For artists
Entry is selective. Artists and studios apply for a category, are reviewed individually, and join a battle only after confirmation from the organizer.
How participation works
Apply and be selected
Send your details, preferred category, Instagram profile, and five of your best tattoo works. Every application is reviewed individually and entry is confirmed by email.
Receive a balanced matchup
Opponents are chosen by style, skill level, work quality, experience, and category—not at random. Battles can be artist vs artist or studio collaboration vs studio collaboration.
Create and document
From the official start, you have exactly one month to create a new category-specific tattoo. Film the idea, preparation, tattooing, and final result in landscape 16:9.
Submit the real result
Send the usable footage and accurate final photographs, including multiple angles, details, natural daylight, and an unfiltered image. Manipulation intended to improve the tattoo is not allowed.
Receive the verdict and feedback
Three judges each cast one independent vote and record feedback for both sides. The result is 3:0 or 2:1, with no draw, and the complete story becomes a World Ink Battle episode.
Prepare your material
Film in landscape 16:9 and show enough of the journey to make the process clear: introduction, idea, design, preparation, tattooing, progress, details, and the finished piece. You may speak in your native language; important dialogue will receive English subtitles.
Submit at least three final photographs, including different angles, detail, natural daylight, and an unfiltered image. Photoshop, AI editing, appearance-changing filters, and retouching intended to influence judging can lead to disqualification.
Read the complete artist rules