Having opened its gates on 2 October, Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha brings the world together under the theme “Green Desert, Better Environment”. Aimed at building greener and more sustainable communities, the Expo has already inspired hundreds of thousands of visitors in its opening weeks. The Secretary General of Expo 2023 Doha, Mohamed Ali Alkhoori, reflects on the significance of this event and the opportunities it presents for Qatar.

A new virtual reality exhibition, THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AT EXPO 58, brings the pavilion of the European Coal and Steel Community Pavilion at Expo 1958 Brussels back to life. Visitors are invited to explore a 3D model of the pavilion through a virtual tour at the Jean Monnet House or online. The exhibition is based on Anastasia Remes' PhD research, which she conducted at the History Department of the European University Institute. On the 65th anniversary of the Expo, Dr. Remes lays out the story behind the exhibition and highlights the importance of the pavilion at a crucial time for European integration.

During the first International Participants Meeting in preparation for Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, and marking 900 days to go until the opening of the Expo, a new video rendering of the World Expo site has been revealed.

The video shows the Expo site complete with its wooden grand roof, with images of the different parts of the Expo including Pavilion World, Green World and Water World.

For some, the prospect of visiting a World Expo is an opportunity that cannot be missed. When Expo 1967 took place in Montreal, Tony Whittemore and his brother Jeff, aged only 11 and 9, were desperate to discover the Expo’s magic. The only problem – they lived 350 miles away, in Needham, Massachusetts.

With the theme “Green Desert, Better Environment”, Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha, Qatar will gather countries from around the world around the collective aim of building greener and more sustainable communities. With the Expo opening in one year – on 2 October 2023 - the Secretary General of Expo 2023 Doha, Mohamed Ali AlKhoori lays out the Expo’s guiding principles and explores its expected impact.

With less than 1,000 days until the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, this second part of the Vision for a Future Society series looks at the people and the ideas behind the next World Expo’s Signature Pavilions. After July’s instalment, discover this month the future visions of Shoji Kawamori (Totality of Life), Kundo Koyama (Cycle of Lives), Sachiko Nakajima (Invigorating Lives), and Hiroaki Miyata (Resonance of Lives).

On 18 July, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai marks the 1,000-day countdown to the opening of the next World Expo. As part of the development of its theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai has entrusted eight thematic projects to experts in their domain with a focus on working towards a better future for humankind. In the first of a two-part series, four of these producers discuss their philosophy and the Signature Pavilions they are creating for the Expo. Discover the future society visions of Shin-Ichi Fukuoka (Quest of Life pavilion), Naomi Kawase (Embracing Lives pavilion), Hiroshi Ishiguro (Amplification of Lives pavilion), and Yoichi Ochiai (Forging Lives pavilion).

Sixty-five years ago today, on 6 July 1957, the “Interbau” international building exhibition – Specialised Expo 1957 Berlin - opened its doors to the public in Berlin’s Hansaviertel neighbourhood. The Expo, which took place in response to the housing shortage in West Berlin and sought to showcase the modern architecture, transformed the area and left behind a variety of architectural masterpieces. With a total of 53 architects involved in the large-scale project to build “the city of tomorrow”, discover five iconic buildings from Expo 1957 Berlin:

Opening its doors on 15 July, the 23rd edition of the Triennale Milano International Exhibition tackles the question of the unknown through its theme “Unknown Unknowns. An Introduction to Mysteries”. With so many challenges, both known and mysterious, facing the world, this latest International Exhibition will offer new perspectives through its constellation of thematic and international exhibits. Stefano Boeri, President of Triennale Milano and Ersilia Vaudo, curator of the thematic exhibition, delve into the meaning and aspirations of the 23rd Triennale Milano.

Eighty-five years ago today, on 25 May 1937, countries from around the world gathered in Paris for the opening of a six-month World Expo dedicated to arts and technology in modern life. Taking place in a unique context of geopolitical tensions and social change, the works of art commissioned for Expo 1937 Paris stood out not only for their scale, aesthetics, and creative significance, but also for their political and social meaning. Here are five iconic masterpieces, all created for Expo 1937 Paris:

It was on 28 April 1967 – 55 years ago today – that Montreal invited the whole world to discover “Man and his World” at Expo 1967. The spectacular World Expo, which marked Canada’s Centennial, gathered 60 countries and registered over 50 million visits during its six-month run. Here are five interesting facts about Expo 1967 Montreal:

 30 years ago today, Spain welcomed the world as it opened the gates to Expo 1992 Seville, themed “The Age of Discovery”. Here are a few facts about the World Expo that you might not have known:

With Expo 2020 Dubai having closed its gates on the night of 31 March 2022 after 182 fabulous days, the final episodes of the Inside Expo podcast take a look at some of the Expo’s iconic pavilions, its dedication to the UN’s SDGs, and how to say goodbye.

