A Coruña is gearing up for a weekend where ink, music, and tattoo culture will take center stage. The 4th Old Navy Tattoo Expo will once again transform the city into a key destination on the European tattoo convention calendar, offering much more than just the usual booths.
The event, organized by Front Line Tattoo , is designed for professionals, enthusiasts, and those curious to explore this world for the first time. For two days, the Hotel Attica 21 will be transformed into a space where national and international artists, cultural activities, audiovisual premieres, and even a hot Padrón pepper competition will converge.
Dates, location and times of the 4th Old Navy Tattoo Expo
The fourth edition of the Old Navy Tattoo Expo will be held on September 5th and 6th at the Salones Galicia of the Hotel Attica 21, located at Calle Enrique Mariñas Romero, 34, in A Coruña. The hotel will once again be the chosen venue to bring together all the weekend's events in one place.
On Saturday, the convention will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. , offering a nearly full day to discover the guest tattoo artists, attend the screenings, and enjoy live music. On Sunday, the hours will be slightly adjusted, remaining open from 22:30 a.m. to 20:00 p.m.
The organization has also planned to facilitate visits for families: children under 12 will have free entry , allowing the event to be experienced as an open leisure activity, not limited to a strictly professional audience.
With this approach of extended hours and easy access, the Old Navy Tattoo Expo seeks to attract both residents of A Coruña and people from other parts of Galicia and the rest of the country who want to take advantage of the weekend to visit the city.
An international meeting point with 72 tattoo artists
One of the cornerstones of the 4th Old Navy Tattoo Expo will be the presence of 72 tattoo artists , a figure that is repeated throughout the information released by the organizers and confirms the convention's growth since its inception. The artists will arrive from various parts of Spain, several European countries, the United States, and other corners of the world , guaranteeing a diverse range of styles and approaches.
The idea behind the Old Navy Tattoo Expo is based on something seemingly simple: enjoying tattoos and sharing them . The organizers emphasize that it's an intimate gathering, designed to connect with other professionals, exchange experiences, discover new techniques, and, for those who wish, leave the event with a fresh tattoo as a memento of a unique weekend.
For the general public, the presence of so many artists in one place translates into the possibility of seeing leading tattoo artists work live , comparing styles, asking questions, and better understanding how a piece is built from the design to the final result, all without needing to make an appointment at each studio.
In this sense, the Old Navy Tattoo Expo is not just a professional trade show, but a space where artists, enthusiasts, and the simply curious come together . The mix of backgrounds, origins, and experiences helps create an atmosphere where tattooing is showcased not only as a service but also as a form of cultural expression.
More than a convention: art, specialized materials and merchandising
In addition to tattoo booths, the program includes a wide selection of specialized materials, machine builders, prints, original artwork, and merchandise from participating artists. This part of the expo offers a glimpse into the less visible side of the industry, the one that encompasses illustration, design, and tool manufacturing.
Visitors will find collectible prints, unique pieces, and products designed for those who appreciate tattoos as both art and collectibles . For those not planning on getting a tattoo over the weekend, this section offers a different way to participate in the experience and support the artists' work.
The presence of machine builders and material suppliers also makes Old Navy a professional meeting point , where you can learn about new technologies, exchange opinions on tools and establish contacts within the sector.
This combination of tattoo booths, graphic art, and specialized materials reinforces the idea that the convention functions as a small ecosystem around tattooing, where each piece—from the needle to the final design—has its own space.
Unique activities: banner competition and Padrón pepper championship
Among the elements that have become part of the Old Navy Tattoo Expo's identity, two activities stand out and are repeated throughout all official information: the hand-painted banner contest and the spicy Padrón pepper championship . This blend of graphic art and culinary challenge has become one of the most striking hallmarks of the A Coruña event.
The banner competition allows the aesthetics of tattooing to be transferred to other media, offering the public a different perspective on the creative abilities of tattoo artists. The hand-drawn pieces focus on illustration and traditional drawing, going beyond the skin as the usual canvas.
The Padrón pepper championship adds a festive and distinctly Galician touch to the program. The inclusion of this classic of local cuisine, in its spiciest form, underscores the event's relaxed atmosphere and connects it to regional traditions.
Both activities, repeatedly featured in the various notes and summaries of the program, reinforce the idea that the Old Navy Tattoo Expo is committed to a combination of tattoo culture, fun, and nods to local identity , something that helps differentiate it from other conventions more focused exclusively on technical work.
