Cantal Ink - International Tattoo Festival

A unique tattoo festival in the heart of a thermal spa town

Cantal Ink is much more than just a tattoo convention: it's a true festival that transforms the small thermal village of Chaudes-Aigues into the international capital of tattoo art every year. Nestled in the heart of Cantal, near the Aubrac plateau, this village of less than 1,000 inhabitants is famous for housing the Par spring, the hottest thermal spring in Europe (82°C). It is in this exceptional setting that an extraordinary event has been taking place since 2013, at the crossroads of body art and Auvergne's thermal heritage.

The story of an artistic adventure

The festival was founded by Stéphane Chaudesaigues, an internationally renowned realism tattoo artist and a native of the village, who wanted to bring together the biggest names in global tattooing in his hometown. The first edition, in July 2013, was an immediate resounding success with over 10,000 visitors. Five historic editions followed between 2013 and 2017, welcoming a total of nearly 50,000 people and legendary artists such as Nikko Hurtado, Hannah Aitchison, Jeff Gogue, Shane O'Neill, Honda Tsuyoshi, and Joshua Carlton. After a period of interruption due to funding difficulties and the health crisis, the festival has resumed its activities with new editions.

An eclectic and family-friendly program

Cantal Ink adapts the codes of a classic tattoo convention in the manner of a festival, open to all, from novices to seasoned enthusiasts, from 7 to 77 years old. The program includes:

• More than 140 tattoo artists from 26 different nationalities, set up in the Gymnase de l'Enclos and the Graphicaderme studio, where the public can get tattooed live
• Tattoo contests rewarding the best creations in various categories
• Live concerts mixing rock, punk, soul, electro, and world music
• Burlesque shows and pin-up parades, ambassadors of glamour
• Cantal Wheels, an event dedicated to bikers with exhibitions, a globe of death, and a motorcycle parts market
• Conferences and seminars on the history and sociology of tattooing

Chaudes-Aigues: a natural and thermal setting

The choice of Chaudes-Aigues as the festival location is no coincidence. This spa town, located at an altitude of about 750 meters in the narrow Remontalou valley, offers a preserved natural setting and a unique atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy the Caladea thermal leisure center to relax between tattoo sessions, discover the village's geothermal heritage, and savor Cantal's gastronomy. The festival transforms the entire town center into a festive space where art, music, motorcycle culture, and local traditions meet.

An unmissable event for tattoo art

Cantal Ink has established itself as one of the benchmark events in the tattoo world in France and internationally. Organized by the Chaudesaigues Tattoo Association in partnership with the association Tatouage & Partage, the festival champions a vision of tattooing as a full-fledged artistic discipline and contributes to the cultural and tourist influence of Cantal. A unique event where ink meets hot springs.