Ink Master 2012
“Which generation will conquer the competition?”
- Status
- Returning Series
- First Aired
- January 17, 2012
- Last Aired
- December 17, 2025
- Format
- 17 seasons · 227 eps
- Total Runtime
- ~158.9 hours (42 min/ep)
- Highest Rated Episode
- S14E1 "Legends Return" (★ 10/10)
- Networks
- Spike, Paramount Network, Paramount+
- Where to Stream
- Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel
Streaming data from JustWatch
★ TMDB users: 7.8/10 from 91 votes TV-14 Reality 17 seasons · 227 eps Returning Series
Where to watch:
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Quick answer
What is Ink Master?
Ink Master is an American reality competition television series that premiered on Spike on January 17, 2012. The program features a group of creative and skilled tattoo artists from across the country who compete in a series of challenges designed to assess their tattooing and related artistic abilities.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 2012
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 227
- Runtime
- 42 minutes
- First aired
- Jan 17, 2012
- Last aired
- Dec 17, 2025
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- Spike, Paramount Network, Paramount+
- Genres
- Reality
- Updated
Series guide
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 7.8/10 from 91 votes
- Format
- 17 seasons · 227 episodes
- Episode runtime
- ~42 minutes
- Status
- Returning Series
- Networks
- Spike, Paramount Network, Paramount+
Availability by region
Where to watch in United States
Stream
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Pluto TVBuy
Apple TV Store
Amazon VideoStream
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Sky Go
Now TVParamount+ Amazon ChannelParamount Plus Apple TV ChannelParamount Plus PremiumParamount Plus Basic with AdsStream
Paramount PlusSky GoNow TVParamount Plus Apple TV ChannelParamount Plus PremiumParamount Plus Basic with AdsParamount+ Amazon ChannelStream
JioHotstarStream
Sky GoParamount PlusParamount+ Amazon ChannelParamount Plus Apple TV ChannelStream
Paramount PlusParamount+ Amazon ChannelParamount Plus Apple TV ChannelParamount Plus PremiumWith ads
Pluto TVStream
Paramount Plus Premium
Paramount Plus EssentialParamount Plus Apple TV ChannelParamount+ Amazon Channel
Paramount+ Roku Premium ChannelWith ads
Pluto TVBuy
Amazon VideoApple TV Store
Google Play Movies
Fandango At HomeStreaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
Planning tool
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 227 episodes and an average 42-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Ink Master is an American reality competition television series that premiered on Spike on January 17, 2012. The program features a group of creative and skilled tattoo artists from across the country who compete in a series of challenges designed to assess their tattooing and related artistic abilities. Throughout the competition, participants work on living canvases who donate their skin to be permanently marked. The artists face elimination as they strive to prove their skill and grit in an adrenalized environment. The ultimate winner of the competition receives a prize of 100,000 dollars and the title of Ink Master. The first season of the series concluded on March 6, 2012, after airing a total of 8 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Dave Navarro, a guitarist for Jane's Addiction. He is joined by series regular judges and accomplished tattoo artists Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck. The series has continued to air, with production credits spanning from 2012 through 2025.
Sources & verification
Ink Master (TV Series 2012- ) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
Ink Master: Season 1 (2012) - Cast & Crew — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Ink Master — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Ink Master - Full Cast & Crew - TV Guide
Ink Master (2012-2025) - Full Cast and Crew | Moviefone
Ink Master - Wikipedia
How Archytele verifies pages
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Should you watch it?
“Tattoo artists compete for a cash prize and the prestigious title of Ink Master.”
Reasons to watch
- high-stakes artistic challenges
- skilled professional contestants
Keep in mind
- high-pressure elimination format
Watch it if you enjoy watching artists perform under extreme pressure to create permanent designs.
The program features permanent tattooing and intense interpersonal conflict among contestants.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Ink Master — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is Ink Master worth watching?
