50 magicians in Shenzhen for magic gala

Video and photos by Liu Xudong

A children’s magic show kicked off the 2025 International Magician Society (IMS) Annual Magic Gala, which is being held at the Shenzhen Women and Children’s Building in Futian District from Aug. 22 to 24.

A young magician performs on the 2025 International Magician Society (IMS) Annual Magic Gala.

The three-day gala features a total of 22 shows performed by more than 50 magicians from around the world, including the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Peru, and China. The prestigious Merlin Award, often called the "Oscar of magic," will be presented on the evening of Aug. 23. This marks the first time the award ceremony has been held in Shenzhen.

A young magician performs during the children's show.

During the children’s show, eight child magicians performed nine thrilling acts. They showcased their fantastic tricks using classic magical elements such as silks, balls, and cards, winning thunderous applause and amazed cheers from the audience.

Tony Hassini, chairman of the International Magician Society (IMS), praise a young magic performer.

Tony Hassini, chairman of the International Magician Society (IMS), praised the children’s performances as excellent and expressed his belief that they are the future of magic.

He encouraged parents and children to attend the shows during the event and spoke about the value of learning magic.

Children who win the Children Champaign Magic Show is on the stage.

“When children learn magic, they understand that what seems impossible may have a simple solution. That's the mindset they develop through learning magic,” said Hassini.

In addition to the performances, the gala will also feature lectures by internationally prestigious magicians.

Bruno Tarnecci

Bruno Tarnecci, a Peruvian magician with over 20 years of performance experience, will both perform and give a lecture during the three-day event.

“I'm going to share some ideas and techniques that I created myself with the magic community,” said Tarnecci. He described his magic style as theatrical and poetic. “I use visual poetry. Sometimes I don’t use words, because I believe magic is a universal language.”