BIE Technical Visit to Serbia ahead of Expo 2027 Belgrade
The Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, has completed a Technical Visit to Belgrade to review preparations for Specialised Expo 2027 Belgrade. This visit comes amid full-scale construction work on the Expo site, just over 15 months before it is set to open to the public.
During the course of the visit, the Secretary General met with the Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade of Serbia and Commissioner for Expo 2027 Belgrade, Jagoda Lazarević, as well as key representatives of the Expo 2027 Belgrade Company.
Core aspects of the Expo’s preparations were discussed during a series of meetings between the BIE delegation and Serbian officials. These included the theme and event programme, logistics, and the Expo’s One Stop Shop for participating countries.
Particular attention was given to the organisation of the International Participants Meeting, scheduled to gather hundreds of international participants in Belgrade next month, which will support preparations, strengthen collaboration, and foster engagement ahead of Expo 2027 Belgrade.
In addition to technical meetings, the BIE Secretary General visited the Expo site in Surčin, where thousands are working each day in the preparation of Expo pavilions and associated facilities. Speaking to local media after the site visit, the Secretary General underlined not only the significance of Expo 2027 Belgrade for the region, but also its lasting impact through the event’s tangible and intangible legacy.
The BIE Secretary General commented: “With construction on Expo 2027 Belgrade well under way, the focus is now on the development of the Expo’s content and programming. Welcoming the world under the theme of “Play for Humanity”, Serbia is laying the groundwork for a global celebration of creativity, innovation and resilience, enriched by sport and music”.
Serbia was elected as the host of Specialised Expo 2027 during the 172nd General Assembly of the BIE in June 2023. Taking place on a 25-hectare site in Surčin, Expo 2027 Belgrade is set to welcome over 130 countries between 15 May and 15 August 2027.
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 under the theme “Future Energy”, and received almost 4 million visits.