Cast
Dave Navarro
Self - Host
Chris Núñez
Self - Judge
Oliver Peck
Self - Judge
Joel Madden
Self - Host
Ryan Ashley Malarkey
Self - Judge
Nikko Hurtado
Self - Judge
Ami James
Self - Judge
DJ Tambe
Self - Judge
Hugh Jackman
Himself - Guest Judge
☻
Ton Jones
Himself - Guest Judge ☻
Todd Weinberger
Himself - Guest Judge ☻
Scott Campbell
Himself - Guest Judge
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD
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Season 1 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Fresh Meat Mytharc Jan 17, 2012
- E2 Botched Head Tattoo Core Jan 24, 2012
- E3 Pasties and a Cameltoe Core Jan 31, 2012
- E4 Ink Disaster Piece Core Feb 7, 2012
- E5 Game On Core Feb 14, 2012
- E6 Permanent Mistakes Core Feb 21, 2012
- E7 Picture Imperfect Mytharc Feb 28, 2012
- E8 Ink Master Revealed Mytharc Mar 6, 2012
Season 2 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Tattooing the Dead Mytharc Oct 9, 2012
- E2 Semi Nude 911 Core Oct 9, 2012
- E3 The 80 Year Old Virgin Core Oct 16, 2012
- E4 Tattoo Her What? Core Oct 23, 2012
- E5 Trick or Freak Mytharc Oct 30, 2012
- E6 Half Naked and Fully Loaded Core Nov 6, 2012
- E7 Star Wars Forever Core Nov 13, 2012
- E8 Holy Ink Core Nov 20, 2012
- E9 Buck Off Core Nov 27, 2012
- E10 Blowing Chunks Core Dec 4, 2012
- E11 Better Than Words? Core Dec 11, 2012
- E12 The Bigger They Are Mytharc Dec 18, 2012
- E13 Ink Master Live Mytharc Dec 18, 2012
Season 3 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Baby Got Back Mytharc Jul 16, 2013
- E2 Thrills For Grills Mytharc Jul 23, 2013
- E3 Tattoos And Lace Core Jul 30, 2013
- E4 Elysium Challenge Core Aug 6, 2013
- E5 Baby Beat-Down Core Aug 13, 2013
- E6 Animal Instinct Core Aug 20, 2013
- E7 Monumental Mistakes Core Aug 27, 2013
- E8 Baby Don't Go Core Sep 3, 2013
- E9 Skulls And Villains Core Sep 10, 2013
- E10 Eyes Of The Beholder Core Sep 17, 2013
- E11 Heroes & Heads Core Sep 24, 2013
- E12 Enduring The Pain Mytharc Oct 1, 2013
- E13 The Epic Finale Mytharc Oct 8, 2013
Season 4 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Earn It! Mytharc Feb 25, 2014
- E2 Bug Out Core Mar 4, 2014
- E3 Tatt Ganged Core Mar 11, 2014
- E4 Nude & Tattooed Core Mar 18, 2014
- E5 X-Men's Hugh Jackman Core Mar 25, 2014
- E6 2 on 1 Tat-Astrophe Core Apr 1, 2014
- E7 Artist Slaughter Core Apr 8, 2014
- E8 Ink Master Explosion Core Apr 15, 2014
- E9 Fighting Dirty Core Apr 22, 2014
- E10 Tag Team Tatt Core Apr 29, 2014
- E11 Karma's a Bitch Core May 6, 2014
- E12 Fight to the Finish Mytharc May 13, 2014
- E13 Ink Master Live Mytharc May 20, 2014
Season 5 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Inking With The Enemy Mytharc Sep 2, 2014
- E2 Pin Up Pittfalls Core Sep 9, 2014
- E3 Head to Headache Core Sep 16, 2014
- E4 Geishas Gone Wrong Core Sep 23, 2014
- E5 Glass On Blast Core Sep 30, 2014
- E6 Cheek To Cheek Core Oct 7, 2014
- E7 Three's A Crowd Core Oct 14, 2014
