. Visitors can request tattoos to be completed during the event.
The expo is held under the patronage of the City of Trieste and, for the first time, features the regional brand “Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia.”
Today’s hours run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily admission is €10.
