Founded in 1993 by the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of MCT and Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture, SIMF is currently sponsored by Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting and Television, Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Shanghai Radio and Television Station (Shanghai Oriental TV Station), Art Department of MCT and CAA, and jointly organized by Shanghai Acrobats Association, Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe and Shanghai Circus School. SIMF takes place every two years and has witnessed 11 sessions till 2019.

　　Aiming to promote the exchange of magic art between China and foreign countries and boost the development of Chinese magic art, SIMF mainly involves international magic competitions of stage magic and close-up magic, special magic performances by internationally renowned magicians, international magic lectures on new skills and exhibition of new props, and international magic seminars. SIMF lasts for nearly one week in varied venues in Shanghai. SIMF features novel acts, excellent artistry, high standard, standardized operation and orderly organization. The selected magic acts have reached the world-class level, rich in categories, different in styles, and deeply loved by the audience. SIMF has promoted prosperity of the cultural performance market in Shanghai and provided a good platform for the exchange of magic art between China and foreign countries, exerting a positive and extensive impact on the magic circles at home and abroad. As a shining event of Shanghai cultural brands, SIMF is widely recognized by the international magic industry and wins high praise from all walks of life.