- E8 Ink My Oosik Core Oct 21, 2014
- E9 Virgin Blood Core Oct 28, 2014
- E10 Cold Blooded Core Nov 4, 2014
- E11 Up In Smoke Core Nov 11, 2014
- E12 Heads Will Roll Core Nov 18, 2014
- E13 Painstaking Portraits Core Nov 25, 2014
- E14 Firing Squad Core Dec 2, 2014
- E15 Fight To The Finale Mytharc Dec 9, 2014
- E16 Ink Live Mytharc Dec 16, 2014
Season 6 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Meet Your Maker Mytharc Jun 23, 2015
- E2 Fight or Flight Core Jun 30, 2015
- E3 Sink or Swim Core Jul 7, 2015
- E4 Tut for Tat Core Jul 14, 2015
- E5 Problem Parts Core Jul 28, 2015
- E6 Firing Lines Core Aug 4, 2015
- E7 Predator/Prey Core Aug 11, 2015
- E8 Composed and Exposed Core Aug 18, 2015
- E9 Like a Moth to the Flame Core Aug 25, 2015
- E10 Hell on Wheels Core Sep 1, 2015
- E11 Hail Mani Core Sep 8, 2015
- E12 Slitting Throats Core Sep 15, 2015
- E13 Player's Choice Core Sep 22, 2015
- E14 Active Duty Core Sep 29, 2015
- E15 Go Big Or Go Home Mytharc Oct 6, 2015
- E16 Master Vs. Apprentice Live Mytharc Oct 14, 2015
Season 7 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Initiation Mytharc Mar 1, 2016
- E2 One Man's Trash Core Mar 8, 2016
- E3 Salt in the Wound Core Mar 15, 2016
- E4 The Devil's in the Details Core Mar 22, 2016
- E5 New School, Old Artist Core Mar 29, 2016
- E6 Under Pressure Core Apr 5, 2016
- E7 Knuckle Sandwich Core Apr 12, 2016
- E8 Breathing Fire Core Apr 19, 2016
- E9 Sink or Soar Core Apr 26, 2016
- E10 Shipwrecked Core May 3, 2016
- E11 Head in the Game Core May 10, 2016
- E12 Turning the Tables Mytharc May 17, 2016
- E13 Revenge Live Mytharc May 24, 2016
Season 8 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Weeding Out The Weak Mytharc Aug 23, 2016
- E2 The Game Begins Core Aug 30, 2016
- E3 Ruffled Feathers Core Sep 6, 2016
- E4 Put On Your Armor Core Sep 13, 2016
- E5 Sparks Fly Core Sep 20, 2016
- E6 Sticky Situation Core Sep 27, 2016
- E7 New School, Old Scars Core Oct 4, 2016
- E8 Bent Out Of Shape Core Oct 11, 2016
- E9 Head Games Core Oct 18, 2016
- E10 Like Sand Through The Hour Glass Core Oct 25, 2016
- E11 Duck and Cover Up Core Nov 1, 2016
- E12 Road To The Finale Mytharc Nov 8, 2016
- E13 Heavy Lifting Core Nov 15, 2016
- E14 Bio-Mechanical Failure Core Nov 22, 2016
- E15 No One Is Safe Mytharc Nov 29, 2016
- E16 Peck Vs. Nuñez Live Mytharc Dec 6, 2016
Season 9 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 9 guide & lore primer →- E1 Fire & Ice Mytharc Jun 6, 2017
- E2 Crossing the Line Core Jun 13, 2017
- E3 Unnatural Disasters Core Jun 20, 2017
- E4 Lend Me Your Ear Core Jun 27, 2017
- E5 War and Ink Core Jul 11, 2017
- E6 Get the Flock Outta Here Core Jul 18, 2017
- E7 On the Bubble Core Jul 25, 2017
- E8 Masterpiece Mayhem Core Aug 1, 2017
- E9 Pin-Up Panic Attack Core Aug 8, 2017
- E10 Drill Baby, Drill Core Aug 15, 2017
- E11 Grim Inker Core Aug 22, 2017
- E12 Pit Fall Mytharc Aug 29, 2017
- E13 Sell Out Core Sep 5, 2017
