List of world expositions explained

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) sanctions world expositions. Some have been recognised retrospectively because they took place before the BIE came into existence.

The designation "World Exposition" refers to a class of the largest, general scope exhibitions of up to 6 months' duration.[1]

This list does not include BIE-recognised International Horticultural Exhibitions.

Category

World ExpoBIE-International Registered exhibitions that take place every five years and last up to 6 months.
All exhibitions in this category which took place before 1928 were subsequently recognized by the BIE.
Specialised ExpoBIE-International Recognised exhibitions that take place between two World Expos and last up to 3 months.
(This definition was adopted after 1988; prior to that, some longer running ones, including 1988 Brisbane, were classified as Specialised Expos.)

List by date

DatesName of ExpositionCountry[2] CityCategory Theme[3] NotablesVisitors
in millions[4] 		Cost
in millions
(USD unless specified)		Area
(ha)		Attending
countries
data-sort-value="1851_04"04/1851 – 10/1851The Great ExhibitionUnited KingdomLondonWorld ExpoIndustry of all NationsThe Crystal Palace6.001.651025
data-sort-value="1855_05"05/1855 – 11/1855Exposition Universelle / Paris InternationalFranceParisWorld ExpoAgriculture, Industry and ArtsPalais d'Industrie
Bordeaux Wine classification		5.0021525
data-sort-value="1862_05"05/1862 – 11/1862International ExhibitionUnited KingdomLondonWorld ExpoIndustry and Arts6.0021539
data-sort-value="1867_04"04/1867 – 11/1867Exposition Universelle / Paris InternationalFranceParisWorld ExpoAgriculture, Industry and ArtsChamp de Mars15.004.56942
data-sort-value="1873_05"05/1873 – 10/1873Weltausstellung 1873 Wien / Austrian International ExpositionAustria-HungaryViennaWorld ExpoCulture and EducationRotunde7.259.523335
data-sort-value="1876_05"05/1876 – 11/1876Centennial ExpositionUnited StatesPhiladelphiaWorld ExpoArts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and MineCentennial Arboretum
Telephone
Heinz Ketchup		10.00811535
data-sort-value="1878_05"05/1878 – 11/1878Exposition Universelle / Paris International ExpositionFranceParisWorld ExpoNew TechnologiesStatue of Liberty
Telephone
Braille		16.00117536
data-sort-value="1880_10"10/1880 – 04/1881Melbourne International ExhibitionColony of VictoriaMelbourneWorld ExpoArts, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Industrial Products of all NationsRoyal Exhibition Buildings & Carlton Gardens1.301.62533
data-sort-value="1888_04"04/1888 – 12/1888Exposición Universal de Barcelona (1888)SpainBarcelonaWorld ExpoFine and Industrial ArtArc de Triomf
Columbus Monument		2.301.74730
data-sort-value="1889_05"05/1889 – 10/1889Exposition Universelle / Paris International ExpositionFranceParisWorld ExpoFrench RevolutionEiffel Tower
Annie Oakley		32.000.39635
data-sort-value="1893_05"05/1893 – 10/1893World's Columbian ExpositionUnited StatesChicagoWorld ExpoDiscovery of AmericaMidway Plaisance
Fine Arts Building
Fluorescent lamp
Ferris wheel		27.502727919
data-sort-value="1897_05"05/1897 – 11/1897Brussels International ExpositionBelgiumBrusselsWorld ExpoModern Life7.8013227
data-sort-value="1900_04"04/1900 – 11/1900Paris InternationalFranceParisWorld Expo19th Century: an overviewMotion Pictures
Escalator
Summer Olympics		50.8018.7512058
data-sort-value="1904_04"04/1904 – 12/1904Louisiana PurchaseUnited StatesSt. LouisWorld ExpoLouisiana PurchaseForest Park
Palace of Fine Art
Vulcan statue
In conjunction with Summer Olympics		19.6931.551563
data-sort-value="1905_04"04/1905 – 11/1905Liège International (1905)BelgiumLiègeWorld ExpoCommemoration of the 75th anniversary of independence7.002.97031
data-sort-value="1906_04"04/1906 – 11/1906Milan InternationalItalyMilanWorld ExpoTransportElectric Tramways10.002.610025
data-sort-value="1910_04"04/1910 – 11/1910Brussels International ExhibitionBelgiumBrusselsWorld ExpoWorks of Art and Science, Agricultural and Industrial Products of All Nations13.003.59026
data-sort-value="1913_04"04/1913 – 11/1913Exposition universelle et international / Ghent International ExpositionBelgiumGhentWorld ExpoPeace, Industry and ArtsGent-Sint-Pieters railway station9.503.313024
