Sterzing/Vipiteno, Italy – In the heart of South Tyrol, the ancient town of Sterzing/Vipiteno was transformed into an open-air stage for the second Italian edition of the World Bodypainting Festival. For two days, the squares, historic façades, and most charming corners of the town center hosted artists from around the world, giving life to an explosion of color, creativity, and living art.
The 2026 edition saw the return of the World Award in Camouflage Bodypainting, presented by KRYOLAN, and marked a major new development: for the first time in Sterzing/Vipiteno, the World Award in Facepainting, presented by SUPERSTAR. International artists competed with brush and airbrush, transforming bodies and faces into works of art capable of dialoguing with the town’s medieval architecture, in a spectacular fusion of tradition and contemporary art.
The audience — made up of visitors, photographers, and enthusiasts — was able to witness the creation of these ephemeral works live, walking among human installations and performances that turned every corner of the historic center into an open-air gallery.
World Award: Camouflage Bodypainting – Winners
The podium of the main competition saw French artist Cindy Pasqualin take the win, followed by Austria’s Nadja Hluchovsky in second place and her compatriot Vanessa Nicolle in third.
World Award: Facepainting – Winners
In the new facepainting category, victory went to Norway’s Linda Rohmen, with Nadja Hluchovsky (Austria) once again on the second step of the podium and Jasmiina Walters (Finland) in third place.
Upcoming 2026 Events
But the world of bodypainting doesn’t stop here. Following the success of the Italian edition, the 2026 calendar includes other major events: the World Bodypainting Festival Finland in Helsinki on October 17–18, followed by the Austrian Bodypainting Awards in Vösendorf on November 14–15, and finally the WBF Online Awards from November 20–22, bringing the year of skin art to a brilliant close.
The World Bodypainting Festival is organized by WB Production GmbH.
Photo credits: WBF
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