Past editions artist

Mahdi Gilbert

On our stage at:

United Magicians for the World 2020 2021

Mahdi Gilbert was born without arms or legs. Growing up in poverty, he faced bullying, violence, loneliness and depression every day, tormented by his physical difference and wondering what would become of his life. Then he discovered magic, and magic saved his life: watching magicians do the impossible made him feel he could do anything.

Since his first performance at fourteen he has travelled the world sharing his story and his magic. More than 700 million people in 26 countries have seen him at work, thanks also to "Ripley's Believe It or Not", "The One Show" and Netflix. He is a winner of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us", the Allan Slaight Award and the Jay Marshall Award, has been named the Official Magician of Canada, and is also known as an inspirational speaker.

He was our guest at United Magicians for the World, the 2020 online charity show, and at the Masters of Magic Convention 2021.

Photo: Mbuchinger, CC BY-SA 4.0

This page is part of our historical archive: it tells the story of the PAST editions. The 2027 cast is revealed one name at a time on the Artists page.