It’s that time of year again — when Edinburgh transforms into the beating heart of the performing arts world. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 is back and bigger than ever, and if you’re hunting for unforgettable, reality-bending, laugh-out-loud magic shows, you’re in the right place.
Magic is one of the most electrifying parts of the Fringe. From intimate sleight-of-hand shows to explosive theatrical spectacles, this year's crop is set to be one of the strongest yet. Whether you’re a total illusion addict or a curious newcomer, here are the top 10 must-see magic shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.
1. 1 Hour Of Insane Magic – Gilded Balloon Appleton Tower
Explosive, hilarious, and totally mind-melting — 1 Hour Of Insane Magic is a rapid-fire ride through jaw-dropping illusions and crowd-pleasing wizardry. After two years of total sell-outs and a hit international tour, it’s back in Gilded Balloon’s biggest venue. Expect big tricks, huge laughs, and a full-throttle magic experience that lives up to the hype.
Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey return with their biggest show yet! The popular trio bring a brand-new hour of mind-blowing magic, with some fan-favourite classics sprinkled into the mix. Witness 'three of the best magicians in the country' (EdinburghLive.co.uk), in a show that's 'so insanely good' (WorldMagicReview.com), it has to be seen to be believed!
2. 1 Hour Of Insanity – Gilded Balloon Patter House
Magic meets total mayhem in this wild variety show that fuses circus, comedy, magic and high-energy chaos. It’s family-friendly, unpredictable and packed with international talent. With demonstrations of skill, lots of laughs and amazing illusions all blended into one unforgettable hour that's suitable for absolutely anyone!
3. Luke Osey: The Magic Hangover – Gilded Balloon Patter House
Ever tried to piece together a wild night out using only magic and mind-reading? Luke Osey has — and it's hilarious. This show takes audiences on a riotous adventure through memory, mystery, and outrageous tricks. Comedy, charisma and illusions collide in this solo magic show with a twist!
4. Tom Bolton: Magic Man – Gilded Balloon Appleton Tower
Take a step back into your childhood bedroom — where toys are the stars of the show, puzzles solve themselves, and wonder is real again. Magic Man is a nostalgic, theatrical, family-friendly magic show that will have both kids and grown-ups gasping with joy. Rubik’s Cubes, levitations, whodunits — this one’s got it all.
5. Hypnosis: LIVE and Direct – Liquid Rooms Warehouse
Late-night Fringe gold. This free, adults-only comedy hypnosis show is fast, fun, and dangerously addictive. Watch audience members become stars of the show as they're hypnotised into hilarious situations — singing, dancing and spilling secrets (sort of). Equal parts outrageous and oddly wholesome, this is a perfect pick to end your Fringe night with a bang.
6. Dave Reubens – The Magic Game – Liquid Rooms Warehouse
This isn’t just a magic show — it’s an all-out competition. The Magic Game turns the audience into competing teams, throwing them into interactive challenges laced with mind-blowing magic. High-energy, unpredictable and a little bit chaotic, Dave Reubens delivers a show where no two nights are the same.
7. Abracadabra, B*tch! – Reuben Moreland – Pleasance 10 Dome
NYC’s finest, Reuben Moreland, crashes into the Fringe with a debut show that’s as sharp as it is spellbinding. Packed with close-up miracles, killer comedy, and a darkly funny story of childhood revenge, this show is bold, brilliant, and impossible to predict. A multi-award winner and total standout.
8. Dan Bastianelli: Identity – TheSpace @ Surgeons Hall
Magic with heart. Identity is a beautifully intimate show that blends sleight-of-hand, personal storytelling, and philosophical questions. Dan Bastianelli is a local gem, and this new production is perfect for those who like their magic thoughtful, emotional, and quietly astonishing.
9. The Remarkable Ben Hart – Assemble George Square Gardens
Prepare to have your reality rewritten. Ben Hart is one of the most exciting names in UK magic, and this year’s show is set to be his boldest yet. With a mix of storytelling, theatrical magic, and a mind-bending twist on what’s “real,” this show promises to leave you stunned long after the curtain drops.
10. Kevin Quantum: Unbelievable Magic for Non-Believers – Assembly Rooms
Science meets sorcery. Kevin Quantum, trained by Penn & Teller and armed with a physics PhD, takes on sceptics in this razor-sharp magic show that blurs fact and illusion. If you think you’ve seen it all — prepare to be proven wrong.
🪄 Final Thoughts
There you have it — the top magic shows at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. Whether you’re into theatrical illusions, late-night hypnosis, or high-octane comedy magic, this year's lineup is absolutely stacked.
🎟️ Pro tip: Fringe magic shows are some of the first to sell out — so book early, arrive early, and try to fit in as many as your brain can handle. You will leave believing in magic.
