Blackpool Magic Convention 2026 – Report of a magical journey to Blackpool
- MAGICUS
- Feb 24
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 3
Blackpool Magic Convention 2026 – BMC Report, Highlights, Lectures, Dealers Hall, Gala Show, Winter Gardens Blackpool, International Magicians, New Magic Tricks 2026, Magic Community UK
The Blackpool Magic Convention 2026 (BMC 2026) was once again an absolute highlight on the international magic calendar. Four days full of magic, innovation, inspiration and unforgettable moments in the legendary Winter Gardens Blackpool.
Here is my personal, honest report – with all my impressions from arrival to the gala show.
Arrival in Blackpool – a small detour, great anticipation
We departed from Zurich at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. We arrived in Blackpool shortly before 10 p.m. In Manchester, due to construction work, we had to take a shuttle bus instead of the train – typical England, flexibility is part of the experience.
Arriving at the hotel, we wanted to enjoy a relaxing beer at the bar – unfortunately, it closed before 10 pm. A shame, but our anticipation for BMC 2026 outweighed everything else.
Blackpool ???
Blackpool is located on the northwest coast of England in the county of Lancashire on the Irish Sea and is a well-known seaside resort town.
The city has approximately 143,000 to 144,000 inhabitants (based on 2024/2026 estimates; according to the 2021 census, approximately 141,000).
The Blackpool Magic Convention (BMC) – the world's largest magic convention – is attended annually by around 4,000 to 5,000 magicians (estimates and reports from recent years, some exceeding 5,000).
Thursday – VIP Start, Dealers Hall & first standing ovations
Thursday began in a relaxed manner with the collection of VIP wristbands at the desk.
The goodie bag was packed full:
Postcards
Collector coin
Pin
Lanyard with VIP card
Wristband Ticket
When Cans Deck & Booklet
Large Lance Burton poster
Official program booklet
Black shopping bag with gold BMC logo
A perfect start.
Dealers Hall – Castle Magic & TCC Magic
My first strategic stop: Castle Magic – secondhand treasures and genuine rarities. Early birds win.
In the Dealers Hall, I bought the large Linking Rings by Axel Hecklau from TCC Magic – for only 120 pounds. A real bargain for professional equipment.
The atmosphere in the hall? Magical, relaxed, international. Dealers from Asia with impressive innovations, creative gimmicks, collector decks up to 160 pounds, magical works of art, technical tools – you discover something at almost every stand.
Lectures Thursday
One of the best lectures of the day. Truly powerful secrets, practical tips, and a real school atmosphere – taking notes like in the old days.
Mentalism at its finest. I've owned a booklet by him on thought transference for years – his lecture was structured, clever, and inspiring.
Visual, American, powerful. Its effects are direct, clear, and effective with audiences.
Evening show – Hans Klok delights Blackpool
A journey back to the Siegfried & Roy era. Pure Las Vegas feeling. Two semi-trucks of technology, months of planning – a standing ovation absolutely deserved. Charming, fast, spectacular.
Then another Coors at the Winter Gardens Pub – refreshing, perfect.
– young, cheeky, entertaining
90 minutes of comedy, charm, and a breath of fresh air. Perhaps a little long-winded, but definitely worth seeing. He's ushering in a new generation of stage magic.
Afterwards: completely exhausted. So many impressions in one day.
Friday – Innovation, Perfection & Gala Explosion
Stayed at the Premier Inn – decent breakfast, small beds, but recommended. Breakfast is the same every day, whether at the Premier or Holiday Inn.
Dealers Hall – Focus & Quality
Friday was more relaxed. More time for targeted demonstrations.
The dealer was extremely helpful.
Packaging designs of the highest standard – the magic now begins with the unboxing.
Another highlight on Friday was the Family Entertainer of the Year competition as part of the Blackpool Magic Convention 2026.
Several artists competed against each other, each with a short but precisely crafted act. Everything had to be perfect in just a few minutes.
Hosted by Eric Leclerc
Stage presence
timing
humor
Magical effect
Family-friendly entertainment
What a lecture! Charisma, humor, structure. Standing ovation. His ceiling camera trick – legendary. Details can be found in the Secret section.
Trick after trick. Practical tips for perfection. Fantastic. Then I immediately stocked up on materials.
Vintage close-up magic show with his legendary bow tie. His signature move – inexplicable. A constant feeling of "How does he do that?" Standing ovation.
Friday Gala Show – absolutely world-class
Moderator:
A fantastic ventriloquist, charming, creative. Perfect presentation.
The gala was varied, dynamic, and never boring. Blackpool delivers top-notch entertainment every year. A standing ovation was a given. Zuka, Solange, Artem Shchukin, Read Chang, Matteo Fraziano
Saturday – Endless creativity
Back in the Dealers Hall at 9 a.m. Even on the third day, you discover something new: special cable ties, a flea circus, a floating table, collectibles, technical gimmicks.
His white ball – extremely powerful. Stage tips very valuable. Standing ovation.
Relaxed, creative, inspiring. He worked for David Copperfield, among others. His way of thinking is invaluable.
His lecture with coins was very fascinating. He is very talented and very dexterous.
Comedy without words. Tape over the mouth – and yet 90 minutes of entertainment. Creative, interactive, different.
Sunday – a peaceful end to the day & a look ahead
Fewer visitors than usual – or at least it felt that way. Lectures by Charlie Caper offering insights into his street art past, Harry Hamilton, and Aron Jones.
Closing event with the Banachek Show & Gala. Relaxing Sunday.
And yes – rooms for 2027 are already booked again.
The grand finale of the Blackpool Magic Convention 2026 was the spectacular Sunday Gala Show.
Alongside the outstanding lectures — especially the true highlight delivered by Matt Edwards — it was his hosting and stage presence that elevated the entire convention to another level. Funny, charming, emotional, and brilliantly entertaining. He guided the audience with warmth, energy, and perfect timing.
The stage was filled with extraordinary artists:
Lea Kyle amazed the audience with her breathtaking quick change act — elegant, visual, and flawlessly executed.
Mind2Mind delivered a powerful mentalism performance full of precision and strong mindreading moments.
Artem Shchukin impressed not only with his stage performance but also with an exceptional lecture earlier during the convention.
Charlie Caper created one of the absolute highlights already on Friday in the Circle Hall — modern, creative, and technically outstanding.
A magical journey through time was presented by Norbert Ferré from France. With classical manipulation, he transported us back to the golden age of magic: cards appearing from thin air, balls materialising and vanishing in his hands — pure elegance and timeless artistry.
And then Yann Frisch with his incredible Cups and Balls routine. Fast, precise, original, and deeply entertaining. Truly masterful.
The Friday and Sunday Gala Shows were undoubtedly among the greatest highlights of the entire convention — alongside many other strong performances throughout the week.
It was pure magic.
At this point, a sincere thank you to all organisers, artists, technicians, and helpers who made this event possible. It is something truly special that magicians from all over the world can gather here in Blackpool, peacefully share their passion, exchange ideas, and experience unforgettable magical moments together.
Conclusion – Why Blackpool is more than a convention for me
The Blackpool Magic Convention 2026 is one of my favorite experiences of the year.
It's not just about new magic tricks in 2026.
Not just about innovations.
Not just about networking.
It's about:
Get away from everyday life
Four days immersed in a magical world
Exchange with international magicians
Inspiration for your own shows
Rekindle passion
It would work without it.
But something would be missing.
Blackpool is Hogwarts for wizards.
And I'm already looking forward to 2027.