data-sort-value="1915_02"02/1915 – 12/1915Panama–Pacific International ExpositionUnited StatesSan FranciscoWorld ExpoInauguration of the Panama CanalTower of Jewels
Palace of Fine Arts		19.0025.825432
data-sort-value="1929_05"05/1929 – 01/1930Barcelona International ExpositionSpainBarcelonaWorld ExpoArts, Industry and Sport Barcelona Pavilion
Palau Nacional
Montjuïc Stadium		5.82511829
data-sort-value="1933_05"05/1933 – 10/1934Century of ProgressUnited StatesChicagoWorld ExpoThe interdependence among Industry and scientific researchSky Ride
Graf Zeppelin
Homes of Tomorrow
First MLB All Star Game		38.80[5] 42.917019
data-sort-value="1935_04"04/1935 – 11/1935Brussels International ExpositionBelgiumBrusselsWorld ExpoTransports20.00197 BEF15230
data-sort-value="1936_05"05/1936 – 06/1936SwedenStockholmSpecialised ExpoAviationStockholm Bromma Airport0.58
data-sort-value="1937_05"05/1937 – 11/1937Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne / Paris International ExpositionFranceParisWorld ExpoArts and Technology in modern lifeArc de Triomphe31.001,400 FRF10544
data-sort-value="1938_05"05/1938 – 05/1938FinlandHelsinkiSpecialised ExpoAerospaceMalmi Airterminal0.0825
data-sort-value="1939_04"04/1939 – 10/1940New York World's FairUnited StatesNew York CityWorld ExpoBuilding The World of TomorrowFlushing Park
Bell Labs' Voder
Magna Carta
1st World Science Fiction Convention		45.00 [6] 50054
data-sort-value="1939_05"05/1939 – 09/1939Exposition internationale de l'eau (1939)BelgiumLiègeSpecialised ExpoArt of WaterAlbert Canal508
data-sort-value="1947_07"07/1947 – 08/1947International Exhibition on Urbanism and HousingFranceParisSpecialised ExpoUrbanism and HousingImmeubles d’Etat6.3514
data-sort-value="1949_07"07/1949 – 08/1949Universal Sport Exhibition (1949)SwedenStockholmSpecialised ExpoSport and physical culturePehr Henrik Ling37
data-sort-value="1949_09"09/1949 – 10/1949The International Exhibition of Rural Habitat in LyonFranceLyonSpecialised ExpoRural HabitatFoire de Lyon110
data-sort-value="1949_12"12/1949 – 06/1950Exposition internationale du bicentenaire de Port-au-PrinceHaitiPort-au-PrinceWorld ExpoThe festival of PeaceGulf of Gonâve2415
data-sort-value="1951_04"04/1951 – 05/1951The International Textile ExhibitionFranceLilleSpecialised ExpoTextileTextile1.51522
data-sort-value="1953_07"07/1953 – 10/1953EA 53ItalyRomeSpecialised ExpoAgricultureEsposizione Universale Roma
Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana		1.712
data-sort-value="1953_09"09/1953 – 10/1953Conquest of the Desert (exhibition)IsraelJerusalemSpecialised ExpoConquest of the Desert4.613
data-sort-value="1954_05"05/1954 – 10/1954The International Exhibition of Navigation (1954)ItalyNaplesSpecialised ExpoNavigation10025
data-sort-value="1955_05"05/1955 – 06/1955The International Expo of Sport (1955)ItalyTurinSpecialised ExpoSport11
data-sort-value="1955_06"06/1955 – 08/1955Helsingborg exhibition 1955SwedenHelsingborgSpecialised ExpoModern Man in the Environment10
data-sort-value="1956_05"05/1956 – 06/1956Exhibition of citricultureIsraelBeit DaganSpecialised ExpoCitrus55
data-sort-value="1957_07"07/1957 – 09/1957InterbauWest GermanyWest BerlinSpecialised ExpoReconstruction of Hansa DistrictHansaviertel1.005313
data-sort-value="1958_07"07/1958 – 09/1958Brussels World's FairBelgiumBrusselsWorld ExpoA World View: A New HumanismHeysel
Atomium		41.002,500 BEF20042
data-sort-value="1961_05"05/1961 – 10/1961Expo 61ItalyTurinSpecialised ExpoCelebration of centennial of Italian unityPalazzo del Lavoro5.005019
data-sort-value="1962_04"04/1962 – 10/1962Century 21 ExpositionUnited StatesSeattleWorld ExpoMan in the Space AgeSeattle Center
Space Needle
Seattle Monorail		9.60[7] 473024
data-sort-value="1965_06"06/1965 – 10/1965IVA 65West GermanyMunichSpecialised ExpoTransportE033.2050.2036
data-sort-value="1967_04"04/1967 – 10/1967Expo '67CanadaMontrealWorld ExpoMan and His WorldCanadian Centennial
IMAX
Montreal Metro
Habitat '67
Montreal Biosphère		50.30[8] 431 CAD36562
data-sort-value="1968_04"04/1968 – 10/1968HemisFair '68United StatesSan AntonioSpecialised ExpoConfluence of Civilizations in the AmericasTower of the Americas
