US State Department Backs Minnesota Bid to Host Expo 2027

Today the U.S. Department of State presented a message to the 168th General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) announcing that the State of Minnesota intends to submit a candidature package to host a specialized Expo in 2027.

The theme of the Expo would be “Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All.”

State Department Support for Minnesota

The U.S. Department of State’s formal presentation to the BIE General Assembly represents a significant milestone for the Minnesota expo bid. The State Department’s engagement signals that Minnesota’s candidature has cleared the interagency review process and received authorization at the highest levels of the U.S. federal government. For BIE member nations, the State Department’s direct involvement in presenting the candidature announcement provides assurance of the U.S. government’s institutional commitment to the expo bid.

The State Department’s presentation to the BIE was coordinated with the White House, which authorized Minnesota’s bid the previous day—June 30, 2021—through a Presidential Actions announcement. This sequence of White House authorization followed immediately by State Department presentation to the international community demonstrates the coordinated, multi-level governmental support that distinguishes Minnesota’s candidature.

Healthy People, Healthy Planet

The proposed expo theme—“Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All”—represents both an aspiration and a genuine reflection of Minnesota’s distinctive strengths. The state has long been a national leader in healthcare quality and innovation, consistently ranking among the healthiest states in the United States by multiple measures including life expectancy, access to preventive care, and rates of chronic disease. These attributes give Minnesota authentic credibility as the host of a global exposition on health and wellness themes.

The “Healthy Planet” dimension of the theme is equally well-suited to Minnesota, which has made significant commitments to environmental protection and sustainability. The state’s rich natural environment—its famous 10,000 lakes, extensive forests, and productive agricultural lands—represents the environmental resources that the expo theme seeks to protect. Minnesota’s environmental policies and the civic culture of stewardship toward natural resources provide a genuine platform for the planetary health conversations that the expo would host.

Building on Previous Experience

Minnesota’s 2027 candidature builds on the substantial experience gained from the state’s earlier bid for Expo 2023. Having served as a finalist in that competition—before Buenos Aires, Argentina was ultimately selected—the Minnesota team accumulated valuable knowledge about the BIE candidature process, international expo diplomacy, and the organizational requirements of a successful expo bid. Mark Ritchie and his team channeled the lessons of the 2023 process into a stronger, more polished 2027 candidature with deeper governmental support and a more developed thematic vision.

The proposed host site remains Bloomington, Minnesota, in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. Bloomington’s combination of convention infrastructure, hotel capacity, and transportation connectivity—anchored by proximity to MSP International Airport—provides a strong logistical foundation for an internationally attended World Expo.