The Next Expo Is All About “Play”: A Complete Guide to Expo 2027 Belgrade, Serbia
Now that Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai has ended, many people may be interested in world expos held overseas.
The next stage is Europe—Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.
Expo 2027 Belgrade, taking place in 2027, has adopted a theme unlike those of previous expos.
That theme is “play.”
It may sound lighthearted at first, but play is actually an extremely important keyword when thinking about the society of the future. This article explains everything from the basics and highlights of Expo 2027 Belgrade to why it is drawing so much attention now.
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Expo 2027 Belgrade: Essential Information
First, let’s review the key event details.
Expo 2027 Belgrade will run for about three months, from May 15 to August 15, 2027.
The event will last 93 days and is expected to welcome around 4 million visitors, with more than 120 participating countries.
The venue will be in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It will be the first expo held in the western Balkans, making it a historic event for the region.
Compared with Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, it will be somewhat more compact.
That is because Expo 2027 Belgrade is a BIE-recognized exhibition, commonly called a “mini expo,” and follows rules that do not apply to registered exhibitions such as Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
One of those rules limits the site to 25 hectares.
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai covered 155 hectares, so Belgrade’s expo site will be about one-sixth the size. It will also be roughly half the size of Universal Studios Japan or Disneyland.
This likely refers to the Expo Location shown in the site concept image below—the central area where the pavilions are gathered.
Because the national pavilions will be close together, visitors should be able to explore many countries with relatively little walking.
The next registered exhibition, incidentally, will be Expo 2030 Riyadh.
See the following article for the latest information.
We visited the site while it was under construction.
Where Are Serbia and Belgrade?
Serbia is a landlocked country east of the Italian Peninsula, across the Adriatic Sea.
It lies southeast of Austria.
Its capital, Belgrade, is located on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe.
The city is a major transportation hub at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. With Hungary, Croatia, Romania, and other countries nearby, the region is known as a crossroads of European cultures.
There are no nonstop flights from Japan. Common routes connect through Dubai in the UAE, Doha in Qatar, or Istanbul in Türkiye.
What Serbia Showcased at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
Before looking at Expo 2027 Belgrade, let’s first revisit the Serbia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
Even at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, many of Serbia’s exhibits were themed around play.
One especially entertaining feature combined analog and digital effects in a Rube Goldberg–style mechanism.
The pavilion also had a creative corner where visitors could make characters that would appear at Expo 2027 Belgrade.
It will be exciting to find out which pavilion those characters will reappear in at the Belgrade expo.
Why Is It Getting Attention? Three Features of Expo 2027 Belgrade
① Theme: “Play for Humanity”
The defining feature of Expo 2027 Belgrade is its theme.
The stated theme is “Play for Humanity.”
Play is presented not simply as entertainment, but as a universal force that connects people across cultures, generations, and borders. It is also seen as having the power to foster creativity and make a major contribution to social progress.
Past expos have often centered on themes such as technology, the environment, and future society. This expo stands out for focusing on a more human and experiential perspective.
② An Expo Centered on Hands-On, Immersive Experiences
Expo 2027 Belgrade is expected to move beyond the traditional exhibition-centered format, placing experiential and participatory content at the forefront.
The expo is likely to feature numerous interactive exhibits and sports activities that combine digital technology with physical spaces. Visitors will not merely watch—they will experience the future by taking part.
Possible offerings include play-themed projection experiences, full-body activities, and programs combining music and sports, creating an atmosphere much like a theme park.
The Expo Site as a City of the Future
The Expo 2027 Belgrade venue will be more than a collection of exhibition spaces.
Centered on the Expo Complex, it will include national pavilions, themed areas, exchange facilities, and the Expo Village with accommodations, all arranged like a complete city.
As visitors move through the site, they will be able to enjoy different cultures and experiences across multiple areas—truly an experience like traveling around the world.
Although it may not directly affect visitors, the Expo Village is essentially the world expo equivalent of an Olympic Village.
Accommodations for participating countries’ staff and other personnel will be located next to the expo grounds.
Pavilions and Experiences to Watch
Expo 2027 Belgrade will feature several experiential zones based on its theme.
One major attraction will be a pavilion themed around the “Power of Play.” Through hands-on exhibits, visitors will learn how play can lead to creativity and technological innovation.
A “Play Together” zone will offer opportunities for interaction through sports and music, designed to encourage visitors to communicate naturally with one another.
Forums will also provide spaces where experts and general visitors can exchange ideas and discuss the society of the future.
