Journal · 26 September 2026 · New London, Connecticut
Mentalist of the Year
On Saturday 26 September 2026, the Milbourne Christopher Foundation named us its Mentalist of the Year, at the Garde Arts Center in New London, Connecticut.
The Foundation hadn’t presented the award for several years. When it announced this year’s honours in July, it put it this way: “For several years the Milbourne Christopher Foundation has not presented a Mentalist of the Year Award. However… this category will be awarded in 2026 to Mind2Mind.”
Milbourne Christopher spent his life keeping the history of this art, and the Foundation that carries his name honours the people working in it today. This year we shared the evening with Paul Romhany, TJ Salta, Jim Sisti, Scott Wells, Peter Samelson, Juliana Chen, Paul Fidler and Dr Bruce Averbook.
It started in Texas
Mike Miller, who nominated us, first saw the act at Magic Texas, when it was hosting FISM North America. David Penn had introduced us to Mike at FISM Europe, and Mike asked us to perform at his convention. We hadn’t even finished our FISM act. We went to Texas to get used to performing for magicians, and honestly, to get through the nerves.
The act we were still building in Texas went on to win FISM gold in Italy in 2025. Mike gave us that stage when we needed it, and then put our names forward for this. David Penn couldn’t be in New London, but he has been in our corner since 2018. A piece of this is his.
What we said on the night
“Mentalism is usually one person, on their own, with a secret. We’re two people. And for the last nine years, the whole act has been two people who decided to pay attention to each other. On stage and off.”
James
“To be named Mentalist of the Year, by people who really know how hard this is… it’s a different kind of feeling.”
Marina
The award itself is a plaque, a presentation wand of rare wood with 24-carat gold tips in a handcrafted inlaid box, and a Christopher token given only to the year’s awardees.
Next
From 9 October we are back on stage at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Fridays to Tuesdays at 8pm, through 2 February 2027. Every one of those nights goes back to rooms like the one Mike gave us in Texas.
James & Marina