Documentaries and the Spanish premiere of “Unknown Legends”
The audiovisual dimension will be another important focus of this fourth edition. Throughout the weekend, several documentaries related to tattoo culture will be screened , broadening the event's scope beyond the booths and work areas.
Among these screenings, the Spanish premiere of “Unknown Legends” stands out . This documentary will arrive in A Coruña accompanied by several of its protagonists. According to information provided by the organizers, these guests will attend the exhibition to present the film and also showcase their paintings, thus linking the audiovisual format with the art exhibition.
The inclusion of “Unknown Legends” and other titles in the program points to a clear intention to approach tattooing from a broader cultural and artistic perspective . It's not just about watching a design being executed, but about understanding the stories, trajectories, and contexts surrounding many of the leading figures in the international scene.
This part of the program also fits with Old Navy's commitment to presenting tattooing as a discipline that engages with film, painting, and other forms of contemporary creation, something especially relevant in a city with an active cultural agenda like A Coruña.
Music and rock as the soundtrack of the weekend
The Old Navy Tattoo Expo continues its commitment to live music as one of the elements that gives the event its unique character. Throughout the two days, the atmosphere will be enhanced by the collaboration of Flores Rock , a name that appears repeatedly in official information and reinforces the historical connection between tattooing and the rock world.
This musical presence isn't limited to mere background music; it's an integral part of the overall weekend experience . The organizers aim to make the convention a gathering that blends tattoos, concerts, exhibitions, and opportunities for artists and the public to connect.
The relationship between tattoos and rock music, present for decades in numerous urban scenes, finds a natural home at the Old Navy Tattoo Expo. Styles, aesthetics, and shared references converge in one place, creating an atmosphere that moves away from the impersonal trade show format and embraces a more intimate character.
In this way, those who come to the Hotel Attica 21 will not only be able to visit the stands and booths, but also enjoy a musical program that contributes to making the day feel like a complete leisure event.
Old Navy's own beer and the experiential nature of the event
Among the new features announced for this fourth edition is the creation of an official Old Navy Tattoo Expo beer , brewed specifically for the occasion. The idea, according to the organizers, is to have a unique beverage to toast and share throughout the weekend.
This detail, which appears repeatedly in the various news reports and articles, aligns with the goal of transforming the convention into a complete experience centered around the Old Navy brand . Beyond the strictly professional activities, the aim is to create memorable and recognizable elements for those who participate in the event.
The presence of this house beer, along with other elements that reinforce the experiential nature of the event, such as the pepper-eating competition and the musical lineup, helps to move the Old Navy Tattoo Expo away from the image of a purely technical event and places it in the realm of conventions that combine leisure, culture, and community.
At the same time, the organization insists that, despite this growth and the incorporation of new proposals, the essence of the project remains: a close, open and fun encounter , in which tattoo artists and the public share space without too many barriers.
A Coruña on the European tattoo map
The celebration of the 4th Old Navy Tattoo Expo reinforces A Coruña's position as a leading venue within the tattoo event circuit in Spain and Europe. The arrival of artists from different countries and the international scope of the program put the city on the radar of professionals and enthusiasts from other regions.
For two days, the Salones Galicia at the Hotel Attica 21 will become an epicenter for the tattoo community , which will find in the convention a space to work, showcase its art, share knowledge, and forge new connections. For the city, it also represents an opportunity to attract visitors and strengthen its cultural and leisure offerings at the end of summer.
The Old Navy Tattoo Expo's approach aligns with the growing trend in many European cities to promote initiatives linked to urban art, illustration, graphic design, and new forms of expression . Tattoos, increasingly integrated into everyday life and moving away from old stereotypes, find here a platform to be displayed naturally.
The combination of international events, activities open to the general public, and a program that blends tattooing, music, gastronomy, and film makes Old Navy a unique offering within the A Coruña calendar, which aspires to continue consolidating itself in future editions.
With 72 tattoo artists from various countries, documentaries like “Unknown Legends,” a hand-painted banner contest, a hot Padrón pepper competition, music by Flores Rock, a beer created especially for the event, and extended hours designed for all ages, the 4th Old Navy Tattoo Expo presents itself as an event that aims to continue growing without losing its essence as a close-knit and shared gathering. A Coruña thus experiences a weekend where ink, art, and tattoo culture come together in one space, solidifying the city as a benchmark for those who understand tattooing as something more than just a simple drawing on the skin.