Rather than offering displays alone, the expo will integrate experience, exchange, and discussion.
International Pavilions and Participating Countries
The following countries were listed on the official website.
Remarkably, the Republic of Nauru—widely discussed at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and on social media—will also participate!
We can’t wait to see what its exhibit will be like.
Slovakia, Nauru, South Korea, Monaco, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, China, Vanuatu, Liberia, Madagascar, Seychelles, Türkiye, Burundi, Djibouti, Gambia, Sudan, Eswatini, South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Ecuador, Montenegro, Saint Lucia, Lesotho, Zambia, Azerbaijan, Tanzania, Belarus, Equatorial Guinea, Uzbekistan, Russia, Comoros, Ethiopia, Cuba, Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ghana, Tajikistan, Uganda, Antigua and Barbuda, Kyrgyzstan, Algeria, Nepal, Belize, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Niger, Somalia, Iraq, Qatar, Guinea, Kiribati, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Solomon Islands, Georgia, Cyprus, Libya, Tunisia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Cabo Verde, Chad, Grenada, Greece, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Togo, Armenia, Yemen, Suriname, Mali, Palau, Micronesia, Israel, South Africa
The Japan Pavilion Is Coming to Expo 2027 Belgrade
The Japan Pavilion theme has been announced as “Play Together, Connect Together: Japan’s Spirit of Play.”
A Full Lineup of Shows and Events
In addition to exhibitions, the event program will be extensive.
Music stages will feature everything from solo performances to large orchestras, while sports programs will include participatory competitions and hands-on events.
Interactive programs in which visitors attempt to set records are also planned. The evolution from events people simply watch to events they actively join is especially striking.
Is Expo 2027 Belgrade Worth the Trip from Japan?
In conclusion, I believe it will be well worth visiting.
For people who experienced Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, simply entering a space where people from around the world gather to bring an expo to life may be moving in itself.
Many countries that did not exhibit in Osaka will participate in Belgrade.
It will be a great chance to discover new countries.
An expo centered on play is rare, so this may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Another major attraction is the opportunity to combine the expo with a European trip or sightseeing in Belgrade.
Belgrade Sightseeing: Suggested Itinerary
One-Day Belgrade Itinerary
Morning: From the City’s Gateway into Its History
・Stroll along Knez Mihailova Street
・Have a light breakfast at a café—Serbia has a strong coffee culture
Midday: Panoramic Highlights
・Visit Belgrade Fortress in Kalemegdan
・Take in sweeping views of the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers
Afternoon: Culture on a Grand Scale
・Visit the Church of Saint Sava
・See the golden mosaics inside
Evening: Finish with Food and Atmosphere
・Have dinner in Skadarlija
・Enjoy live music and Serbian cuisine
Serbian Cuisine
・Meat-centered dishes, especially beef, pork, and lamb
・Grilled food is a staple, often cooked over charcoal
・Seasoning is simple, mainly salt and herbs
・Bread, cheese, and yogurt are also important
Many Serbian dishes appear easy for Japanese travelers to enjoy.
■Ćevapi
Grilled minced-meat sausages served with bread, onions, and yogurt sauce
■Pljeskavica
A giant Balkan-style hamburger patty
■Sarma
An Eastern European stew made by wrapping meat and rice in cabbage leaves
■Kajmak
A rich dairy spread somewhere between cream cheese and butter, served with bread or meat
■Ajvar
A paprika-based spread that pairs especially well with meat dishes
For dessert, try Turkish-style baklava.
It comes in many varieties and has a rich sweetness. Many travelers buy it as a souvenir in Türkiye, but it is also available in Serbia.
There is also a fruit brandy called rakija.
How to Get to Expo 2027 Belgrade
The Expo 2027 Belgrade site is located near Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG|LYBE).
From Japan’s Narita or Kansai airports, there are no nonstop flights. Travel takes about 16–17 hours via Istanbul Airport in Türkiye or around 20 hours via Dubai.
The expo site is about a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport.
Central Belgrade, where many hotels are located, is about a 30-minute taxi ride away.
Uber is not available. Using CarGo or the local Pink Taxi Beograd app can reduce the risk of being overcharged.
Summary
Expo 2027 Belgrade in Serbia will present a vision of the future through the fresh perspective of “play.”
Hands-on and immersive exhibits, a scale integrated with urban development, and a theme that connects people will give it a character unlike previous expos.
It will be the next generation of world expo after Osaka.
Why not experience that evolution in person?
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