World Bodypainting Festival 2016: Artists' spectacular transformations with paint and UV lights

Artists from over 50 countries have travelled to Carinthia, Austria, to take part in one of the world's most creative and colourful events, the World Bodypainting Festival.

Currently in its 19th year, the festival is held over three days beside a lake in Wörthersee. With categories such as airbrush, brush and sponge and UV effects, the World Bodypainting festival allows artists and amateurs to express themselves with their body art skills. Aside from the main competition, which also includes a body art combined with special effects category, performance artists and musicians perform on stage, while models covered in UV body paint show, off the luminous creations in complete darkness. DJ sets, live performances and street artists also feature at the event.

IBTimes UK takes a look at some of this year's best entries: