Thousands flock to Gamla Bíó for Icelandic Tattoo Convention

The Icelandic Tattoo Convention returned for its 18th edition this weekend — and by all accounts, it was a major success.

Össur Hafþórsson, owner of Reykjavík Ink and organizer of the event, says attendance exceeded expectations.
“The turnout has been in the thousands,” he says. “People of all ages have come to Gamla Bíó to get tattooed — we’ve even had people in their seventies getting their very first tattoo.”

The best of the best

Thirty tattoo artists from around the world participated in the convention, each bringing a distinctive style and approach.
“If you can’t find your style here,” Össur says, “it probably doesn’t exist.”

Trends: What’s hot in ink

When asked about current trends, Össur says there’s something for everyone.
“The classic ‘Old School’ style never goes out of fashion,” he explains, “but ‘Fine-line’ tattoos have really taken off lately.”
He also notes a surprising comeback: “Believe it or not, the good old ‘Tribal’ tattoo is back in style.”

Changing attitudes

First held in 2006, the convention has seen the tattoo scene evolve dramatically over the years.
“Getting a tattoo is much more accepted now than it used to be,” says Össur. “These days, getting a cool tattoo is like buying a beautiful piece of jewelry.”

He adds that tattoos today often carry more symbolic weight than in the past:
“More and more people are choosing designs with personal meaning — not just for aesthetics, but for what they represent.”