- E14 Casting the First Stone Core Sep 12, 2017
- E15 Marathon to the Finale Mytharc Sep 19, 2017
- E16 Shop Wars Finale Mytharc Sep 26, 2017
Season 10 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 10 guide & lore primer →- E1 Pick Your Side Mytharc Jan 9, 2018
- E2 Fill’er Up Core Jan 16, 2018
- E3 Divine Proportion Core Jan 23, 2018
- E4 Step It Up Core Jan 30, 2018
- E5 Ink On The Dotted Line Core Feb 6, 2018
- E6 Chin Up Core Feb 13, 2018
- E7 Eye of the Tiger Core Feb 20, 2018
- E8 Pane in the Glass Core Feb 27, 2018
- E9 Ink Raider Core Mar 6, 2018
- E10 Some Assembly Required Core Mar 13, 2018
- E11 Quit Buggin' Me Core Mar 20, 2018
- E12 Total Meltdown Core Mar 27, 2018
- E13 Monkey See, Monkey Do Core Apr 3, 2018
- E14 No Stain, No Gain Core Apr 10, 2018
- E15 Final Exam Mytharc Apr 17, 2018
- E16 Return of the Masters Finale Mytharc Apr 24, 2018
Season 11 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 11 guide & lore primer →- E1 Opening Shots Mytharc Aug 28, 2018
- E2 Not on My Watch Core Sep 4, 2018
- E3 Right on Target Core Sep 11, 2018
- E4 No Wrist, No Reward Core Sep 18, 2018
- E5 That's Gonna Leave a Mark Core Sep 25, 2018
- E6 Fight Your Own Battles Core Oct 3, 2018
- E7 No Wasted Space Core Oct 9, 2018
- E8 Chalk This Way Core Oct 16, 2018
- E9 Tipping the Scales Core Oct 23, 2018
- E10 Put Up or Shut Up Core Oct 30, 2018
- E11 In Deep Waters Core Nov 13, 2018
- E12 Too Hot to Handle Core Nov 20, 2018
- E13 Who's Got the Power? Core Nov 27, 2018
- E14 What Are You Crayon About? Core Dec 4, 2018
- E15 Prelude to a Bloodbath Mytharc Dec 11, 2018
- E16 Grudge Match Finale Mytharc Dec 18, 2018
Season 12 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 12 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Ink Will Speak For Itself Mytharc Jun 11, 2019
- E2 A Storm Is Brewin' Core Jun 18, 2019
- E3 Down to the Wire Core Jun 25, 2019
- E4 The Hunter & The Hunted Core Jul 2, 2019
- E5 The Art Stands Alone Core Jul 9, 2019
- E6 Art of War Core Jul 16, 2019
- E7 Sabotage Core Jul 23, 2019
- E8 Pins & No Needles Core Jul 30, 2019
- E9 Drawing Alliances Core Aug 6, 2019
- E10 By Accident or By Design Core Aug 13, 2019
- E11 Roll of the Dice Core Aug 20, 2019
- E12 Put Your Ink Where Your Mouth Is Core Aug 27, 2019
- E13 Moving Pictures Core Sep 3, 2019
- E14 Unfriendly Fire Core Sep 10, 2019
- E15 Step Up or Shut Up Mytharc Sep 17, 2019
- E16 Battle of the Sexes Finale Mytharc Sep 24, 2019
Season 13 · 15 episodes
Open the complete Season 13 guide & lore primer →- E1 Rep Your Region Mytharc Jan 7, 2020
- E2 Clash of the Collages Core Jan 14, 2020
- E3 Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Core Jan 21, 2020
- E4 Battle Lines Core Jan 28, 2020
- E5 Out of Your Element Core Feb 4, 2020
- E6 Off the Chain Core Feb 11, 2020
- E7 Head Spin Core Feb 18, 2020
- E8 Sugar Rush Core Feb 25, 2020
- E9 Artistry on the Line Core Mar 3, 2020