As Expo 2020 Dubai enters its final days, the latest episodes of the Inside Expo podcast look at some of the pop culture that has stemmed from past Expos, as well as the fascinating story of the gold ring that inspired Expo 2020 Dubai’s logo.

With Expo 2020 Dubai closing its gates on 31 March, Japan is gearing up to be the host country of the next World Expo, taking place in Osaka, Kansai. Opening in just over three years time, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai will gather, once again, countries from around the world, this time under the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. The Secretary General of the Japan Association for Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai shares his thoughts at this important juncture for the next World Expo.

The latest episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast explore the Vision Pavilion and the story it tells of Dubai’s journey, as well as the innovative approach the Expo Organiser took to protect the health and wellness of workers on the Expo site.

Physical and virtual connections are the subject of the most recent episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast, with an exploration of the broader meaning of mobility, as well as the limitless opportunities of virtual content and collaboration.

The latest episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast look at the architecture of some of the Expo’s most prominent landmarks, as well as the Expo’s role in incubating and showcasing Artificial Intelligence technologies.

The shared human interest for other cultures and for past cultures is at the heart of the latest two episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast.

If World Expos are notable for their stunning architecture, immersive experiences, and dazzling performances, they are also unique venues for meaningful dialogue and deep discussion. By gathering people with diverse backgrounds from across the world, World Expos provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and the formation of new relationships. At Expo 2020 Dubai, this dialogue is taking place in a myriad of ways, with the World Majlis standing out as a unique approach – innovative yet inspired by tradition – for fostering and shaping conversations about the future. With nine of the Expo’s ten theme weeks now completed, Dr. Federica Busa, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Senior Vice President, Visitor Experience, explains the role and contribution of the Majlis to the Expo’s thematic discussions.

The two latest episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast are dedicated to the promise of youth, with a focus on how young people are empowered at Expo 2020 Dubai, and on the 11-year-old girl who conveyed the sense of hope at the Expo’s Opening Ceremony.

In the latest two episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast, learn about the ways the Expo’s message and experience are conveyed, and discover some of the hidden gems built into the Expo site.

The latest episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast pay tribute to some of Expo 2020 Dubai’s most prominent musical creations, as well as to Expo ‘superfans’.

The latest two episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast address the role of majlis – a space for conversation and dialogue – in serving as a model for Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as the evolution of robots in Expos over the decades.

In the latest episode of Inside Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai’s podcast, learn how the Expo’s mascots - Latifa and Rashid, their robot guardians Opti, Alif and Terra, and Salama the Ghaf tree – came to life.

Almere in the Netherlands is the stage for the next International Horticultural Exhibition, Floriade Expo 2022, opening its gates from 14 April to 9 October 2022. Countries from around the world and partners from the horticultural sector will present innovations and solutions for sustainable and liveable cities. The entire 60-hectare site will focus on the theme “Growing Green Cities”, and is set to offer visitors spectacles, green inspiration and unforgettable experiences. As the final touches are being made to the site of the Horticultural Expo, the CEO of Floriade Expo 2022, Hans Bakker, reflects on his expectations for the Expo as a global platform for the green city of the future.

For its first episode of 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Inside Expo podcast turns its attention to the history of Emirati participation in Expos, dating back to Expo 1970 Osaka.

The three most recent episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai's Inside Expo podcast focus around two key aspects of all Expos: their legacy, and the innovations they showcase.

With its theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, Expo 2020 Dubai offers multiple opportunities for the whole world, with a particularly strong interest in the World Expo from Asia’s emerging economies. Both situated in the Opportunity District, Indonesia and Viet Nam are participating in Expo 2020 Dubai to expand their connections with other countries and to work together in the creation of a more sustainable future. Didi Sumedi, the Commissioner-General of Indonesia, and Nguyen Phuong Hoa, the Commissioner-General of Viet Nam, lay out the reasons why Expo 2020 Dubai is such a crucial meeting point for their countries.

The Inside Expo podcast has released three new episodes in the past week, with two episodes dedicated to the sustainable innovations presented at Expos, and one episode focused on technological advances in communication as seen through Expo 1939 New York and Expo 2020 Dubai.

In the latest two episodes of the Inside Expo podcast, learn about the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), from its Secretary General, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, and discover how Expo 2020 Dubai is helping to build a more resilient future for all through its Expo Live programme.

The newest two episodes of Inside Expo - Expo 2020 Dubai’s podcast series – look near and far in terms of the earthly and the celestial factors that shape World Expos.

The two latest episodes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s podcast, Inside Expo, continue in the exploration of the meaning behind the Expo and what visitors can discover there.

Expo 2020 Dubai is a point of connection for the whole world, with countries from far and wide participating with their own pavilions in the Opportunity, Sustainability and Mobility Districts. Latin American countries are embracing Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, and four of these nations - all participating in the Mobility District – have a particular vision they are keen to share with the world.