Institute of Texan Cultures
HemisFair Arena		6.40[9] 15637.6423
data-sort-value="1970_03"03/1970 – 09/1970Expo '70JapanOsakaWorld ExpoProgress and Harmony for MankindTower of the Sun
Moon rock
Electric Cars[10] 		64.2[11] 30
Profit		329.8275
data-sort-value="1971_08"08/1971 – 09/1971Expo 71HungaryBudapestSpecialised ExpoThe Hunt through the WorldInternational Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC)1.9035.052
data-sort-value="1974_05"05/1974 – 11/1974Expo '74United StatesSpokaneSpecialised ExpoCelebrating Tomorrow's Fresh New EnvironmentIMAX[12] 5.6078.44110
data-sort-value="1975_07"07/1975 – 01/1976Expo '75JapanOkinawaSpecialised ExpoThe Sea We would like to See3.48100.035
data-sort-value="1981_06"06/1981 – 07/1981Expo 81BulgariaPlovdivSpecialised ExpoHuntingInternational Fair Plovdiv
data-sort-value="1982_05"05/1982 – 10/19821982 World's FairUnited StatesKnoxvilleSpecialised ExpoEnergy Turns the WorldSunsphere11.0042[13] 3016
data-sort-value="1984_05"05/1984 – 11/19841984 World's FairUnited StatesNew OrleansSpecialised ExpoThe World of Rivers– Fresh Water as a source of lifeConvention Center7.3535033.99[14] 15
data-sort-value="1985_03"03/1985 – 09/1985Expo 85 (Tsukuba, Japan)JapanTsukubaSpecialised ExpoDwellings and Surroundings – Science and Technology for Man at HomeHSST
Jumbotron		20.3100[15] 48
data-sort-value="1985_11"11/1985 – 11/1985BulgariaPlovdivSpecialised ExpoInventionsInternational Fair Plovdiv1.005.8073
data-sort-value="1986_05"05/1986 – 10/1986Expo '86CanadaVancouverSpecialised ExpoTransportation and Communication: World in Motion - World in TouchScience World
Skytrain
BC Place
Canada Place		22.11311 CAD deficit7055
data-sort-value="1988_04"04/1988 – 10/1988Expo '88AustraliaBrisbaneSpecialised ExpoLeisure in the Age of TechnologySunsails, Nepal Peace Pagoda, Skyneedle18.50625 AUD4036
data-sort-value="1991_06"06/1991 – 07/1991Expo 91BulgariaPlovdivSpecialised ExpoThe activity of young people in the service of a World of PeaceWorld Intellectual Property Organization8
data-sort-value="1992_04"04/1992 – 10/1992Expo '92SpainSevilleWorld ExpoThe Era of DiscoveryPuente del Alamillo41.80[16] 215108
data-sort-value="1992_05"05/1992 – 08/1992Expo Colombo '92ItalyGenoaSpecialised ExpoChristopher Columbus, The Ship and the SeaAquarium of Genoa0.8654
data-sort-value="1993_08"08/1993 – 11/1993Expo '93South KoreaDaejeonSpecialised ExpoThe Challenge of a New Road of DevelopmentExpo Science Park, Daejeon Museum of Art14.5090.10141
data-sort-value="1998_05"05/1998 – 09/1998Expo '98PortugalLisbonSpecialised ExpoThe Oceans: A Heritage for the FuturePavilhão Atlântico
Lisbon Oceanarium
Pavilion of Portugal		10.1050143
data-sort-value="2000_06"06/2000 – 10/2000Expo 2000GermanyHanoverWorld ExpoMan, Nature, TechnologyHannover Principles18.103,400 DEM[17] [18] 160155
data-sort-value="2005_03"03/2005 – 09/2005Expo 2005JapanAichiWorld ExpoNature's WisdomSatsuki and Mei's House
ASIMO
The Frozen Mammoth		22.04173121
data-sort-value="2008_06"06/2008 – 09/2008Expo 2008SpainZaragozaSpecialised ExpoWater and Sustainable developmentBridge Pavilion
Water Tower		5.65025108
data-sort-value="2010_05"05/2010 – 10/2010Expo 2010People's Republic of ChinaShanghaiWorld ExpoBetter City, Better LifeExpo Axis
Oriental Crown (Currently China Art Museum, Shanghai)
73.084,200 (5,800 including infrastructure)[19] 523192
data-sort-value="2012_05"05/2012 – 08/2012Expo 2012South KoreaYeosuSpecialised ExpoThe Living Ocean and CoastThe Big-O[20]
The Sky Tower[21] 		8.20176.925103
data-sort-value="2015_05"05/2015 – 10/2015Expo 2015ItalyMilanWorld ExpoFeeding the planet, Energy for lifeThe Tree of Life21.5110145
data-sort-value="2017_06"06/2017 – 09/2017Expo 2017KazakhstanAstanaSpecialised ExpoFuture EnergyThe Nur Alem Sphere4.125115
data-sort-value="2021_10"10/2021 – 03/2022Expo 2020United Arab EmiratesDubai[22] World ExpoConnecting Minds, Creating the FutureAl Wasl Plaza24.103[23] 438192
data-sort-value="2023_01"05/2024 – 08/2024Expo 2024 official pageRepublic of ChinaTaipei CitySpecialised ExpoComprehensive tours for countries and regions below each country + companies + individualsTaipei World Trade Center Hall 130ten thousand976Billion USD?203

