From 8 to 11 October 2026, the Regent Theatre in Richmond becomes the home of the Sydney Festival of Magic & Illusion: four days, more than twenty shows, and just about every flavour of magic there is. Mentalism, grand illusion, card cheating, kids shows, and one bloke with a blender (me).
Full disclosure: I'm on the bill, so this is a guide from the inside rather than a neutral review. But that also means I can tell you how these festivals actually work and how to get the most out of one.
The Basics
- When: Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October 2026
- Where: The Regent Theatre, 145 Windsor Street, Richmond NSW 2753
- What: 20+ shows across four days, run by Whiskers Productions
- Tickets: Per show, through festivalofmagic.com.au
Everything happens in the one venue, which is the best thing about this festival. No sprinting across town between shows. See something, wander Windsor Street for a coffee, come back for the next one.
What Caught My Eye on the Program
Stars of Magic (Sunday 11 October, 7:30pm) is the flagship: a showcase of magicians from across Australia on one bill. If you only see one show all festival, gala showcases like this are the safest bet, you get a taste of everything.
Thieving Bastards: Card Cheats Exposed is exactly what it sounds like: the sleight of hand used to cheat at cards, shown up close. Magicians are suckers for this kind of show, and I'll be in that audience.
Tom Weil: Sixth Sense covers the mentalism side, mind reading and prediction. If you've never seen mentalism live, it gets under your skin in a way TV never does.
ABRA-KID-ABRA! is the one for little kids. If your crew is under 10, start there.
And at 4:30pm every day there's Tricks & Stuff: my hour of comedy magic with everyday objects. Two-time Adelaide Fringe Best Magic winner, sixteen countries, one blender. Rated PG, recommended 10+.
The full program is on festivalofmagic.com.au, and it's worth a browse because new shows get announced as festivals get closer.
How to Do a Magic Festival Properly
A few tricks from someone who's performed at a lot of these:
- Book two shows, not one. The gap between shows is half the fun, and every show at a magic festival sends you out wanting more. A 4:30pm show plus an evening show makes a proper night of it.
- Sit close. Magic is better when you can see hands. At intimate venues like the Regent there are no bad seats, but the front half is where the fun concentrates.
- Say yes if you're invited up. Nobody gets embarrassed, that stopped being how magic works decades ago. The volunteer always has the best seat in the house.
- Bring the kids to the right show. Check the ratings. Littlies to ABRA-KID-ABRA!, 10 and up are perfect for mine, and the evening shows suit teens and adults.
Why This Festival Matters
Australia has a handful of great magic festivals, Melbourne's has run for years and Adelaide Fringe is full of magic every February. Sydney getting a dedicated one, in a gorgeous restored theatre, is a big deal for magic here. First-year festivals are also when the performers are hungriest to impress. Get in before it's the thing everyone talks about.
Planning a visit with kids during the school holidays? I've written a separate guide to taking the family.