Died August 18, 2026
A master of card magic whose thinking, teaching and joy changed the art for generations.
Juan Tamariz was one of the most influential figures in modern magic, renowned for his extraordinary card magic, unmistakable personality, and profound thinking about how magic should be experienced. A winner of the 1973 FISM World Championship in Card Magic, the Madrid-born magician spent more than six decades performing, teaching, researching, and advancing the art of illusion. His books, including The Magic Way, The Five Points in Magic, and Mnemonica, became foundational works for generations of magicians, while his exuberant performing style made him a familiar figure to audiences in Spain and around the world. Tamariz’s influence extended far beyond individual tricks: his ideas about structure, psychology, misdirection, and creating a genuine sense of impossibility helped reshape contemporary close-up magic.
38 first-person tributes from the editorial research completed 2026-09-10. Each excerpt links to the full original source.
The world of magic has lost one of its Grand Masters, and I have lost a friend and companion unlike any other.
Longtime friend, colleague and internationally prominent card-magic author who knew Tamariz for more than five decades.
En cualquier reunión de magos, en cualquier parte del mundo, cuando Juan sacaba una baraja, el mundo era un lugar mejor.
English “At any gathering of magicians, anywhere in the world, when Juan took out a deck, the world was a better place.”
Spanish magician, writer and humorist writing from direct experience in the international magic community.
Juan ha sido un genio de la magia que ha transformado el arte y que no somos conscientes de la magnitud.
English “Juan was a genius of magic who transformed the art, and we are not conscious of the magnitude of it.”
Student of Tamariz; Blass describes Tamariz as being like an adoptive father to him.
todos los lunes se juntaba con siete u ocho magos jóvenes y pasaba la noche entera enseñándonos magia. Lo hacía por pura generosidad
English “Every Monday he gathered with seven or eight young magicians and spent the entire night teaching us magic. He did it out of pure generosity.”
Spanish card magician who studied and socialized with Tamariz over many years.
He gave me extraordinary opportunities. He invited me to Spain to be part of his legendary TV shows.
International magician and educator who worked with Tamariz on television, onstage and in master classes and describes him as a dear friend.
And in the hotel hallway, in the early hours of the morning, there was Juan Tamariz, who was a legend and 71 years old, sitting on the floor with a bunch of young magicians, teaching them magic.
American professional comedy magician who introduced Tamariz at MagiFest and witnessed his informal generosity toward younger magicians.
Tamariz era un amor de persona, no solo como mago. Era muy cariñoso y cuidaba de todos los magos de España.
English “Tamariz was a lovely person, not only as a magician. He was very affectionate and looked after all the magicians in Spain.”
Prominent Spanish professional magician recalling Tamariz's personal kindness toward him as a young magician and his worldwide influence on close-up magic.
Agradecidísima por todo el amor que me dio y por todo el amor a la Magia que nos regaló
English “Deeply grateful for all the love he gave me and for all the love of Magic he gave us.”
Daughter of Juan Tamariz and a central figure in the Tamariz magic-school legacy.
Cada minuto que pasé con él es que es una mina.
English “Every minute I spent with him was a gold mine.”
Spanish magician, filmmaker and writer who became Tamariz's direct disciple and remained close enough that Tamariz contributed to Herrero's books and film work.
era como un padre para todos, porque hay varias generaciones enteras que hemos hecho magia que nos ha cambiado la vida gracias a Tamariz
English “He was like a father to all of us, because entire generations have made magic that changed our lives thanks to Tamariz.”
Spanish magician speaking as a member of generations shaped by Tamariz and from direct magic-community experience.
a mí Juan no me dio un pez, me enseñó a pescar.
English “Juan didn't give me a fish; he taught me how to fish.”
Prominent Spanish mentalist who describes Tamariz as his master and a decisive theoretical influence.
la felicidad, el amor, la pasión por lo que haces, lo que él transmitía, la generosidad
English “Happiness, love, passion for what you do, what he conveyed, generosity.”
Spanish magician who knew Tamariz personally and describes lessons learned from him.
He explained that he was auditioning the front row, looking for someone with a happy and expressive face.
Psychologist, author and magician whose work examines deception, recalling a specific performance principle learned directly from Tamariz and reused in his own speaking.
No fue solamente un mago al que admiré. Fue mi maestro.
English “He wasn't merely a magician I admired. He was my teacher.”
Magician writing explicitly about Tamariz as his teacher.
Juan Tamariz ha sido una influencia enorme no solo para los magos, sino también para humoristas e incluso para mentalistas como yo.
English “Juan Tamariz was an enormous influence not only on magicians, but also on comedians and even on mentalists like me.”
Spanish mentalist who met Tamariz as a child at Ana Tamariz's school and later interacted with him professionally.
L'humanité et l'humour d'un géant de la magie qui a modestement bu son verre....
English “The humanity and humor of a giant of magic who modestly drank his glass....”
Professional magician recounting direct personal experiences with Tamariz.
Además de ser una bestia sobre el escenario de manera innata, era un gran estudioso y un auténtico erudito de la magia
English “Besides being a natural beast on stage, he was a great student and a true scholar of magic.”
Zaragoza illusionist and magic-venue operator discussing Tamariz's influence on working magicians.
