Belgrade emerged victorious in the bid to host the prestigious Specialized Expo 2027, securing the honor during the 172nd General Assembly meeting of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) held in Paris, France in June 2023. The forthcoming World Fair is scheduled to take place in the Serbian capital, particularly in its Surčin suburb, spanning from May 15 to August 15, 2027.
The competition for hosting the next Specialized Expo featured five formidable contenders. Apart from Serbia (Belgrade), the other candidate countries included the United States (Minnesota) focusing on “Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All,” Thailand (Phuket) exploring “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity,” Spain (Malaga) with the theme “The Urban Era: towards the Sustainable City,” and Argentina (Bariloche) emphasizing “Nature + Technology = Sustainable Energy. A Viable Future for Humanity.”
Expos stand as global gatherings that delve into a selected theme through interactive and immersive discoveries. Specialized Expos, among various Expo categories, are crafted to address a specific challenge confronting humanity and can be held between two World Expos. Limited in both duration, lasting up to three months, and space, with the exhibition area not exceeding 25 hectares, these events are entirely constructed by the organizer, providing pavilion space for participants.
The overarching theme for Belgrade Expo 2027 in Serbia is “Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All.” This theme delves into pressing global issues such as social distancing, physical inactivity, and their impact on well-being. “Play for Humanity” encapsulates the challenges of human development in our rapidly evolving digital and technology-driven society, with three subtopics: Power of Play, Play Music, and Play Sport.
Projections estimate that the event will draw 2.6 million tourists to the city of Belgrade, yielding a substantial economic impact of approximately 1.1 billion EUR. The Expo is poised to thrust Serbia into the global spotlight in 2027, attracting new investors and investments. As preparations are well underway, marketing efforts have already kicked off, visible through flags promoting Belgrade Expo 2027 lining the city’s highway and major streets.
Significantly, this marks the first Expo organized in the Western Balkans region and the first in Southeast Europe since 1991 when Plovdiv, Bulgaria, hosted a similar exhibition, making Belgrade’s hosting a historic and pivotal moment for the region. The latest Specialized Expo, Expo 2017 Astana, occurred in the capital of Kazakhstan with the theme “Future Energy” and garnered nearly 4 million visitors.
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