The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) closed the candidature period for Specialized Expo 2027/28 on January 28. The day before, Argentina became the final country to submit a letter of candidature to the BIE to organize a Specialized Expo in San Carlos de Bariloche in 2027.
The letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Santiago Andrés Cafiero, was handed to the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, by the Ambassador of Argentina to France and Monaco, H.E. Leonardo Daniel Costantino.
Argentina’s candidature is based on the theme “Nature + Technology = sustainable energy. A viable future for humanity,” and if successful, the Expo would take place in San Carlos de Bariloche between February 1 and April 30, 2027.
Argentina has been an active participant in Expos since the 19th century, with its first participation dating from Expo 1855 in Paris. The country, which joined the BIE in 1982, is currently participating in Expo 2020 Dubai with a pavilion themed “Argentina, a world of opportunities.”
The six-month candidature phase for Specialized Expo 2027/28 was launched on July 29, 2021, when the United States notified the BIE of its candidature for Minnesota. This was followed by Thailand’s candidature for Phuket on January 11, 2022; Serbia’s candidature for Belgrade on January 25, 2022; and Spain’s candidature for Malaga on January 26, 2022.
The United States’ candidature in Minnesota would take place between May 15 and August 15, 2027, under the theme “Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All.”
Thailand’s candidature would be located in Phuket between March 20 and June 17, 2028, under the theme “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity.”
Serbia’s candidature is proposed for Belgrade between May 15 and August 15, 2027, under the theme “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All.”
Spain’s candidature would take place in Malaga between June 5 and September 5, 2027, under the theme “The Urban Era: towards the Sustainable City.”
Kerkentzes, stated: “The BIE welcomes these five candidatures to organize Specialized Expo 2027/28. The strong interest in organizing Specialized 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 Specialized 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 organize Enquiry Missions, assessing the feasibility and viability of each candidature project. The host country of Specialized 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.