H.E. Jorge Daccarett, the Commissioner-General of Chile, Salvador Gomez, the Commissioner-General of El Salvador, Martha Jaramillo, the Commissioner-General of Mexico, and Amora Carbajal, the Commissioner-General of Peru, explain why the Expo is so important and how it serves as a platform for sharing their own countries’ vision for a more sustainable, connected, and high-tech future.

Expo 2020 Dubai – the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa & South Asia (MEASA) region, themed “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” – opened its gates on 1 October 2021 and will welcome millions of visitors before it closes on 31 March 2022.

L’Expo 2020 Dubai est la première Exposition Universelle organisée au Moyen-Orient, Afrique et Asie du Sud. Célébration de l’ingéniosité humaine autour du thème « Connecter les Esprits, Construire le Futur », elle met en avant des problématiques auxquelles tous les pays participants sont invités à réfléchir pour imaginer ensemble les modèles de développement du futur.

Avec tous les pays du continent africain présents, l’Exposition Universelle est une occasion unique pour y partager leurs projets et leurs réalisations, rechercher des investissements et des solutions aux défis communs et forger de nouvelles relations à travers le monde.

With the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic having led to various degrees of restrictions around the world – often for extended periods – keeping an active body and mind emerged as a key challenge. This is of particular importance for children and teenagers, whose active lifestyles were in some cases abruptly halted by stay-at-home limitations and school closures.

Music has played a central and prominent role in Expos since the very first editions that took place in the 19th century. Driven by technological and social advancements, Expos have always had a strong musical element, putting the spotlight on new instruments, genres and musicians, and holding memorable performances. From Belioz’s concert at Expo 1855 Paris to Edgar Varèse’s Poème électronique at Expo 1958 Brussels and the Scorpions’ Moment of Glory concert at Expo 2000 Hannover, music beats through the heart of all World Expos.

With two billion people in the world lacking access to toilet facilities, poor sanitation is a global problem responsible for the transmission of diseases, malnutrition and an estimated 432,000 deaths annually. This issue is easily preventable, with investment in improved sanitation reaping significant long-term benefits on health and well-being.

An estimated one billion people around the world are living with disabilities, and while great strides have been made towards inclusion, people of determination remain at a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion. As a result of physical barriers, unsuitable tools and discrimination, the employment rate is significantly lower than the overall average.

When faced with challenges, we naturally turn to experts, scientists, engineers and researchers to find and create appropriate solutions. But what if we also asked and listened to children for their ideas on improving the world?

For rural and pastoral communities in cross-border regions, restrictions on mobility as well as limited resources can pose a major challenge to livelihoods. Coupled with the impact of climate change and intercommunity tensions, the situation can rapidly hamper the whole region’s economic and social well-being.

Half the world’s population does not have access to essential health services, a figure that is all the more dramatic in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. With many of the world’s poorest countries having less than one doctor per 1,000 people, improving access to healthcare is a global priority.

About half of the wood cut down every year around the world is used to produce energy, mostly as fuel for cooking and heating. While this significant and unsustainable use of wood fuel perpetuates deforestation and contributions towards carbon emissions, the livelihoods and survival of many of the world’s poorest people relies on such energy, with one third of the global population dependent on wood or charcoal for cooking.

Around the world, almost half of all deaths in children aged under five are caused by poor nutrition. Chronic malnutrition in children stunts the development of the brain and body, increasing the likelihood of illness and negatively affecting the child's chances of staying in education – leading to lower earnings and ultimately trapping people in a cycle of poverty.

Early childhood care and education offers pre-primary-school-age children the opportunity to develop emotional and social capabilities required to thrive in school, and increases their chances of reaching their full potential later in life. Yet only about one in five young children in low-income countries are enrolled in pre-school, and many working parents have little choice but to leave their young children with informal or inadequate care providers.

Around the world, the continuous growth of cities puts pressure on the environment and particularly on water resources; it is estimated that 80 per cent of wastewater is released into the environment without adequate treatment. With two thirds of the world’s population living in severe water scarcity at least one month per year, it is vital to manage water resources in a sustainable manner.

The production of construction materials has a significant negative environmental impact: cement alone accounts for between five and 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP). In addition, plastic waste is an increasing global problem, oceans expected to contain more plastic than fish by 2050. With the world’s rising population, plastic waste and demand for construction materials are also set to grow.

Only nine per cent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled; 12 per cent has been incinerated and 79 per cent has ended up in landfill or the natural environment. Global production of plastic waste is about 300 million tonnes every year, almost equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Plastic waste related to food and beverages – including plastic bottles, bags, straws, wrappers, cups and utensils – are a significant portion of this total.

When people are forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution or natural disaster, the provision of basic necessities is the utmost priority, but their welfare is also heavily dependent on the environment of where they settle. Deforestation, soil erosion and the depletion and pollution of water resources are among the most significant challenges that can be associated with the arrival and residency of internally displaced people and refuges.