World's fair


A world's fair or world fair is a large international exhibition designed to showcase achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specific site for a period of time, ranging usually from three to six months.
The term "world's fair" is typically used in the United States. In French the term Exposition universelle is used; in other Romance languages such as Spanish, Italian, and Romanian, the translation of the French term is used. In the non-Romance languages of Europe, and in Asia and the Middle East, World Expo or Specialised Expo are commonly used. The short term Expo has been applied to both types of Expos in various locations since 1967.
Since the 1928 Convention Relating to International Exhibitions came into force, the Bureau of International Expositions has served as an international sanctioning body for international exhibitions. Four types of international exhibition are organised under the auspices of the BIE: World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos and the Milan Triennial. Depending on their category, international exhibitions may last from three weeks to six months.
Milan, Italy, held the most recent World Expo in 2015, while Astana, Kazakhstan, held the most recent Specialised Expo in 2017. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was selected to host Expo 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was postponed to 2021. Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been selected to host the next Specialised Expo in 2023.

History

International Exhibitions originated in the French tradition of national exhibitions, a tradition that culminated with the French Industrial Exposition of 1844 held in Paris. This fair was followed by other national exhibitions in continental Europe and the United Kingdom.
The best-known 'first World Expo' was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations". The Great Exhibition, as it is often called, was an idea of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, and is usually considered to be the first international exhibition of manufactured products. It influenced the development of several aspects of society, including art-and-design education, international trade and relations, and tourism. This expo was the precedent for the many international exhibitions, later called World Expos, that have continued to be held to the present time.
The character of world fairs, or expositions, has evolved since the first one in 1851. Three eras can be distinguished: the era of industrialization, the era of cultural exchange, and the era of nation branding.

Industrialization (1851–1938)

The first era, the era of "industrialization", roughly covered the years from 1800 to 1938. In these days, world expositions were largely focused on trade and displayed technological advances and inventions. World expositions were platforms for state-of-the-art science and technology from around the world. The world expositions of 1851 London, 1853 New York, 1862 London, 1876 Philadelphia, 1889 Paris, 1893 Chicago, 1897 Brussels, 1900 Paris, 1904 St. Louis, 1915 San Francisco, and 1933–34 Chicago were notable in this respect. Inventions such as the telephone were first presented during this era. This era set the basic character of the world fair.

Cultural exchange (1939–1987)

The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, and those that followed, took a different approach, one less focused on technology and aimed more at cultural themes and social progress. For instance, the theme of the 1939 fair was "Building the World of Tomorrow"; at the 1964–65 New York World's Fair, it was "Peace Through Understanding"; at the 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal, it was "Man and His World". These fairs encouraged effective intercultural communication along with sharing of technological innovation.
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal was promoted under the name Expo 67. Event organizers retired the term world's fair in favor of Expo.

Nation branding (1988–present)

From World Expo 88 in Brisbane onwards, countries started to use expositions as a platform to improve their national image through their pavilions. Finland, Japan, Canada, France, and Spain are cases in point. A major study by Tjaco Walvis called "Expo 2000 Hanover in Numbers" showed that improving national image was the main goal for 73% of the countries participating in Expo 2000. Pavilions became a kind of advertising campaign, and the Expo served as a vehicle for "nation branding". According to branding expert Wally Olins, Spain used Expo '92 and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona in the same year to underscore its new position as a modern and democratic country and to show itself as a prominent member of the European Union and the global community.
At Expo 2000 Hanover, countries created their own architectural pavilions, investing, on average, €12 million each. Given these costs, governments are sometimes hesitant to participate, because the benefits may not justify the costs. However, while the effects are difficult to measure, an independent study for the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2000 estimated that the pavilion generated around €350 million of potential revenues for the Dutch economy. It also identified several key success factors for world-exposition pavilions in general.

