Expo 2027 (Serbian:ЕКСПО 2027 /EKSPO 2027) is the working title for aBIE recognisedspecialised exposition to be held in 2027 inBelgrade,Serbia. It is scheduled to begin on 15 May 2027 and close on 15 August 2027. This will be the first world exposition to be held in the former Yugoslavia.[1]
Five countries submitted competing candidatures to organise a Specialised Expo in either 2027 or 2028: the United States of America (inMinnesota[2]), Thailand (inPhuket[3]), Serbia (inBelgrade), Spain (inMalaga[4]), and Argentina (inSan Carlos de Bariloche).
The candidature list closed on 28 January 2022. Each candidate submitted a detailed candidature dossier by 7 June 2022,[5] and the BIE then organised Enquiry Missions, assessing the feasibility and viability of each candidature project. Serbia was elected as the host country of Specialised Expo 2027/28 by BIE Member States, gathered in the 172nd General Assembly which took place on 21 June 2023.[6]
Minnesota had previously bid forExpo 2023 withHealthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well Being for All.[7]
The theme for this bid for 2027 wasHealthy People, Healthy Planet[8] and would have been held inBloomington, Minnesota[9] adjacent to the Mall of America and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and close to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The expected number of visitors was 13.3 million.[9]
Minnesota was the first to formally submit their bid on 29 July 2021.[6] A group of BIE officials visited the site in October 2022[10] to hear presentations that included renderings of proposed structures designed byDLR Group[11] for the expo.[12] This would have been the first World Fair to be held in theWestern Hemisphere sinceExpo 86.[13]
The theme of this winning bid for 2027 isPlay for Humanity – Sport and Music for All.[14]
The Minister of Finance,Siniša Mali, was the chairman for the Working Group for the preparation and submission of the bid for Expo 2027. The Expo complex is planned as a multi-functional space, which in addition to the spaces dedicated for the exhibition also contains accompanying commercial and accommodation facilities that will provide logistical support. Serbia is the only country from Southeastern Europe that has applied to be the host country of the exhibition.[15][16]
The theme for this bid for 2027 which would have been calledThe Urban Era: towards the sustainable city[17] intended to focus on the UN's sustainability goals.[17]If chosen it would've been held between 5 June and 5 September 2027.
It would've taken place in the Buenavista area within theCampanillas district[18]very near theUniversity of Málaga and theMálaga International Airport that has a capacity for 35 million passengers every year.It was the first city to be officially interested in hosting this expo and also the only city that was officially visited by the BIE to examine the proposed terrane and learn more about the project before closing the candidatures.[19]
Expo2027 Malaga had the support of a large part of institutions, entities, associations, federations and companies of the city.[20]
A secret ballot took place to select the winner at BIE's 172nd General Assembly on 21 June 2023. The first ballot awarded 54 votes to Belgrade, Málaga were given 42 votes, Minnesota earned 19 votes and Phuket was given 16 votes, with San Carlos de Bariloche gathering only 8 (and 1 abstention). This meant that San Carlos de Bariloche was eliminated. The second ballot awarded Belgrade 69 votes, Málaga was given 48 votes, Minnesota 21 votes, with Phuket gathering only 15 (with 1 abstention), eliminating Phuket. The third ballot awarded Belgrade 74 votes and earned Málaga 53 votes, with Minnesota gathering only 23 votes (and 2 abstentions). This meant Minnesota was eliminated. In the final, fourth round ballot 81 votes were given to Belgrade and 70 to Málaga.[22]
As of 20 July 2025, there are 118 countries that have confirmed their participation at Expo 2027,[23] with 80 confirming it in written form.[24][25] Planned participation is between 120 and 140 countries.[26][27] Countries which participation was made public[28] are:
Serbia –Belgrade
Spain –Málaga
United States –Minnesota
Thailand –Phuket
Argentina –Bariloche
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan[29]
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Burundi[30][31]
Cape Verde
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
China[32]
Comoros
Cuba
Cyprus[33]
Djibouti[34][35]
Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini[36]
Ethiopia
Fiji
France
Gambia[37][38]
Georgia
Germany[39]
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau[40][41]
Hungary
Iran[42]
Iraq
Israel
Italy[43]
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Lesotho
Liberia[44]
Libya
Madagascar[45][46]
Malawi
Maldives[47]
Mali
Micronesia
Montenegro[48]
Mozambique
Nepal
Niger
North Macedonia
Palau
Qatar
Russia[49]
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
São Tomé and Príncipe
Seychelles[50][51]
Slovakia
Solomon Islands[52][53]
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan[54][55]
Sudan
Suriname
Switzerland[56][57]
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey[58][59]
Turkmenistan[60]
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu[52][53]
Venezuela
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe