Tattoos Booze & Tacos Expo #5 (2026)
The Tattoos Booze & Tacos Expo returns for its 5th year on May 1-3, 2026 at the Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. This three-day event combines live tattooing with food and drink in a convention format that draws artists and collectors from across the Pittsburgh region and beyond. The event runs Friday and Saturday from 12 PM to 10 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM. The Monroeville Convention Center sits at 209 Mall Plaza Blvd, just east of Pittsburgh in a suburb anchored by the Monroeville Mall. Pittsburgh has supported a strong tattoo culture since the 1940s, with shops historically serving steelworkers and industrial laborers. This working-class tradition continues today in the flash sheets and bold line work common at local shops. Attendees can walk the floor to watch artists work on clients in real time, browse vendor booths selling equipment and aftercare products, and eat tacos from food vendors while drinking beer or other beverages available on site. The expo includes tattoo competitions across various categories. Guest artists from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and neighboring states typically attend, though the organizer releases the specific roster closer to the event date. This is a cash-only event at the door. Single-day admission is $20 per person, or visitors can buy a weekend pass for $45. Children under 12 enter free with a paying adult. Tickets are not sold online; you buy them when you arrive at the convention center entrance. The venue offers surface parking around the building, though spaces fill quickly on Saturday afternoons. Several chain hotels sit within a mile of the convention center along US-22, including options at the Monroeville Mall intersection. First-time attendees should bring cash for admission and tips, a valid ID for alcohol purchases, and comfortable shoes for concrete floors. The atmosphere is casual and loud, with music playing throughout the day. Artists book appointments in advance but often take walk-ups if they have openings. Bring reference images if you want to discuss a new piece, or browse flash sheets available at booths. The event maintains a straightforward format: tattoo stations line the perimeter and center of the hall, food vendors occupy designated areas near the entrances, and a bar area serves drinks to of-age attendees. This is the 5th edition of the expo, which started in 2022 and has grown each year while keeping its focus on accessible pricing and a relaxed environment compared to larger industry conventions.