Types

At present there are two types of international exhibition: World Expos and Specialised Expos. World Expos, previously known as universal expositions, are the biggest category events. At World Expos, participants generally build their own pavilions. They are therefore the most extravagant and most expensive expos. Their duration may be between six weeks and six months. Since 1995, the interval between two World Expos has been at least five years. World Expo 2015 was held in Milan, Italy, from 1 May to 31 October 2015.
Specialized Expos are smaller in scope and investments and generally shorter in duration; between three weeks and three months. Previously, these Expos were called Special Exhibitions or International Specialized Exhibitions but these terms are no longer used officially. Their total surface area must not exceed 25 ha and organizers must build pavilions for the participating states, free of rent, charges, taxes and expenses. The largest country pavilions may not exceed 1,000 m2. Only one Specialised Expo can be held between two World Expos.
An additional two types of international exhibition may be recognized by the BIE: horticultural exhibitions, which are joint BIE and AIPH-sanctioned 'garden' fairs in which participants present gardens and garden pavilions; and the semi-regular Milan Triennial art and design exhibition, held in Milan, Italy, with the BIE granting official international exhibition status to 14 editions of the Triennale between 1996 and 2016.

World Expos

World Expos encompass universal themes that affect the full gamut of human experience, and international and corporate participants are required to adhere to the theme in their representations. Registered expositions are held every 5 years because they are more expensive as they require total design of pavilion buildings from the ground up. As a result, nations compete for the most outstanding or memorable structure—for example Japan, France, Morocco, and Spain at Expo '92. Registered Expositions include Brussels Expo '58, Montreal Expo 67, Vancouver Expo 86, Osaka Expo '70, and Seville Expo '92. Sometimes prefabricated structures are used to minimize costs for developing countries, or for countries from a geographical block to share space.
The only Registered exposition to be held without BIE approval was the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair; the sanctioning organization at Paris denied it "official" status because its president, Robert Moses, would not comply with the BIE rule limiting the duration of universal expositions to six months. The Fair proceeded without BIE approval, and turned to tourism and trade organizations to host national pavilions in lieu of official government sponsorship. Many countries participated in that fair, including several newly independent African and Asian states. The two World's Fairs in New York and the Century of Progress in Chicago are the only two-year world expositions that have been held.
Frederick Pittera, a producer of international exhibitions and author of the history of world's fairs in the Encyclopædia Britannica and Compton Encyclopedia, was commissioned by Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. of New York City in 1959 to prepare the first feasibility studies for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Pittera was joined in his study by Austrian architect Victor Gruen. The Eisenhower Commission ultimately awarded the world's fair bid to New York City against several major U.S. cities.
at Expo 2005 in Japan.
In the 21st century the BIE has moved to sanction expos only every five years; following the numerous expos of the 1980s and 1990s, some see this as a means to cut down potential expenditure by participating nations. The move was also seen by some as an attempt to avoid conflicting with the Summer Olympics. The rule may apply to all expos, or it may end up that universal expositions will be restricted to every five years or so, with international or specialized expositions in the in-between years for countries wishing to celebrate a special event.

Specialised Expos

Specialized Expos are usually united by a precise theme—such as 'Future Energy', 'The Living Ocean and Coast', or 'Leisure in the Age of Technology'. Such themes are more specific than the wider scope of world expositions.
The Specialized Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan, popularly known as Expo '85 was held in the city of Tsukuba located near Tokyo. This Exposition is more formally known as "The International Science Technology Exposition".
Specialized Expos are usually smaller in scale and cheaper to run for the host committee and participants because the architectural fees are lower and they only have to customize pavilion space provided free of charge from the Organiser, usually with the prefabricated structure already completed. Countries then have the option of 'adding' their own colours, design etc. to the outside of the prefabricated structure and filling in the inside with their own content.

