Josh Staley
Australian Champion of Magic & FISM World Finalist
Top 12 Worldwide (FISM) · Guinness World Record Holder · 13 Industry Awards
Josh Staley is an award-winning Australian Champion of Magic, mentalist, and professional event host based in Melbourne, Victoria. In 2025, Josh represented Australia at the World Championships of Magic (FISM) in Turin, Italy — ranking 12th in the world for Close-Up Magic, among the highest results ever achieved by an Australian in the category.
Josh's journey began in 2013, when he was named Australian Junior Champion of Close-Up Magic. Over the following decade, he built a career spanning sold-out theatre seasons, national festival tours, and television appearances — culminating in his selection to represent Australia on magic's biggest world stage.
Today, Josh performs close-up magic, feature shows, and MC hosting for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations across Melbourne — bringing the same world championship standard to every event, regardless of size.
The Journey
From Junior Champion to World Stage
Josh's path started young — joining the Australian Institute of Magic as a Junior Member in 2011, and being named Australian Junior Champion of Close-Up Magic just two years later. What followed was over a decade of relentless refinement: a sold-out solo debut at Melbourne Magic Festival in 2014, followed by steady growth from short weekend runs into full, multi-week festival seasons. By 2020, Josh was touring solo shows across every major festival in Australia — and continues to write and tour a brand-new show every year.
That journey reached its peak in 2025, when Josh was selected to represent Australia at the World Championships of Magic (FISM) in Turin, Italy — magic's most prestigious global stage. Competing against the world's best, Josh placed 12th globally in Close-Up Magic — the highest score ever achieved by an Australian in the category, officially becoming Australia's Champion of Magic.
The Guinness World Record
In 2016, Josh helped lead a team of magicians to break the Guinness World Record for the World's Longest Magic Show — an 85-hour continuous performance testing not just skill, but genuine endurance and precision under pressure.
International Recognition
Josh's skill has been recognised well beyond Australia. In 2018, he became a member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles — one of the most prestigious institutions in magic worldwide. The following year, he was awarded the Penn & Teller Fool Us Scholarship, personally recognised by two of the most respected names in the craft.
Six Years, One Streak
From 2021 to 2026, Josh won Best Magic at Adelaide Fringe six years running — a genuine streak of sustained excellence that culminated in 2026, when he took out the festival's Overall Best Magic Award, beating every weekly winner across the entire season.
Accolades & Achievements
The complete record:
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Australian Champion of Magic | Selected to represent Australia at FISM, Turin, Italy — ranked 12th in the world, the highest score ever by an Australian in the category |
| 2026 | Overall Best Magic Award | Adelaide Fringe — beat every weekly winner across the season |
| 2021–2026 | Best Magic (Weekly) | Adelaide Fringe — six consecutive years |
| 2024 | Director's Choice Award | Melbourne Magic Festival |
| 2024 | Best Children's/Family Show, Best Comedy Show, Best Workshop | Fringe World Festival — three category wins in a single year |
| 2019 | Penn & Teller Fool Us Scholarship | Personally recognised by two of magic's most respected names |
| 2018 | Academy of Magical Arts Member | The Magic Castle, Los Angeles |
| 2017 | Candlelight Products Scholarship for Artistic Excellence | — |
| 2016 | Guinness World Record Holder | World's Longest Magic Show, 85 hours (team achievement) |
| 2015–Current | Sold-Out Seasons | Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Perth Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Sydney Comedy Festival |
| 2014 | Debut Solo Show, Sold-Out Season | Melbourne Magic Festival |
| 2013 | Australian Junior Champion of Close-Up Magic | — |
| 2011 | Junior Member, Australian Institute of Magic | — |
Media Kit & Introductions
Need a bio for an event program, press feature, or introduction? Copy the text below, or download press-ready assets.
Tonight's entertainer, Josh Staley, is Australia's Champion of Magic — selected to represent the country at the World Championships of Magic (FISM) in Turin, Italy, where he ranked 12th in the world for Close-Up Magic. A Guinness World Record holder and multi-award-winning performer, Josh has appeared on national television and toured sold-out seasons across Australia's major festivals. Combining world-class sleight of hand with sharp comedy, please welcome your entertainer for the evening: Josh Staley.
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