The conjurers over at Edinburgh International Magic Festival have crafted yet another fascinating programme that elevates and pushes the boundaries of magic as an art form. With a full complement of magicians melding the art of illusion with comedy, poetry and history, as well as several dazzling sleight-of-hand tricksters, this is one festival that will truly leave you mesmerised.

Wizard World Gathering
Grab your wands Potterheads, because your Hogwarts letter has finally arrived. Assembly Roxy is transformed into four stories of enchantment, from levitation and time-travel classes, to colour-changing drinks and a fantasy-themed quiz for the true fanatics. But be careful, as the staircases have been known to move of their own accord. For wizards and witches aged 18+, though children may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Assembly Roxy, Fri 11 May – Sun 13 May.

Magic School
Learn the secrets of the magical arts with Gary James, Headmaster of the Magic School. The Magic School has been teaching magic and performance skills to children for the past nine years, helping them master the basics behind magic-making. For mini-magicians aged 7 to 10.
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Sun 13 May.

Chris Cook: Control
Go beyond the limits of your comfort zone with Chris Cook's interactive magic show, named Best Show at the Fringe in 2017. When Chris crashed his car at 80mph one New Years Day, the difference between life and death seemed determined by mere chance, and he tasks his audience with the same question: are you still in control? A spellbinding combination of comedy, storytelling and magic.
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Sun 13 May.

The Secret Room @ The Writers' Museum
A series of shows based in historical landmarks across Edinburgh, wherein magicians give performances based off their interpretation of the building's manifold secrets. Lewis Barlow, John Henry Blackwood and Michael Neto plumb the depths of the storied Writers' Museum, inspired by the life and work of literary luminaries such as Robert Burns, Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and JK Rowling.
Mon 14 May–Thu 17 May.

Renz: Poet of the Impossible
Weaving together magic and verse, the Scots-Italian magician and poet stages an entrancing and gravity-defying show, wherein spectacular visual illusions and captivating feats of sleight-of-hand are complemented by a powerfully eloquent spoken word performance.
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Tue 17 May.

MagicFest Gala: Fast & Furious
Featuring some of the world's best magic and variety acts, the MagicFest Gala presents an evening of comedy, illusion, sleight-of-hand and theatrical pick-pocketing. With performances from World Magic Champions Magus Utopia; the magician-cum-scientist Kevin Quantum; 'Man of Steal' James Freedman; Card Ninja; improvisational rapper MC Hammersmith; and Rubik's cube master Tom Crosbie, better buckle up for an evening of razor-sharp precision and mind-boggling speed.
Royal Lyceum Theatre, Fri 18–Sat 19 May.

Edinburgh International Magic Festival, various venues, 11–19 May.