List of expositions

List of official world expositions according to the Bureau International des Expositions.
DatesName of ExpositionCountryCityCategoryTheme
04/1851 – 10/1851The Great ExhibitionLondonWorld ExpoIndustry of all Nations
05/1855 – 11/1855Exposition Universelle / Paris InternationalParisWorld ExpoAgriculture, Industry and Art
05/1862 – 11/1862International ExhibitionLondonWorld ExpoIndustry and Arts
04/1867 – 11/1867Exposition Universelle / Paris InternationalParisWorld ExpoAgriculture, Industry and Arts
05/1873 – 10/1873Weltausstellung 1873 Wien / Austrian International ExpositionViennaWorld ExpoCulture and Education
05/1876 – 11/1876Centennial ExpositionPhiladelphiaWorld ExpoArts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine
05/1878 – 11/1878Exposition Universelle / Paris International ExpositionParisWorld ExpoNew Technologies
10/1880 – 04/1881Melbourne International Exhibition AustraliaMelbourneWorld ExpoArts, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Industrial Products of all Nations
04/1888 – 12/1888Exposición Universal de Barcelona BarcelonaWorld ExpoFine and Industrial Arts
05/1889 – 10/1889Exposition Universelle / Paris International ExpositionParisWorld ExpoFrench Revolution
05/1893 – 10/1893World's Columbian ExpositionChicagoWorld ExpoDiscovery of America
05/1897 – 11/1897Brussels International ExpositionBrusselsWorld ExpoModern Life
06/1898 – 11/1898Trans-Mississippi ExpositionOmaha, NEWorld's FairIsolationism
04/1904 – 12/1904Louisiana Purchase ExpositionSt. LouisWorld ExpoLouisiana Purchase
04/1905 – 11/1905Liège International LiègeWorld ExpoCommemoration of the 75th anniversary of independence
04/1906 – 11/1906Milan InternationalMilanWorld ExpoTransport
04/1910 – 11/1910Brussels International ExhibitionBrusselsWorld ExpoWorks of Art and Science, Agricultural and Industrial Products of All Nations
04/1913 – 11/1913Exposition universelle et international / Ghent International ExpositionGhentWorld ExpoPeace, Industry and Art
02/1915 – 12/1915Panama–Pacific International ExpositionSan FranciscoWorld ExpoInauguration of the Panama Canal
05/1929 – 01/1930Barcelona International ExpositionBarcelonaWorld ExpoArts, Industry and Sport
05/1933 – 10/1934Century of ProgressChicagoWorld ExpoThe independence among Industry and scientific research
04/1935 – 11/1935Brussels International ExpositionBrusselsWorld ExpoTransports
05/1936 – 06/1936ILIS 1936StockholmSpecialised ExpoAviation
05/1937 – 11/1937Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne / Paris International ExpositionParisWorld ExpoArts and Technology in modern life
05/1938 – 05/1938Second International Aeronautic ExhibitionHelsinkiSpecialised ExpoAerospace
02/1939 – 09/1940Golden Gate International ExpositionSan FranciscoWorld ExpoPageant of the Pacific
04/1939 – 10/1940New York World's FairNew YorkWorld ExpoBuilding The World of Tomorrow
05/1939 – 09/1939Exposition internationale de l'eau LiègeSpecialised ExpoArt of Water
07/1947 – 08/1947International Exhibition on Urbanism and HousingParisSpecialised ExpoUrbanism and Housing
07/1949 – 08/1949Universal Sport Exhibition StockholmSpecialised ExpoSport and physical culture
09/1949 – 10/1949The International Exhibition of Rural Habitat in LyonLyonSpecialised ExpoRural Habitat
12/1949 – 06/1950Exposition internationale du bicentenaire de Port-au-PrincePort-au-PrinceWorld ExpoThe festival of Peace
