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You couldn\u2019t escape the aughts without overhearing someone say, \u201cYou don\u2019t put a bumper sticker on a Bentley.\u201d I think of that 2009 quote by Kim Kardashian a lot, as it perfectly captures how far we\u2019ve come in our appreciation of tattoos. What was once seen as taboo or tacky is now a commonly accepted form of expression. Tattoos capture feelings (even if it\u2019s just \u201cI\u2019m bored after work\u201d), honor the people who\u2019ve had a hand in shaping our personalities (think: a tribute to a relative who has passed or, in my case, the Spice Girls ink on my left bicep), and freeze moments in time.<\/p>\n
Tattoos also tell stories. They reflect a sense of time, place, and our cultural experience. The trends of 2026 will capture the coming year\u2019s vibes, just as the fingerstache summed up the obsession with hipster and twee culture in 2011. See also: the lavender sprig that took over forearms after 2015, the disco ball boom of 2020 (Taylor Swift\u2019s \u201cMirrorball\u201d might have had something to do with that), and the soaring number of angel-number flash tattoos in the last couple of years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if you are trying to get a trendy or \u2018Pinteresting\u2019 piece, you need to realize just that: It\u2019s trending,\u201d says Jes Valentine, a New York City-based tattoo artist and owner of Haven Studio. \u201cWill that thing you\u2019re thinking of inking matter to you in eight or so years?\u201d<\/p>\n
If the lavender sprig is still calling you by your full government name, then book the appointment and wear it with pride. \u201cOwn it with intention. If you love a lavender sprig, make it yours\u2014change the flow, add texture, integrate meaning,\u201d says Emmanuel Fortunato, a New York City-based tattoo artist, who adds that the goal shouldn\u2019t be to avoid trends. \u201cYour story makes the tattoo timeless.\u201d<\/p>\n
We spoke with tattoo artists regarding the trends they expect to dominate the new year, and if tattoos are any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be a nostalgic and romantic year.<\/p>\n
Getting a pet portrait is classic, but Valentine says that more and more of her clients are asking to have them inked inside heart-shaped locket designs. \u201cIt\u2019s a trend that the client makes super personal,\u201d she explains, because both elements of the tattoo are highly customizable. Your fur baby can have its toothy smile, for instance, and the locket can be as ornate or understated as you want.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n