EXPO 2027 Belgrade: Dates, Location, Tickets and What to Expect

EXPO 2027 Belgrade will take place from 15 May to 15 August 2027 in Surčin, a municipality of the Serbian capital near Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The 93-day international exhibition will bring together countries, cultural institutions, scientists, artists and businesses under the theme “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All”.

More than 140 international participants have confirmed their involvement, and organisers expect over four million visits. Around 8,000 events and activities are planned, including concerts, sporting events, exhibitions, workshops and business programmes.

Belgrade is building a new exhibition complex for the event. Unlike a conventional trade fair, EXPO 2027 will combine national pavilions with public activities focused on culture, science, technology and international cooperation.

When and Where Is EXPO 2027 Belgrade?

EXPO 2027 opens on Saturday, 15 May 2027, and closes on Sunday, 15 August 2027. It will run for 93 consecutive days, covering the late spring and summer tourist seasons in Serbia.

The exhibition will be held in Surčin, southwest of central Belgrade and near Nikola Tesla Airport. The main exhibition area covers 25 hectares and forms part of a larger development project that includes new transport infrastructure, public facilities and the National Stadium.

The site is being developed specifically for EXPO 2027, with national pavilions, thematic exhibition spaces, public areas and facilities for events and performances.

Construction continued throughout 2026. During a technical meeting held on 1–3 October, more than 250 delegates from 43 countries discussed pavilion preparations, construction requirements and logistics with the organisers. The handover of exhibition spaces to international participants is scheduled for December 2026.

What Will Visitors See at EXPO 2027?

The exhibition will be divided into three main areas, each with a different purpose.

The International Participants Zone will house national pavilions where countries present their cultures, innovations and interpretations of the exhibition’s central theme. Visitors will be able to explore displays from different parts of the world within a single exhibition site.

The Thematic Zone will focus on play, sport and music through interactive exhibits and activities. Its programme is intended to involve visitors directly rather than limit them to observing displays.

The Best Practice and Corporate Content Zone will provide space for organisations and businesses to present projects, practical solutions and other activities related to the exhibition theme.

The wider programme will include music performances, sporting activities, theatre, visual arts, educational workshops and business meetings. Organisers also plan national and thematic events throughout the exhibition’s three-month run.

The Three Themes of EXPO 2027

The exhibition’s main theme, “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All”, is developed through three subthemes.

Power of Play examines how play supports physical and mental well-being, resilience and sustainability. It covers activities that connect movement, learning and personal development.

Play for Progress focuses on imagination and innovation. Participating organisations can explore how experimentation and creativity contribute to developments in science, technology and the arts.

Play Together looks at the social role of play, including cooperation, inclusion and cultural exchange. Shared music, games and other activities will be used to explore how people from different backgrounds interact.

These themes will shape the content of national pavilions and the exhibition’s programme of events.

Which Countries Will Participate in EXPO 2027?

More than 140 international participants had confirmed their involvement by October 2026, including countries and international organisations.

The official participant list includes Japan, China, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Russia, Türkiye, Montenegro and numerous other countries from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Pacific.

Each national exhibition will reflect the participating country’s own approach to the central theme. Programmes may include cultural presentations, technology demonstrations, artistic projects and interactive activities.

One notable participant is CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. In July 2026, CERN signed an agreement to participate with its own pavilion, where it plans to introduce visitors to scientific research and the role of curiosity and experimentation in discovery.

The list of participating countries and organisations may continue to change before the opening. Detailed national pavilion programmes have not yet been published in full.

EXPO 2027 Programme: Concerts, Sport and Events

Organisers are planning approximately 8,000 events and activities across the 93-day exhibition. The programme will combine cultural, educational, sporting and business events.

Music will be a major part of the visitor experience. Planned activities include concerts, performances by international musicians, interactive sound installations and opportunities for visitors to participate in music-making.

The cultural programme also includes theatre, film, contemporary art and other performances. Sporting activities will provide opportunities to take part in games, demonstrations and group experiences.

Business and educational events will cover subjects linked to innovation, creativity and international cooperation. Workshops, discussions and presentations will run alongside the public exhibition programme.

Some activities will be grouped into thematic weeks, with different subjects receiving particular attention at different points during the exhibition.

The full event calendar, including confirmed performers and individual session times, is still being developed. Visitors planning a trip around a particular concert or event should check the final programme once it becomes available.

EXPO 2027 Tickets: Prices and Availability

As of 16 October 2026, the official EXPO 2027 website lists tickets as coming soon. A complete, verified public price list and detailed admission conditions are not yet available.

Organisers have been preparing ticketing arrangements, including a promotional prize draw linked to tickets purchased through official sales channels. However, the announcement of these preparations does not establish that general admission tickets are already available to purchase.

Visitors should rely on official information for ticket categories, prices, sales dates and entry conditions. Details may differ depending on the type of admission and any associated events.

The exhibition will run for three months, but individual performances and themed activities will not necessarily be available every day. Travellers who want to attend specific events should consider the programme before choosing their dates.

How to Get to EXPO 2027 in Belgrade

The exhibition complex is located in Surčin, outside Belgrade’s central districts and near the city’s international airport.

Transport infrastructure is being developed as part of the wider EXPO project. Plans include new road connections and a railway linking the exhibition area with other parts of Belgrade and the airport corridor.

However, planned infrastructure should not be confused with confirmed passenger services. Exact public transport routes, operating schedules, journey times and visitor parking arrangements will need to be checked closer to the exhibition.

Visitors staying in central Belgrade should allow for the additional journey to Surčin when organising their day. Those arriving by air will also need to check the available connections between Nikola Tesla Airport and the exhibition entrance.

How Is EXPO 2027 Different from a World Expo?

EXPO 2027 Belgrade is a Specialised Expo, officially classified as an International Recognised Exhibition by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

Specialised Expos focus on a defined subject and are limited to a maximum of three months and 25 hectares of exhibition space. World Expos have a broader scope, can last up to six months and typically occupy much larger sites.

Serbia was selected to host EXPO 2027 on 21 June 2023, following a vote by BIE member states. Belgrade’s bid was chosen ahead of competing proposals from Spain, the United States, Thailand and Argentina.

The exhibition received formal recognition from the BIE in November 2024. It will be the first Specialised Expo held in the Western Balkans.

The previous Specialised Expo took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2017, under the theme “Future Energy”.

What Will Happen to the EXPO Site After 2027?

The Belgrade exhibition complex is being designed for use beyond the three-month event.

Under the current plans, the International Participants Zone will become the new Belgrade Fair, providing permanent facilities for trade shows and other exhibitions.

The Thematic Zone is intended to become a museum district, with spaces for cultural, educational and public activities. Temporary pavilions from the corporate and best-practice area are planned to be dismantled and repurposed for public facilities, including schools and kindergartens.

The wider development also includes transport links, sporting facilities and other infrastructure intended to serve Belgrade after August 2027.

These are the organisers’ stated plans rather than completed projects. Their implementation will depend on construction progress and the subsequent redevelopment of the site.

For Belgrade, EXPO 2027 is therefore both a scheduled international exhibition and a major construction project whose facilities are intended to remain in use long after the last visitors leave.