
Prison Ink Tattoo Convention runs May 14-16, 2026 at FÆNGSLET on Fussingvej 8 in Horsens, Denmark. The venue is a former state prison that closed in 2006 and reopened as a museum and cultural center, giving the convention a distinct atmosphere that differs from standard hotel ballrooms or exhibition halls. The building retains its original cell blocks, high walls, and industrial architecture, which organizers use as the backdrop for the tattoo event. The convention fills the cell blocks and industrial halls with tattoo stations, vendor booths, and seating areas. Danish and international artists work on clients throughout the weekend while attendees walk the corridors that once housed inmates. The event includes live tattooing, piercing services, and vendors selling equipment, aftercare products, and art. Many artists take walk-up clients, though booking appointments in advance through social media is common for popular names. Horsens sits on the east coast of Jutland, about 200 kilometers west of Copenhagen. The city has a population of around 60,000 and supports several established tattoo shops that draw from both local residents and the nearby Aarhus metropolitan area. Danish tattoo culture has strong roots in Nordic and blackwork traditions, though artists at Prison Ink represent styles ranging from traditional Americana to Japanese irezumi and contemporary realism. The convention attracts collectors from across Scandinavia who value the region's reputation for clean linework and solid black saturation. The convention runs Friday through Sunday. Single-day and weekend passes are available through the official website. The venue has parking lots on site, and Horsens has hotels within walking distance including the Hotel Opus and Scandic Bygholm Park. Attendees should bring cash for food vendors and some merchandise tables, though most artists accept card payments for deposits and tattoo work. The concrete floors and prison architecture can be cold, so bringing a jacket is advisable even in May. Previous editions have featured artists from across Scandinavia, Germany, and the UK. The prison architecture creates natural divisions between booths, with some artists working in former cells and others in the larger workshop areas. The event maintains a focus on professional tattooing rather than sideshow attractions, with most visitors coming specifically to get tattooed or to book future appointments with artists they meet. The atmosphere is work-focused but social, with artists and clients occupying the same spaces throughout the weekend.
Prison Ink Tattoo Convention is a three-day tattoo convention held May 14-16, 2026 at FÆNGSLET in Horsens, Denmark. The event takes place inside a former state prison that has been converted into a museum and cultural venue. Tattoo artists from Denmark and abroad set up stations throughout the cell blocks and industrial halls to work on clients and display portfolios. The convention includes vendor booths selling equipment and aftercare, live tattooing, and opportunities to book future appointments. Horsens has an active tattoo community supported by several local shops, and the prison venue provides a unique setting that differs from standard convention centers.
The event runs May 14-16, 2026 at FÆNGSLET on Fussingvej 8 in Horsens, Denmark. The venue is a former prison located about two kilometers from the city center and accessible by car or bus from the Horsens train station.
Artists tattoo clients throughout the weekend in stations set up inside the former prison cells and workshop halls. Vendors sell tattoo supplies, aftercare products, and art. The event focuses on professional tattooing and portfolio reviews rather than entertainment acts or stage shows.
Tickets are available through the official website at https://www.prisonink.dk/. The site sells single-day and full-weekend passes. Prices vary by entry date and package type, with early bird options typically available in the months leading up to the event.
Bring a valid ID, comfortable shoes for walking on concrete floors, and cash for food vendors. If you plan to get tattooed, bring reference images and payment for your chosen artist. The venue has coat check facilities but space is limited, so avoid bringing large bags.
Yes. The layout is straightforward with clear signage between the cell block areas and main halls. Staff are stationed throughout the venue to direct visitors. First-timers can walk the floor to view artist portfolios before committing to appointments, and the atmosphere is welcoming to collectors at all experience levels.