Kevin Lepine posing on The Canyon Club stage with the 2026 Stage Hypnotist of the Year award

Humor, Humility and Heart

Las Vegas Headliner Kevin Lepine Honored at the 2026 Performing Hypnosis Summit

By Heather Turk / Photos courtesy of Kevin Lepine

During his hit Las Vegas show, “Hypnosis Unleashed” at Four Queens Hotel & Casino, hypnotist Kevin Lepine sometimes uses his skills to hypnotize select audience volunteers into thinking he is a rock star. Offstage, however, Lepine doesn’t need to hypnotize anyone into realizing just how great of a guy he is in real life.

Not surprising to anyone who has seen his hilarious comedy-hypnosis show before, Lepine was recently awarded Stage Hypnotist of the Year at the 2026 Performing Hypnosis Summit held inside Gold Coast Hotel & Casino. The fourth hypnotist to receive the award since the global summit was founded in 2023, the award honors stage hypnotists who not only consistently deliver great performances but also give back to the business.

“It celebrates hypnotists who raise standards, perform ethically, support others and actively keep entertainment hypnosis alive, respected and evolving for the next generation,” said United Kingdom hypnotist Grant Saunders, who co-founded the summit with United States hypnotist Jim Kellner as a way for performers to connect, share experiences and collectively develop the craft.

When Kellner unexpectedly passed away in December 2024, Lepine played a key role in supporting the continuation of the summit. United States hypnotist Brian Bay, who joined the summit’s leadership team this year, recalled Lepine turning “compassion into action, helping raise thousands for Kellner’s family when it mattered most.” Lepine has also been an active participant in every Performing Hypnosis Summit, freely volunteering his time, knowledge and experience to elevate others who share his love for hypnosis.

“This award isn’t just about what happens onstage — it’s about who shows up for the profession,” Bay stated. “Kevin shows up every time.”

When asked about winning this year’s award, Lepine replied, "Winning Stage Hypnotist of the Year feels surreal and incredibly meaningful. Being recognized by peers who truly understand this craft is both humbling and motivating. It reminds me why I fell in love with performing in the first place. At the same time, it carries a real sense of responsibility. This award pushes me to keep growing, stay creative, raise my own standards and help lift others along the way. It energizes me to keep improving and to keep giving audiences something special every single night."

“Hypnosis Unleashed” performs at The Canyon Club in downtown Las Vegas, Tuesday through Saturday at 9 p.m. For tickets, visit vegashypnosisshow.com.