World Expolympics: People's Choice Voting is Now Live
- Travis Stanton
- 4 days ago
- 14 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The People's Choice Award is selected by popular vote. Review the entrants below and click the VOTE NOW button to cast your vote! Voting closes at 5pm Central on August 28, 2025. The top three vote getters will be honored with gold, silver, and bronze awards, respectively. Voters are allowed one vote per valid email address.
Amid Expo 2025’s spectacle, the Algeria Pavilion offers stillness, sincerity, and a clear sense of identity. Its theme, Lights of Algeria, uses light as a storytelling force—illuminating history, guiding emotion, and revealing Algeria as both ancient and forward-looking, committed to compassion, innovation, and well-being. A façade of refracted sunlight symbolizes evolving identity, while Nour, an AI guide, leads visitors through sensory exhibits of culture and memory. Immersive media showcases resilience and future innovation, and reflective spaces invite personal engagement. With cohesive storytelling, the pavilion emphasizes resonance over spectacle, presenting Algeria as a nation defined by legacy, humanity, and luminous possibility.
The Austrian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka embraces the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” by presenting Austria not as a nation that designs the future, but one that composes it. Drawing on its rich musical heritage, the pavilion leads visitors on a journey from past to future, guided by a dramatic 91-meter spiral of wooden musical notes inspired by Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Inside, exhibitions celebrate Austria-Japan cultural ties, spotlight innovations and personalities, and culminate in the “Cathedral of the Future,” where guests collaboratively compose music with AI—symbolizing Austria’s vision of progress, sustainability, and shared global harmony.
The Azerbaijan Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, inspired by the legend of The Seven Beauties, is a sculptural journey celebrating connection across cultures, past and future. Visitors pass through seven arches, each symbolizing a facet of Azerbaijani heritage—poetry, craftsmanship, nature, music, architecture, and hospitality—that gradually merge into a unified experience. Architecture and design weave traditional patterns, natural textures, and rhythmic spaces, while soundscapes and visuals respond to movement, engaging every sense. Interactive elements foster dialogue between space and guest. More than a display, the pavilion is a living story—honoring Azerbaijan’s identity while envisioning a future rooted in connection and inclusivity.
The Baltic Pavilion at Expo 2025 invites visitors on a sensory journey through Latvia and Lithuania’s nature, culture, and innovations for a sustainable future under the theme We Are One. Its centerpiece, Kizuna—an interactive glass wall symbolizing emotional bonds—encourages reflection as messages written in condensation vanish within minutes. Smart glass displays, audiovisual storytelling, and a showcase of 300 medicinal plants highlight the region’s harmony of people, nature, and technology. Interactive initiatives like digital tree planting link visitors to real-world afforestation, while scents, sounds, and the mascot Barabi-chan, a friendly mushroom, reinforce ecological interconnectedness and the Baltics’ tradition of care and connection.
The Belgian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed Saving Lives, offers a multi-sensory journey celebrating Belgium’s expertise in water, health, innovation, and sustainability. Visitors enter a lush central space with music and a dramatic waterfall symbolizing renewal before exploring exhibitions on water security, health innovation, and resilience. Interactive ramps, participatory artworks, and three immersive rooms highlight projects and human stories, while a multifunctional hall, shop, and restaurant showcase Belgium’s culture and gastronomy. Accessibility and inclusivity are central, ensuring all visitors share the same experience. With live performances, projection mapping, and sustainable design, the pavilion embodies Belgium’s commitment to life and diversity.
The Canada Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, located in the Empowering Lives zone, draws inspiration from the embâcle—spring ice jams that break apart to symbolize regeneration and collective strength. Its icy, sculptural exterior contrasts with a warm, creative interior that blends architecture, performance, and storytelling. At its heart, a live stage hosts 100+ Canadian artists, while immersive exhibits feature towering ice monoliths, soundscapes, and cutting-edge AR that reveals Canada’s landscapes, innovations, and stories. Indigenous perspectives are interwoven throughout, grounding the narrative in ancestral wisdom and future vision. The pavilion offers a bold, multi-sensory journey celebrating Canada’s diversity, creativity, and connection to nature.