Planned expositions

DateName of ExpositionCountry City Category Theme or symbol
2025Expo 2025JapanOsaka[24] World ExpoDesigning Future Society for Our Lives
2027Expo 2027SerbiaBelgrade[25] Specialised ExpoPlay for Humanity: Sport and Music for All
2030Expo 2030Saudi ArabiaRiyadhWorld ExpoThe Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow

Proposed expositions

List by country

CountryCityName of ExpositionAttending
Countries		Year
ArgentinaBuenos AiresExpo 2023
AustraliaMelbourne
Brisbane		Melbourne International
World Expo 88
Austria-HungaryViennaAustrian International
BelgiumBrussels



Ghent
Liège		Brussels International
Brussels International
Brussels International
Brussels World's Fair
Ghent International
Liège International
CanadaMontreal
Vancouver		Expo 67
Expo 86
People's Republic of ChinaShanghaiExpo 2010
Republic of ChinaTaipei City| 2024Taipei International Tourism Expo|||-|France|Paris





Lille|Paris International
Paris International
Paris International
Paris International
Paris International
Paris International
International Textile Exhibition|||-|Germany|Hanover|Expo 2000|||-|Haiti|Port-au-Prince|Exposition internationale du bicentenaire de Port-au-Prince||1949−50|-|Italy|Genoa
Milan
Milan
Rome
Naples
Turin
Turin|Expo Colombo '92
Milan International
Expo 2015
EA 53
The International Exhibition of Navigation (1954)
The International Expo of Sport (1955)
Expo 61|||-|Japan|Aichi
Tsukuba
Okinawa
Osaka

