Our Annual Tattoo Festival is currently in its 12th year. We have welcomed thousands of tattoo loving people to our shows, and it is getting larger every year. We bring in Award winning Tattoo Studios and Artist from all over the US and abroad; under one roof, for one weekend, to throw ink down in the Midwest. Our shows also showcase live performance art, drawing talent from all over the US for your entertainment.

Artist's reserve their booths months prior to our events and are announced here with links to see their work so people interested in getting work done can book their favorite artist ahead of time. Artist's fill up their time slots fast and booths sell out quickly. So whether you are an artist or a body art lover, don't wait to get your spot reserved NOW before its too late. Carnival of Ink does not price any tattoo work, that is strictly between artist and client

Award Categories

Day 1 Awards 

Best Small Color , Best Small Black & Grey , Best Small B&G With Infused Color, Best Fine Line Tattoo, Best Horror, Best Lettering, Best Watercolor, Tattoo of The Day 1. 1st and 2nd Place Awards, $10.00 per entry. Client must be present for Judging. Best Collab can only be judged in the Best Collab Category. It will not be allowed to be entered into other categories of the show it was done at. 2 Artist Max must be done at the Event. Small size 6x6 & Smaller, Medium size 6x6-12x12, Large size 12x12 & Larger

Day 2 Awards 

Best Medium Color, Best Medium Black & Grey, Best Medium B&G with Infused Color, Best Chest Piece, Best Back Piece, Best Arm Sleeve, Best Leg Sleeve, Best Mandala, Best Hand Tattoo, Best Neck & Throat, Best Traditional, Best Neo-Traditional, Tattoo of The Day 2. 1st and 2nd Place Awards, $10.00 per entry. Client must be present for Judging. Best Collab can only be judged in the Best Collab Category. It will not be allowed to be entered into other categories of the show it was done at. 2 Artist Max must be done at the Event. Small size 6x6 & Smaller, Medium size 6x6-12x12, Large size 12x12 & Larger

Day 3 Awards

Best Large Color, Best Large Black & Grey, Best Large B&G With Infused Color, Best Cover-up, Best Collab ( See rule details ) , Best Color Portrait, Best Black & Grey Portrait, Best Animation, Best Free Hand, Best Geometric, Best Over All Female, Best Over All Male, Best New School Tattoo, Tattoo of The Day 3, Russell James Best In Show Color, Russell James Best In Show Black & Grey. 1st and 2nd Place Awards, $10.00 per entry. Client must be present for Judging. Best Collab can only be judged in the Best Collab Category. It will not be allowed to be entered into other categories of the show it was done at. 2 Artist Max must be done at the Event. Small size 6x6 & Smaller, Medium size 6x6-12x12, Large size 12x12 & Larger

Date : March 14-16, 2025

Time :

March 14, 2025 from 12:00pm to 10:00pm

March 15, 2025 from 12:00pm to 10:00pm

March 16, 2025 from 12:00pm to 8:00pm

Location :

Springfield Expo Center,

635 E. Saint Louis Street

Springfield, MO 65806

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