A world's fair, also known as a universal exhibition or an expo, is a large global exhibition designed to showcase the 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, typically between three and six months.
The Bureau international des expositions is an intergovernmental organization created to supervise international exhibitions falling under the jurisdiction of the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions.
The Exposition Universelle of 1855, better known in English as the 1855 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, from 15 May to 15 November 1855. Its full official title was the Exposition Universelle des produits de l'Agriculture, de l'Industrie et des Beaux-Arts de Paris 1855. It was the first of ten major expositions held in the city between 1855 and 1937. Nowadays, the exposition's sole physical remnant is the Théâtre du Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées, designed by architect Gabriel Davioud, which originally housed the Panorama National.
The Exposition Universelle of 1878, better known in English as the 1878 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 1 May to 10 November 1878, to celebrate the recovery of France after the 1870–71 Franco-Prussian War. It was the third of ten major expositions held in the city between 1855 and 1937.
The Exposition Universelle of 1867, better known in English as the 1867 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 1 April to 3 November 1867. It was the second of ten major expositions held in the city between 1855 and 1937. A number of nations were represented at the fair. Following a decree of Emperor Napoleon III, the exposition was prepared as early as 1864, in the midst of the renovation of Paris, marking the culmination of the Second French Empire. Visitors included Tsar Alexander II of Russia, a brother of the King William and Otto von Bismarck of Prussia, Prince Metternich and Franz Josef of Austria, Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz, and the Khedive of Egypt Isma'il.
A garden festival is a festival and exposition held to celebrate the arts of gardening, garden design, landscaping and landscape architecture. There are local garden festivals, regional garden festivals, national garden festivals and international garden festivals. The idea probably originated with Germany's Bundesgartenschau. The UK held five garden festivals in the period 1984–1992.
The Brussels International Exposition of 1935 was a world's fair held between 27 April and 6 November 1935 on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau in Brussels, Belgium.
The Brussels International Exposition of 1897 was a world's fair held in Brussels, Belgium, from 10 May 1897 through 8 November 1897. There were 27 participating countries, and an estimated attendance of 7.8 million people.
The Brussels International Exposition of 1910 was a world's fair held in Brussels, Belgium, from 23 April to 1 November 1910. This was just thirteen years after Brussels' previous world's fair. It received 13 million visitors, covered 88 hectares and lost 100,000 Belgian francs.
The Liège International Exposition was a world's fair held in Liège, Belgium, from 27 April to 6 November 1905 just 8 years after a Belgian exposition held in Brussels. Intended to show Liège's industrial importance it also marked 75 years of Belgian Independence and 40 years of Leopold II's reign.
The Second International Aeronautic Exhibition, (full name Second International Aeronautical Exhibition in the league Air Defence of Finland SILI) was held in Helsinki in 1938. It ran from 14 May to 22 May 1938.
The Exposition internationale de la technique de l'eau de 1939 was the third specialized exposition recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions. In 1936 Georges Truffaut proposed an exposition to celebrate the completion of the Albert Canal. The exposition's theme was water management and opened on 20 May 1939 by King Leopold III of Belgium. The canal itself was opened on 30 July 1939.
Floriade 1992 was an international garden exhibition held in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and organized under the authority of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Floriade ran from April 9 to October 10, 1992, and was held on a converted pasture outside Zoetermeer near The Hague. The exhibition covered 168 acres and had participants from more than 20 countries. Thirteen foreign countries participated. The Floriade hosted 3.36 million visitors.
The Parc floral de Paris is a public park and botanical garden located within the Bois de Vincennes in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. Created in 1969, the park remains the legacy of the international horticultural exposition, which was organised under the auspices of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). It is one of four botanical gardens in Paris, and is the site of major annual flower shows. The nearest metro station to the park is Chateau-de-Vincennes.
Expo 1985 Plovdiv was an international exposition that took place from November 4–30, 1985 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The exhibition had the theme "The Achievements of Young Inventors". The specialized exhibition was the 24th held by the Bureau International des Expositions and the second held in Plovdiv. Another specialized exposition, Expo '85 in Tsukuba, Japan occurred the same year.
The Plovdiv International Exhibition of 1981 was regulated by the Bureau International des Expositions and took place from June 14 to July 12, 1981, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The exhibition had an area of 51 hectares. The sample application was filed on June 12, 1980, registering the event as a specialized exposition.
The Exhibition of Lyon, themed "Rural Habitat" was a Specialised Expo recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions. The Expo's site was located on the grounds of the Foire de Lyon in Lyon, France, and was open to visitors from 24 September to 9 October 1949.
The International Textile Exhibition of 1951 was held at the 'Grand Palais de la Foire de Lille' in Lille, France.
