Conventions, festivals, exhibitions and gatherings where Polynesian tattooing is practised or shown. Dates come from organizers or published reports; always confirm on the official source before travelling.
On view through 2026-12-11
Organizer: Gallery ʻIolani, Windward Community College
Free exhibit on ancestral knowledge featuring kākau uhi practitioner Suluʻape Keone Nunes and ʻōlohe ʻUmi Kai.
12 Nov 2026 – 15 Nov 2026
Organizer: Āina Tātau association
Four-day festival of Polynesian tattooing with 50+ artists, daily competitions, cultural performances and an artisan village.
13 Nov 2026 – 15 Nov 2026
Organizer: Pacific Legacy Expo
Three days at Orleans Arena with traditional Polynesian tatau practitioners, tattoo artists, cultural performances and Pacific Islander art.
28 Nov 2026 – 29 Nov 2026
Organizer: NZ Tattoo & Art Festival
250+ artists at TSB Stadium; recent editions have included hand-tap artists working in Samoan and Māori technique.
15 Jan 2027 – 17 Jan 2027
Organizer: Triple Crown Tattoo Expos
Three-day expo at the Hawaii Convention Center; general convention, no Polynesian-specific stream confirmed.
13 Mar 2027 – 14 Mar 2027
Organizer: Roots team
Second edition at the NZ International Convention Centre; the 2026 edition featured tā moko artist Hirini Katene as a speaker.
9 Jul 2027 – 11 Jul 2027
Organizer: PIAE Group LLC
Culture-centred expo at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center; the organizer describes it as sharing Polynesia's traditional tattooing roots; 2026 drew 500+ artists.
Usually March — next dates TBA
Organizer: Moko Ora Wānanga collective at Te Puia
Kaupapa Māori gathering of tā moko practitioners to share knowledge grounded in tikanga; second edition held March 2026.
Usually June — next dates TBA
Organizer: Association Polynesia Tatau
Five-day free festival with a Pacific Tattoo Village; first edition 3–7 June 2026 at Parc Vairai with delegations from Aotearoa, Taiwan and Fiji.
Usually July — next dates TBA
Organizer: Te Fare Tauhiti Nui – Maison de la Culture
Annual festival of dance, song, traditional sports and crafts since 1881; tattoo programming not confirmed.
Usually July — next dates TBA
Organizer: Wellington Tattoo Convention
120+ artists from Australasia and beyond; 2026 edition at the Dominion Museum Building.
Usually September — next dates TBA
Organizer: Samoa Tourism Authority
Samoa's longest-running cultural festival, renamed in 2026; tatau has historically featured in its programme.
Usually September — next dates TBA
Organizer: Téo Milev and Morgane Witlberger
Convention with a dedicated Polynesian section; the 2026 edition gathered 20+ Polynesian-style tattooists and a separate Polynesian competition category.
Usually October — next dates TBA
Organizer: Como Tattoo Convention
2026 programme included a talk on composition in Polynesian tattooing and lectures by anthropologist Lars Krutak.
Usually October — next dates TBA
Organizer: Tisa Faamuli
Annual tatau festival credited with reviving Samoan tatau locally; marked its 20th anniversary in 2026.
December 2027, exact dates TBA
Organizer: COMOTHE
Rotating-island Marquesan arts festival where patutiki demonstrations are a regular feature.
2028, dates TBA
Organizer: Government of New Caledonia
New Caledonia was confirmed in 2025 as host of the next FestPAC after Hawaiʻi's 2024 edition; tattoo programming to be announced.
Dates to be announced
Organizer: Japanese American National Museum; toured by Flying Fish
150+ photographs documenting Samoan tatau and the Suluʻape family; available for booking by venues.
No events in the past 12 months match these filters.