Top tattoo artists from around the world will be tattooing LIVE all weekend. Featuring dozens of award-winning artists, this is your chance to experience incredible talent up close or get tattooed the same day.
Explore professional piercing booths, unique vendors, custom art, clothing and merch, tattoo supplies, and services ranging from marketing to massage.
Enjoy daily tattoo contests and awards, our 3rd Annual Beard Competition, costume contests, temporary tattoos, kid-friendly activities, door prizes, and much more.
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and special guests.
Annual Tattoo Convention in Dayton, OH
Open to the public! Family-friendly
Hosted & Sponsored by: Modified Skin Tattoo
Built by Artists, Fueled by Community
Cyan Tattoo & Arts Expo was born from a simple but powerful vision: to create a tattoo convention in Dayton, Ohio that truly reflects the insane level of talent this city breathes. Dayton has long been home to some of the best tattoo artists in the country. People pushing boundaries, redefining styles, and building a culture that deserves to be seen. We wanted more than just another convention, we wanted an experience built by artists, for artists, and for the people who appreciate what we do.
What started as a passion project quickly turned into a movement, thanks to the support of our incredible community. Each year, Cyan grows; more artists, more fans, more energy. The vibe is electric, the work is unreal, and the future is wide open. Cyan is a testament to what happens when artists come together to build something bigger than themselves. This is where it started, and we’re just getting warmed up.
For 2027, Cyan brings together two worlds built on creativity, craftsmanship, and obsession.
From award-winning tattoos to show-stopping custom builds, the Cyan Custom Car Showcase is where horsepower meets artistry.
Whether you own a classic cruiser, a lifted truck, a widebody street machine, or an exotic dream car, we want to see what you've built. Bring your ride, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and compete for custom awards across multiple categories.
Vehicle owners may enter up to two categories per vehicle, but each vehicle may win only one trophy. Every registered vehicle is automatically eligible for Best in Show, with no additional entry required.
Custom Car Showcase
Award Categories
Best Classic
Best Modern Muscle
Best Import
Best Truck
Best Exotic
Best Custom
Best Paint & Finish
Best Rat Rod
Category to be announced
People's Choice
Think your build has what it takes?
Register your vehicle, show off your hard work, and compete for awards at the ultimate fusion of custom ink and custom cars.
Body Piercings!
Walk In - Same Day Piercings available all weekend!
We will have extremely skilled, and fully licensed Body Piercers every day of the event. Will Daugherty, and Rhi. We will have a cozy, fun, and sanitary setup, with plenty of jewelry options to choose from!
All styles and piercings available.
2026 Food Truck Lineup
Lit Litty’s
C Marie’s Sweet Seductions
The Food Pitt
Billie Gold Bubble Tea
-
@6pm
Costume contest.
@8pm
Lettering- 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
Worst Healed Tattoo- only 1st place.
@9pm
Tattoo of the Day Color
Tattoo of the Day Black and Gray
MST Tattoo of the Day.
-
@6pm
Small Color
Medium Color
Large Color
Small Black and Gray
Medium Black and Gray
Large Black and Gray
Neo Traditional
American Traditional
Japanese Traditional
New Skool
Portrait Black and Gray
Portrait Color
Anime
Geometric
Realism Color
Realism Black and Gray
Surrealism
Cover up (Must have before photo present)
@9pm
Tattoo of the Day Black and Gray
Tattoo of the Day Color
MST Tattoo of the Day
-
@5pm
Most Unique
Style Mashup
XL Color
XL Black and Gray
Black and Gray Color Fusion
Best Back Piece
Best Front Torso
Overall Female
Overall Male
Multi-Artist Collab
Leg Sleeve
Arm Sleeve
@7pm
Tattoo of the Day Black and Gray
Tattoo of the Day Color
MST Tattoo of the Day
Best In Show
Modified Skin Contests
Best of the Crew
Best Black & Grey
Best Color
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Tattoo of the Day pieces must have been started and finished THAT DAY.
Any piece started on a previous day cannot be judged the following day.
No healed work in that piece will be accepted.
Best in Show must have been started and finished at this show!!
3-day pieces are encouraged.
Worst Healed Tattoo
This is ONLY for fully healed tattoos.
We are looking for the worst of the worst! Some stick and poke you got when you 14... or that piece you did yourself with your Amazon kit when you hated your parents for grounding you.. again!!
All other categories are for healed and fresh work!!
The judges can tell the quality of a healed piece against the quality of a fresh piece.
And not counting poor aftercare practices by the client, they can tell what will heal out well and what will not.
Measurements for Small, Medium, Large and XL pieces are as follows:
Small - must fit inside of a 4" x 4" square
Medium - 8" x 8"
Large - 12" x 12"
XL - anything Large than 12" x 12"
If you go to the registration desk, we have size templates that we can hold up to your tattoo to see what it will fit.
There is a $10 charge for all entries!
You can enter your tattoo into as many categories as you like.
If you aren't sure which categories it belongs in, please ask us.
We want to make sure you aren't wasting your money, and that your tattoo stands the best chance possible!
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!
Cyan Merch
Clothing
Accessories
Misc