04/1951 – 05/1951The International Textile ExhibitionLilleSpecialised ExpoTextile
07/1953 – 10/1953EA 53RomeSpecialised ExpoAgriculture
09/1953 – 10/1953Conquest of the Desert JerusalemSpecialised ExpoConquest of the Desert
05/1954 – 10/1954The International Exhibition of Navigation NaplesSpecialised ExpoNavigation
05/1955 – 06/1955The International Expo of Sport TurinSpecialised ExpoSport
06/1955 – 08/1955Helsingborg exhibition 1955HelsingborgSpecialised ExpoModern Man in the Environment
05/1956 – 06/1956Exhibition of citricultureBeit DaganSpecialised ExpoCitrus
07/1957 – 09/1957InterbauBerlinSpecialised ExpoReconstruction of Hansa District
07/1958 – 09/1958Brussels World's FairBrusselsWorld ExpoA World View: A New Humanism
05/1961 – 10/1961Expo 61TurinSpecialised ExpoCelebration of centennial of Italian unity
04/1962 – 10/1962Century 21 ExpositionSeattleWorld ExpoMan in the Space Age
04/1964 – 10/19651964 New York World's FairNew YorkWorld ExpoPeace Through Understanding
06/1965 – 10/1965IVA 65MunichSpecialised ExpoTransport
04/1967 – 10/1967Expo '67MontrealWorld ExpoMan and His World
04/1968 – 10/1968HemisFair '68San AntonioSpecialised ExpoConfluence of Civilizations in the Americas
03/1970 – 09/1970Expo '70OsakaWorld ExpoProgress and Harmony for Mankind
08/1971 – 09/1971Expo 71BudapestSpecialised ExpoThe Hunt through the World
05/1974 – 11/1974Expo '74SpokaneSpecialised ExpoCelebrating Tomorrow's Fresh New Environment
07/1975 – 01/1976Expo '75OkinawaSpecialised ExpoThe Sea We would like to See
06/1981 – 07/1981Expo 81PlovdivSpecialised ExpoHunting
05/1982 – 10/19821982 World's FairKnoxvilleSpecialised ExpoEnergy Turns the World
05/1984 – 11/19841984 World's FairNew OrleansSpecialised ExpoThe World of Rivers– Fresh Water as a source of life
03/1985 – 09/19851985 World's FairTsukubaSpecialised ExpoDwellings and Surroundings – Science and Technology for Man at Home
11/1985 – 11/1985Expo 85PlovdivSpecialised ExpoInventions
05/1986 – 10/1986Expo '86VancouverSpecialised ExpoTransportation and Communication: World in Motion - World in Touch
04/1988 – 10/1988Expo '88BrisbaneSpecialised ExpoLeisure in the Age of Technology
06/1991 – 07/1991Expo 91PlovdivSpecialised ExpoThe activity of young people in the service of a World of Peace
04/1992 – 10/1992Expo '92SevilleWorld ExpoThe Era of Discovery
05/1992 – 08/1992Expo Colombo '92GenoaSpecialised ExpoChristopher Columbus, The Ship and the Sea
08/1993 – 11/1993Expo '93DaejeonSpecialised ExpoThe Challenge of a New Road of Development
05/1998 – 09/1998Expo '98LisbonSpecialised ExpoThe Oceans: A Heritage for the Future
06/2000 – 10/2000Expo 2000HanoverWorld ExpoMan, Nature, Technology
03/2005 – 09/2005Expo 2005AichiWorld ExpoNature's Wisdom
06/2008 – 09/2008Expo 2008ZaragozaSpecialised ExpoWater and Sustainable development
05/2010 – 10/2010Expo 2010ShanghaiWorld ExpoBetter City, Better Life
05/2012 – 08/2012Expo 2012YeosuSpecialised ExpoThe Living Ocean and Coast
05/2015 – 10/2015Expo 2015MilanWorld ExpoFeeding the planet, Energy for life
06/2017 – 09/2017Expo 2017AstanaSpecialised ExpoFuture Energy
10/2021 – 04/2022Expo 2020DubaiWorld ExpoConnecting Minds, Creating the Future
04/2021 – 09/2021Expo 2021HatayWorld ExpoBotany & World's Flowers
01/2023 – 04/2023Expo 2023Buenos AiresSpecialised ExpoCreative industries in Digital Convergence
04/2025 – 10/2025Expo 2025OsakaWorld ExpoDesigning Future Society for Our Lives