- E10 Every Artist for Themselves Core Mar 10, 2020
- E11 From Toast to Toast Core Mar 17, 2020
- E12 Last Draw Core Mar 24, 2020
- E13 There Can Only Be One Core Mar 31, 2020
- E14 Compose Yourself Mytharc Apr 7, 2020
- E15 Race to the Finish Mytharc Apr 14, 2020
Season 14 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 14 guide & lore primer →- E1 Legends Return Mytharc Sep 7, 2022
- E2 A Work of Art Core Sep 7, 2022
- E3 Devil's in the Details Core Sep 14, 2022
- E4 Match a Master Core Sep 21, 2022
- E5 Master Mash Ups Core Sep 28, 2022
- E6 Up in Flames Core Oct 5, 2022
- E7 Panes of Pressure Core Oct 12, 2022
- E8 Let the Sparks Fly Core Oct 19, 2022
- E9 Finale Part 1 Mytharc Oct 26, 2022
- E10 Finale Part 2 Mytharc Nov 2, 2022
Season 15 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 15 guide & lore primer →- E1 The New Ink Class Mytharc Nov 1, 2023
- E2 Skull & Bones Core Nov 1, 2023
- E3 Put Me In, Coach! Core Nov 1, 2023
- E4 Don't Fork It Up Core Nov 8, 2023
- E5 Teams Transformed Core Nov 15, 2023
- E6 Saddle Up, Buttercup Core Nov 22, 2023
- E7 Fight Fire with Fire Core Nov 29, 2023
- E8 Competition Shattered Core Dec 6, 2023
- E9 Instant Karma Mytharc Dec 13, 2023
- E10 Fifteen's Finale Mytharc Dec 20, 2023
Season 16 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 16 guide & lore primer →- E1 Divide of the Decade Mytharc Oct 23, 2024
- E2 Money Where Your Mouth Is Core Oct 23, 2024
- E3 Out of the Box, Onto the Skin Core Oct 23, 2024
- E4 Inked in Gold Core Oct 30, 2024
- E5 A Sin in Tattooing Core Nov 6, 2024
- E6 At Your Service Core Nov 13, 2024
- E7 Monsters Ink Core Nov 20, 2024
- E8 Face Your Fears Core Nov 27, 2024
- E9 Mash Up Mayhem Mytharc Dec 4, 2024
- E10 OGs vs Young Gun Mytharc Dec 11, 2024
Season 17 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 17 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hometown Throwdown Mytharc Oct 29, 2025
- E2 Back to the Drawing Board Core Oct 29, 2025
- E3 Gut Check Core Oct 29, 2025
- E4 Bottled Up Core Nov 5, 2025
- E5 It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint Core Nov 12, 2025
- E6 No Day At The Beach Core Nov 19, 2025
- E7 All Scars Will Heal Core Nov 26, 2025
- E8 Signed, Sealed, Delivered Core Dec 3, 2025
- E9 Tat For Tat Mytharc Dec 10, 2025
- E10 Hometown Hero Mytharc Dec 17, 2025
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
What is the prize?
The winner receives one hundred thousand dollars and the title of Ink Master.
Who are the contestants?
The show features a group of skilled and creative tattoo artists.
What is the format?
It is an elimination-style competition where artists tattoo living canvasses.
What is the goal?
Contestants compete to prove their skills and earn the title of Ink Master.
What are the challenges like?
Artists must perform permanent tattooing on living canvasses under high-stakes conditions.
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