Major Success for Serbia: 117 Countries Confirm Participation in Expo 2027 – Serbia Surpasses Astana

A total of 117 countries have officially confirmed their participation in Expo 2027, meaning that Serbia has now surpassed Astana, the host of the previous Specialised Expo in 2017, in the number of participating countries.

The initial goal for Serbia was to secure confirmation of participation from 100 countries by the end of 2025. That goal has already been significantly exceeded in the first half of the year, seven months ahead of schedule. Today, with less than two years remaining until the opening of Expo 2027, it is certain that the Specialised Expo in our country will host more countries than Astana did in 2017.

“From the very moment we submitted our bid to host Expo 2027, we wanted to show our citizens and the entire world that Serbia is capable of hosting such a large international event, that we have the knowledge, resources, and outstanding people to turn this project from an idea on paper into the biggest event ever organized in the Western Balkans,” said Dušan Borovčanin, CEO of Expo 2027 Belgrade.

Although Serbia, according to Borovčanin, was in a somewhat unequal race against much larger and wealthier countries for the right to organize Expo 2027, there was never the slightest doubt from the start that our country had presented the best concept and theme.

“The confirmation of participation from the 117th country, and the fact that we have already surpassed Astana, are solid proofs of the strength of our vision. We are now more confident than ever that we will soon exceed our initial target of 120 participating countries, which gives us even more motivation to inscribe Serbia into the most prestigious chapters of the history of International Exhibitions,” Borovčanin noted, expressing gratitude to all countries that have so far confirmed their participation for the trust they have shown.

The arrival of 117 countries in Serbia is the ultimate testament to the power and influence of its cultural diplomacy. At the same time, it clearly reflects the inclusiveness and universal appeal of the Expo 2027 theme, Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All, which positions Serbia as one of the rare places in the world capable of uniting the planet around shared human values.

Expo 2027 Belgrade will be held from May 15 to August 15, 2027, and is expected to attract more than four million visitors over the course of its 93-day run. As the first International Exhibition in the Western Balkans, it will be one of the largest global events in 2027 and a turning point for the international recognition of both Serbia and the region.