Legacy

The majority of the structures are temporary and are dismantled after the fair closes. Landmark towers from several fairs are notable exceptions. By far the most famous of these is the Eiffel Tower, built for the Exposition Universelle. Although it is now the most recognized symbol of its host city Paris, a number of influential contemporary critics opposed its construction, and there were demands for it to be dismantled after the fair's conclusion.
Other major structures that were held over from these fairs:
– World's Fair sign at 47th and Aurora, 1962
; repurposed as a museum.
Some world's fair sites became parks incorporating some of the expo elements, such as:
Some pavilions have been moved overseas intact:
The Brussels Expo '58 relocated many pavilions within Belgium: the pavilion of Jacques Chocolats moved to the town of Diest to house the new town swimming pool. Another pavilion was relocated to Willebroek and has been used as dance hall Carré ever since. One smaller pavilion still stands on the boulevard towards the Atomium: the restaurant "Salon 58" in the pavilion of Comptoir Tuilier.
Many exhibitions and rides created by Walt Disney and his WED Enterprises company for the 1964 New York World's Fair were moved to Disneyland after the closing of the Fair. Many of the rides, including "it's a small world", and "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln", as well as the building that housed the Carousel of Progress are still in operation.
Disney had contributed so many exhibits to the New York fair in part because the corporation had originally envisioned a "permanent World's Fair" at the Flushing site. That concept instead came to fruition with the Disney theme park Epcot, an extension of the Walt Disney World Resort, near Orlando, Florida. Epcot has many of the characteristics of a typical universal exposition: national pavilions, as well as exhibits concerning technology and/or the future, along with more typical amusement park rides. Meanwhile, several of the 1964 attractions, relocated to Disneyland, have been duplicated at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Occasionally other bits and pieces of the fairs remain. In the New York City subway system, signs directing people to Flushing Meadows, Queens remain from the 1964–65 event. In the Montreal subway at least one tile artwork of its theme, "Man and His World", remains. Also, a seemingly endless supply of souvenir items from fair visits can be found, and in the United States, at least, can often be bought at garage or estate sales. Many of these events also produced postage stamps and commemorative coins. The 1904 Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, were held in conjunction with the 1904 St. Louis fair, although no particular tie-in seems to have been made. The Exposition Universelle Paris was also loosely tied to the Olympic Games.

Current and upcoming expositions

2020 Dubai

will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as a Registered Exposition.
It has been postponed to 2021 due to coronavirus.
The bidding process for this larger sized exposition formally began in 2011, with four cities being selected to participate in the final round of votes:
Other participating cities and countries that were not selected for the final voting process to host Expo 2020, or did not submit bids for consideration by the BIE:
will be held at the Argentine capital and will have a theme of “Science, Innovation, Art and Creativity for Human Development. Creative Industries in Digital Convergence”.
Four countries had submitted bids to host Specialised Expo 2022/23:
The central Polish city of Łódź announced its candidacy to host EXPO 2022. It was promoted in the Polish Pavilion at the EXPO 2015 in Milan. Consequently, the Polish government officially submitted Łódź's candidacy to the International Bureau of Expositions on 15 June 2016.
At the end of the project examination phase, BIE Member States voted for Buenos Aires as the host city of Expo 2022/23 via a secret ballot at the BIE General Assembly, held in November 2017.

2025 Osaka

Expo 2025 will be held at the Japanese city of Osaka and will have a theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives!”.
Four countries had submitted bids to host World Expo 2025:
Osaka made its official bid for the Expo on 24 April 2017 with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”.
The Azerbaijani capital entered its candidacy before the deadline under the theme "Human Capital".
The French capital was the first to declare its candidacy, under the theme "Sharing our Knowledge, Caring for our Planet". The candidacy was withdrawn in January 2018 due to budget constraints.
The Russian city entered its candidacy on 22 May 2017 under the theme "Changing world: inclusive innovation is for our children and future generations".
At the end of the project examination phase, BIE Member States voted for Osaka as the host city of Expo 2025 via a secret ballot at the BIE General Assembly, held in November 2018.

Non-BIE Efforts

Due to the U.S. government's withdrawing its membership in the Bureau International des Expositions from 2002 to 2017, Worlds Fair Nano is the first private effort in history to host a six-month World's Fair. Worlds Fair Nano is organizing a series of mini-World's Fairs around the country called World's Fair Nano in cities like San Francisco and New York City in order to build excitement for the six month World's Fair, which Worlds Fair Nano hopes to organize within the decade.
The Los Angeles World's Fair is another non-BIE effort.
Walt Disney World in Florida is hosting a perpetual world's fair at its EPCOT exhibit, called World Showcase.

International Horticultural Exhibition

The BIE, since 1959 grants recognition to the International Horticultural Exhibitions approved by the International Association of Horticultural Producers subject to it meeting certain criteria including being approved by the BIE general assembly.
International Horticultural Exhibitions :