Magialdia es lo que es en parte gracias a Juan Tamariz.
English “Magialdia is what it is partly thanks to Juan Tamariz.”
President of the Asociación de Ilusionistas de Álava and a nearly four-decade magic-community colleague of Tamariz.
Tuve la fortuna y el asombro de disfrutarlo, admirarlo, conocerlo y tratarlo desde la primera vez que visitó Colombia.
English “I had the good fortune and wonder of enjoying, admiring, knowing and spending time with him from his first visit to Colombia.”
Colombian professional magician known as Doctor Magic, writing from decades of personal acquaintance with Tamariz and documenting his unusually deep relationship with Colombia's magic community.
Me enseñó a amar la magia y a comunicar ese amor por la magia
English “He taught me to love magic and to communicate that love of magic.”
Aragonese illusionist who spent years in Tamariz's El Escorial and San Fernando magic circles.
Looking back, what stays with me isn't a particular trick. It's the idea that great magic is about much more than technique.
Professional British magician reflecting on studying Tamariz's work in person.
When I perform, I frequently think about his analogy of imaging threads connecting you to each audience member.
American close-up magician who met Tamariz and continues to apply a specific Tamariz audience-connection principle in his own professional work.
Juan ha conseguido hacer que muchos niños y niñas de mi generación pensásemos que podíamos vivir de la magia.
English “Juan made many boys and girls of my generation think that we could make a living from magic.”
Spanish professional magician describing Tamariz's generational influence on the perceived viability of magic as a profession.
Lo sento come un lutto di un parente cazzo ma come è possibile
English “It feels like losing a relative—damn, how is that possible?”
Italian professional magician and educator expressing Tamariz's personal impact on a younger generation.
Tamariz tenía mucho de bondad en su forma de hacer ilusionismo
English “Tamariz had a great deal of goodness in the way he practiced illusionism.”
Performer who states that he studied with Tamariz and learned from his approach to illusionism.
lo que Juan deja es muchísima, muchísima alegría
English “What Juan leaves behind is so, so much joy.”
Spanish magician recounting direct memories of Tamariz and his late-night magic sessions.
Tu violín invisible seguirá sonando.
English “Your invisible violin will keep playing.”
Prominent Spanish illusionist publicly memorializing Tamariz.
We've lost the greatest close up magician of our time, Juan Tamariz.
Professional magician and magic collector who states that he knew Tamariz.
Your unique paths of creative thought have no equals.
Professional sleight-of-hand magician and magic author commenting on Tamariz's creative and literary legacy.
Tamariz fue para muchos de nosotros mucho más que un mago al que veíamos en televisión.
English “For many of us, Tamariz was much more than a magician we watched on television.”
Magician and operator of the Magilandia magic business, writing about Tamariz's formative influence.
Cuando era joven me obsesionaban las cosas imposibles. Entonces conocí a Juan Tamariz. Hoy el asombro está de luto.
English “When I was young, impossible things obsessed me. Then I met Juan Tamariz. Today astonishment is in mourning.”
Friend of Tamariz, specialist in illusionism and co-founder with Tamariz of the magic publisher Frakson.
And listening to him talk exploded my mind again.
Journalist and magic-history author who met Tamariz while researching The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini, watched him perform and heard him explain what magic meant to him.
Thank you, Juan, for giving me back my wonder. My personal Unicorn.
Canadian magician who regarded Tamariz as his personal symbol of wonder and later performed and worked with him.
It’s an odd thing to submit yourself to a guru. But what a wonderful thing it was to have Juan Tamariz as mine.
American magician, author and convention producer who studied closely with Tamariz and regarded him as his guru.
Pequeño homenaje aqui en Villakaps. Juan seguirá acompañándome a mi y a todos los amigos que lo admiramos y queremos. Love you Juan.
English “A small tribute here at Villakaps. Juan will continue to be with me and all the friends who admire and love him. Love you Juan.”
Spanish card magician, student and close artistic descendant of Tamariz who has long spoken about his influence.
I first saw Juan Tamariz when I was around 15 years old, and my life has changed ever since.
Internationally prominent close-up magician who credits Tamariz with changing his life and profoundly influencing his magic.
Live and up close he ignited audiences like no other.
Award-winning British magician and founder-editor of MagicWeek, writing from his own experience of Tamariz as a live performer.
all night long, he not only kept us young magicians in awe but also explained many techniques and, above all, psychological principles.
German amateur magician and longtime Magic Circle member who encountered Tamariz in person and has also researched the professional magic sector as a marketing professor.
fue, ante todo, el maestro de generaciones enteras, el pionero que elevó la magia a la categoría de lenguaje artístico universal
English “He was, above all, the master of entire generations, the pioneer who elevated magic to the status of a universal artistic language.”
National Spanish federation representing magic societies.
Juan Tamariz was far more than an extraordinary magician. He was a teacher, thinker, innovator and an inspiration to generations of magicians around the world.
International governing federation for magic societies and FISM competitions.
We join the ripples of mourning within the Magic community today at the loss of a magnificent master, Juan Tamariz.
Major international magic organization.
Perhaps the finest magician I ever had to opportunity to watch. He was a genius who truly revolutionized card magic, and changed the world of magic forever.
Anonymous ·