|Expo 2005
Expo '85
Expo '75
Expo '70
Expo 2025|||-|Kazakhstan|Astana|Expo 2017|||-|Portugal|Lisbon|Expo '98|||-|Saudi Arabia|Riyadh|Expo 2030|||-|Serbia|Belgrade|Expo 2027|||-|South Korea|Daejeon
Yeosu|Expo '93
Expo 2012|||-|Spain|Barcelona
Barcelona
Seville
Zaragoza|Exposición Universal de Barcelona
Barcelona International
Seville Expo '92
Expo Zaragoza 2008|||-|United Arab Emirates|Dubai|Expo 2020|||-|United Kingdom|London

|The Great Exhibition
International|||-|United States|Chicago

Knoxville
New Orleans
New York
Philadelphia
San Antonio
San Francisco
Seattle
Spokane
St. Louis|World's Columbian
Century of Progress
Energy Expo '82
1984 World's Fair
New York World's Fair
Centennial Exposition
HemisFair '68
Panama–Pacific
Century 21 Exposition
Expo '74
Louisiana Purchase|||}

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About World Expos . bie-paris.org . Bureau International des Expositions . 3 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211030170539/https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/about-world-expos . 2021-10-30 . en . live.
  2. Web site: All Expos. 2019-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044352/https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/expo-index. 2019-01-14. live.
  3. Web site: ExpoMuseum. 2006-07-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20060714035320/http://www.expomuseum.com/. 2006-07-14. live.
  4. Web site: BIE homepage. 2017-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20170523120757/http://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/. 2017-05-23. live.
  5. Web site: 1933 Chicago. www.bie-paris.org.
  6. Non official data https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/1939-new-york
  7. Web site: Seattlea facts. 2006-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20060528170719/http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1970_osa.htm. 2006-05-28. dead.
  8. Web site: 1967 Montreal. www.bie-paris.org.
  9. Web site: San Antonio facts. 2006-07-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20060524085711/http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1962_sea.htm. 2006-05-24. dead.
  10. Web site: Osaka facts. 2006-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20060528170719/http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1970_osa.htm. 2006-05-28. dead.
  11. Web site: 1970 Osaka. www.bie-paris.org.
  12. Web site: Spokane facts. 2006-07-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20060524085711/http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1962_sea.htm. 2006-05-24. dead.
  13. Web site: Knoxville facts. 2006-07-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20060524085711/http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1962_sea.htm. 2006-05-24. dead.
  14. Web site: New Orleans facts. 2006-07-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20060528170719/http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1970_osa.htm. 2006-05-28. dead.
  15. Web site: Tsukuba facts . 2006-12-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061117172830/http://expomuseum.com/1985/ . 2006-11-17 . dead .
  16. Web site: 1992 Seville. www.bie-paris.org.
  17. Web site: Nachrichten . BerlinOnline.de . 2013-09-19 . 2013-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604155053/http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2000/1031/politik/0065/index.html . 2011-06-04 . dead .
  18. Book: Wir Sind Helden . Das EXPO- Buch. Offizieller Katalog zur EXPO 2000 mit CD- ROM: Amazon.de: Birgit Breuel: Bücher . Amazon.de . .
  19. News: Shanghai sets stage for World Expo spectacular. https://web.archive.org/web/20100429032012/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/27/AR2010042703073.html . dead . 2010-04-29 . The Washington Post.
  20. Web site: The Big-O . 2012-08-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120724065737/http://eng.expo2012.kr/is/ps/unitybbs/bbs/selectBbsDetail.html?ispsBbsId=BBS026&ispsNttId=0000000031 . 2012-07-24 . dead .
  21. Web site: The Sky Tower . 2012-08-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712190634/http://eng.expo2012.kr/is/ps/unitybbs/bbs/selectBbsDetail.html?ispsBbsId=BBS026&ispsNttId=0000000045 . 2012-07-12 . dead .
  22. Web site: The UAE has been elected As the Host Country of the World Expo 2020. 27 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20190115132450/https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/news-announcements/expo-dubai-2020-2/the-uae-has-been-elected-as-the-host-country-of-the-world-expo-2020. 2019-01-15. live.
  23. Web site: 2022-04-02 . Dubai promise, delivered: Expo 2020 clocks over 24 million visits . 2022-04-02 . Khaleej Times . en.
  24. Web site: Japan elected host country of World Expo 2025. 23 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181124162318/https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/news-announcements/expo-2025-en/japan-elected-host-country-of-world-expo-2025?tmpl=component. 2018-11-24. live.
  25. Web site: Expo 2027 Official Site. 21 June 2023.

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