The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has today closed the candidature period for Specialised Expo 2027/28.

　　Five countries have 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 United States’ candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Minnesota between 15 May and 15 August 2027 under the theme “Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All”.

　　Thailand’s candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Phuket between 20 March and 17 June 2028 under the theme “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.

　　Serbia’s candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Belgrade between 15 May and 15 August 2027 under the theme “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All”.

　　Spain’s candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Malaga between 5 June and 5 September 2027 under the theme “The Urban Era: towards the Sustainable City”.

　　Argentina’s candidature is for a Specialised Expo in San Carlos de Bariloche between 1 February and 30 April 2027 under the theme “Nature + Technology = sustainable energy. A viable future for humanity”.

　　The Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, stated:“The BIE welcomes these five candidatures to organise Specialised Expo 2027/28. The strong interest in organising Specialised Expos and the nature of the proposed themes attest to a strong appetite for global cooperation to address these shared challenges. We look forward to learning more about each project as the candidature process moves into the next stage.”

　　The project examination phase for Specialised Expo 2027/28 will take place over the next year and a half. Each candidate will submit a detailed candidature dossier, and the BIE will then organise Enquiry Missions, assessing the feasibility and viability of each candidature project. The host country of Specialised Expo 2027/28 will then be elected by BIE Member States, gathered in a General Assembly set to take place in June 2023, on the principle of one country, one vote.

　　All candidature projects will be presented for the very first time to BIE Member States during the 170th General Assembly of the BIE due to take place in June 2022, and at all subsequent General Assemblies until the final vote.

　　Expos are global events that explore a chosen theme through engaging and immersive discoveries. Among the different categories of Expos, Specialised Expos are designed to respond to a precise challenge facing humanity and may take place in the interval between two World Expos. Specialised Expos are limited in terms of duration - lasting up to three months - and space - with the exhibition area not exceeding 25 hectares. The site is entirely built by the Organiser, Participants being provided with pavilion space.

　　The most recent Specialised Expo, Expo 2017 Astana, took place in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, under the theme “Future Energy”, and welcomed almost 4 million visitors.