General News
5 June, 2026
Cairns to host first major tattoo expo
SOME of Australia's leading tattoo artists will descend on Cairns this weekend for what organisers say is the city's first dedicated tattoo expo.
The Rainforest & Reef Invitational Tattoo Expo will bring together 47 artists from around the country at the Cairns Showgrounds on 6 and 7 June, offering live tattooing, body piercing, vendors, photography, barbering and entertainment across two days.
The event is the brainchild of local tattoo artist Jake Straat and his wife Kaarina, who created the expo after years of travelling to tattoo conventions throughout Australia and overseas.
Mr Straat, who owns Royal Blue Tattoo on Sheridan Street, said bringing a major tattoo expo to the Far North had long been a dream.
"It's the first of its kind in Cairns, having a tattoo expo in the tropics," he said.
"I've travelled the entire world doing these tattoo expo events and living in Cairns is such a beautiful thing. To be able to share my part of the world with all of my peers, that's kind of a pretty special thing."
The two-day event will give locals the chance to be tattooed by some of Australia's most respected artists without having to travel to larger cities.
Mr Straat said the popularity of tattooing had grown significantly in recent years and he believed the Far North was ready for an event of this scale.
"I feel like the tattoo culture in the Far North is growing and it's very popular to the point where more people now have tattoos than people don't have tattoos," he said.
"With the growing rate of people getting tattooed and the popularity of it within our society, I think something like a tattoo expo is going to be really welcomed and a special thing for the people of the Far North."
Among the guest artists attending is Melbourne tattooist Sam Coe from Fitzroy Tattoo, who said the expo's artist-led approach made it unique.
"It's owned and run by a tattooer, for tattooists," Mr Coe said.
"All of the artists kind of know each other already and just bringing that level of talent to Cairns is going to be amazing for us and the clients."
Melbourne artist Melody Crow will also make the trip north, bringing her colourful neo-traditional style to the event.
Mr Straat said the expo was not just for tattoo enthusiasts and encouraged the wider community to come along.
"Everyone's welcome, no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, or if you have a tattoo or if you haven't got a tattoo," he said.
"We've got food, we've got people cutting hair, we've got a portrait photographer taking photos of people, we've got live tattooing and body piercing.
"It's going to be an amazing weekend and it's going to be fun to celebrate the tropics with a little bit of tattooing in Cairns."
The Rainforest & Reef Invitational Tattoo Expo will be held at the Cairns Showgrounds on June 6 and 7 from 8am to 5pm, with tickets available at the door.
