About Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival

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Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival features up to 450 local, national and international tattoo artists for 3 days at the Royal Exhibition Building. Meet new artists, connect with industry titans and get a tattoo on the spot from one of thousands of designs and flash tattoos available.

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Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival
stands as Australia’s most iconic tattoo event, tracing its roots back to the early years of the modern global tattoo movement in the heart of Melbourne. Established in 2011, this annual gathering has become a pivotal celebration for tattoo enthusiasts and tattoo artists alike. Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival isn’t just an event; it’s a bold testament to self-expression through the world of tattooing.

From its inception, Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival showcased the work of pioneering tattoo artists from Australia and abroad, sharing their innovative techniques and pushing the boundaries of the craft. It quickly evolved into a platform where tattoo artists from around the world converged, collaborated and provided the general public a glimpse into the intricacies of the tattoo world, from the past and present.

The festival’s name itself speaks to the profound personal journeys and transformations that occur under and around the buzzing needles of our skilled exhibiting artists. Attendees of the festival not only witness the evolution of tattooing as an art form, but also partake in the positive, communal energy that defines the global tattoo community.

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Over the years, Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival has grown and evolved into a cultural phenomenon, attracting not only tattoo enthusiasts but also curious onlookers ready to explore the world of tattooing.

Take a stroll with us back to Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival – Lettering Legends in 2017

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Celebrating its 13th annual running in 2024, Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival now boasts one of the highest artist count and highest attendee numbers ever seen at a tattoo gathering in the southern hemisphere, with up to 450 tattoo artists and 10,000 tattoo enthusiasts filling both floors of the prestigious Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.

As well as showcasing incredible talent and providing a platform for the general public to learn, explore and get new tattoos in a safe and inclusive environment, Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival is home to exclusively curated art exhibitions, live art demonstrations, artist to artist seminars and workshops, an outdoor food truck park as well as a plethora of unique retail stalls selling a vast range of tattoo related goods including tattoo supplies for professional artists.

As the festival continues to leave its’ mark on the global tattoo scene, Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival remains a vibrant and ever-evolving testament to the power of tattoos as a form of personal and collective expression.

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Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention 2011

Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention 2011
Poster artwork by Paolo Acuna

Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention & Art Festival 2012

Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention & Arts Festival 2012
Poster art by Jeff Gogue

Rites of Passage Tattoo & Art Festival 2014

Rites of Passage Tattoo & Art Festival 2014
Poster art by Joe Capobianco

Rites of Passage Tattoo Music & Art Festival 2015

Rites of Passage Tattoo & Art Festival 2015
Poster art by Shige Yellowblaze

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2016

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2016
Poster art by Matt Curzon and Mystik

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2017

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2017

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival Sydney 2017

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival – Sydney 2017
Poster art by JakeTattoos

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2018

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2018
Poster art by Matt Mooney

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival Sydney 2018

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival – Sydney 2018
Poster art by Stu Pagdin

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2019

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2019

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival Sydney 2019

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival – Sydney 2019
Poster art by EdgilJ

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2022

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2022
Poster art by JakeTattoos

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2023

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2023

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2024

Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival 2024

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