Expo 2027

Expo 2027 (Serbian: ЕКСПО 2027/EKSPO 2027) is the working title for a BIE recognised specialised exposition to be held in 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia. It is scheduled to begin on 15 May 2027 and close on 15 August 2027. This will be first world exposition to be held in the former Yugoslavia.

Candidatures
Five countries submitted competing candidatures to organise a Specialised Expo in either 2027 or 2028: the United States of America (in Minnesota ), Thailand (in Phuket ), Serbia (in Belgrade), Spain (in Malaga ), and Argentina (in San Carlos de Bariloche).

The candidature list closed on 28 January 2022. Each candidate submitted a detailed candidature dossier by 7 June 2022, 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.

Minnesota
Minnesota had previously bid for Expo 2023 with Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well Being for All.

The theme for this bid for 2027 was Healthy People, Healthy Planet and would have been held in Bloomington, Minnesota 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.

Minnesota was the first to formally submit their bid on 29 July 2021. A group of BIE officials visited the site in October 2022 to hear presentations that included renderings of proposed structures designed by DLR Group for the expo. This would have been the first World Fair to be held in the Western Hemisphere since Expo 86.

Phuket
The theme for this bid for 2028 was Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity.

Belgrade
The theme of this winning bid for 2027 is Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All. Official Expo Belgrade 2027 site: https://expobelgrade2027.org/

Málaga
The theme for this bid for 2027 which would have been called The Urban Era: towards the sustainable city intended to focus on the UN's sustainability goals. If chosen it would've been held between 5 June and 5 September 2027.

It would've taken place in the Buenavista area within the Campanillas district very near the University of Málaga and the Málaga 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.

Expo2027 Malaga had the support of a large part of institutions, entities, associations, federations and companies of the city.

San Carlos de Bariloche
The theme for this bid for 2027 was ''Nature + Technology = sustainable energy. A viable future for humanity''.

Vote
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.