The Czech Pavilion at Expo 2025, marked by its iconic glass spiral, is a record-setting timber structure built without steel supports, showcasing Czech creativity, engineering, and sustainability. Its CLT panels and dazzling glass façade honor Czechia’s centuries-old glassmaking tradition while absorbing CO₂. Inside, visitors ascend a spiraling gallery filled with art, design, technology, and culture—from Mucha-inspired exhibitions and glass sculptures to puppet games, cuisine, and beer tastings. The rooftop terrace offers panoramic views, while Daisue Hall hosts concerts, theatre, and business conferences with global partners. Blending tradition and innovation, the pavilion delivers an immersive, authentic Czech experience for every visitor.
The Egypt Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka takes visitors on an immersive journey through time, blending ancient heritage with bold visions of the future. Beginning with an introductory space that previews Egypt’s story, guests then step into a 360-degree projection celebrating the Pharaohs, pyramids, mythology, and timeless contributions of one of the world’s greatest civilizations. The experience transitions into modern Egypt, highlighting transformative projects such as the New Administrative Capital, New Alamein, the Benban Solar Park, and sustainable agriculture. The Hall of Achievements concludes the journey, showcasing national milestones and affirming Egypt’s enduring legacy of progress, resilience, and innovation.
The European Union Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed Nurturing Tomorrow, presents a forward-looking vision of Europe as collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable. Inspired by the New European Bauhaus principles—sustainable, beautiful, together—the architecture features bamboo modules that rotate with the wind, echoing Ema plaques and origami. Inside, visitors explore lush greenery, sensory-rich paths, and garden-like pavilions enhanced by soundscapes, scents, and natural light. Accessibility and inclusivity are central, with tactile guides and interactive media. Sustainable materials like bamboo, cork, and recycled paper are highlighted, while playful exhibits—such as the Zen Robot and digital origami doves—symbolize innovation, peace, and a shared future.
The France Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, envisioned as a “theatre of life,” guides visitors through fluid spaces that mirror life’s rhythms—beginning, transition, pause, and departure. Inspired by the legend of Akai Ito, it reclaims physical space as a medium for dialogue, with a quiet inner garden emphasizing connection with nature. Its 17-meter curtain-like façade responds to light and wind, while a looping path takes guests through exhibitions, landscaped interludes, and open-air moments. Prefabricated and modular, the pavilion embraces circular design and material reuse, embodying adaptability, sustainability, and French savoir-faire in a multisensory, theatrical journey of presence and encounter.
The Future of Life Pavilion by roboticist Ishiguro Hiroshi invites visitors to imagine life unbound by physical limits, exploring how humans and robots might coexist 50 years from now. It encourages trying new experiences, dreaming boldly, and discovering alternative ways of living. Architecturally, flowing water cools exterior walls while a double-layered mesh creates a transitional space between indoors and outdoors. At the core, a red seismic-resistant steel wall—crafted with shipbuilding techniques—anchors the structure, symbolizing vitality and human ingenuity. Behind it, the final exhibition envisions life 1,000 years into the future, blending technology, culture, and imagination.
Wa! Germany at Expo 2025 Osaka embodies circularity through architecture, story, and system, inspired by the Japanese concept Wa—circle, harmony, wonder. Seven interconnected cylindrical volumes integrate landscape, exhibition, and ecology, leading visitors from the communal Biosphere—guided by the kawaii figure Circular—through Circular Cities, Innovations, and Me, exploring collective, technological, and personal roles in sustainable living. Timber structures, passive ventilation, green roofs, and climate-adapted planting merge ecological performance with pedagogy. Materials—from rammed earth to bamboo and mycelium—are tracked for reuse, and modular design ensures full disassembly. Wa! Germany transforms circular theory into immersive, inclusive, and replicable architecture, making sustainability tangible and experiential.
The Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2025, themed Creativity Connects People, merges Irish timber with Japanese materials in an abstracted Celtic spiral, the triskele. Positioned near the main entrance, it welcomes visitors with the gilded Magnus RINN sculpture and an Irish-inspired garden. The pavilion’s three elliptical spaces offer a sensory journey: the first immerses guests in Ireland’s landscapes, sounds, and scents; the second showcases traditional and modern Irish design and crafts; and the third invites co-creation through music, film, and movement. This immersive experience celebrates imagination, cultural heritage, and human connection, encouraging visitors to slow down, engage, and experience Ireland’s creativity firsthand.
The Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed Art Regenerates Life, celebrates Italian culture, innovation, and sustainability through a journey connecting past, present, and future. Designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, its modular timber spaces—the Piazza, Theatre, Garden, and exhibition areas—evoke the Renaissance “Ideal City” while blending Italian elegance with Japanese sensitivity. Central to the Pavilion is the Farnese Atlas, linking classical knowledge to scientific advancement. Exhibitions explore individual, collective, regional, and spiritual contributions, featuring artworks, Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus, and live artisan demonstrations. Daily performances, tastings, and rooftop gardens create an immersive experience where art, science, and culture converge to inspire life.
The Jordan Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed Weaving Possibilities, offers a ten-minute immersive journey blending over 10,000 years of history, heritage, and innovation. Inspired by the woven patterns of the Shmagh scarf, its kinetic façade, crafted by Jordanian students, reflects tradition and youthful creativity. Inside, a sensory transitional space merges Japanese and Jordanian artistry, while the 360-degree Theatre of Civilizations projects humanity’s stories atop Wadi Rum sand. Interactive zones showcase live craft, culinary experiences, and curated products, complemented by a mezzanine offering a Dead Sea spa and multipurpose hall. The pavilion weaves past, present, and future into a rich cultural encounter.
The Republic of Korea Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed Hearts Meet Here, spans 3,502 square meters as an immersive, multimedia-driven structure celebrating tradition, nature, technology, and culture. Its giant media façade and Korean-inspired motifs immediately draw visitors, while the pavilion’s modular design enables disassembly and reuse. Inside, three experiential zones engage all senses: Exhibit I transforms visitors’ voices into music and light, symbolizing global connection; Exhibit II combines artifacts and green technology to envision a sustainable, carbon-free future; and Exhibit III tells a 2040 story of music, culture, and enduring values, blending past, present, and future into a dynamic, emotional journey.
The Kuwait Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed Empowering People, merges architecture, storytelling, and immersive experiences to connect heritage with future aspirations. Visitors arrive beneath a wing-shaped roof inspired by dunes, waves, and falcons, symbolizing openness and vision, in a sustainable, accessible modular structure. The journey unfolds across five interactive chapters: an outdoor plaza celebrating Kuwait-Japan ties; the 4D Pearl of Perception; Dawn in the Desert highlighting history and resilience; People & Culture featuring Vision 2035 projects and digital storytelling; and the Oasis for reflection. The finale, the Visionary Lighthouse Dome, transforms visitors’ spoken wishes into AI-driven stars, envisioning a shared future.
The Malta Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed Catch the Wave, immerses visitors in a poetic journey blending architecture, landscape, digital storytelling, and cultural symbolism. Its curving limestone-inspired media façade displays Malta’s coastlines, history, and innovations, flanked by reflective water features echoing the Mediterranean. Entry through a sea-cave–inspired slit leads to a 360-degree audio-visual installation exploring Malta’s evolution from ancient civilization to modern innovation hub, supported by curated displays and a restored samurai armor symbolizing diplomatic ties with Japan. The experience concludes in a shaded courtyard celebrating Maltese gastronomy and lifestyle, highlighting resilience, connectivity, and the island’s cultural and technological heritage.
The Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka immerses visitors in a story-driven journey celebrating the country’s mastery of living with water. Circular, dismountable architecture and interactive installations engage guests, who use personal Energy Orbs to power and respond to exhibits. Beginning at the Orb Check-In Mirror, visitors explore Dutch innovations in water management, sustainability, and collective problem-solving. Highlights include A New Dawn, a 360° AI-generated dome film illustrating water’s role in Dutch life, and the Pledge Station, where synchronized Energy Orbs create collaborative art. The pavilion blends heritage, technology, and circular solutions, inspiring reflection, participation, and action toward a sustainable future.
The Nordic Circle unites Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden to transform isolated ideas into shared innovations, inviting the global community to collaborate on complex societal challenges. By celebrating achievements, exchanging knowledge, and fostering trust, the Nordic nations aim to drive meaningful progress in areas such as the green transition, circular economies, well-being, mobility, and connectivity. The pavilion emphasizes that lasting solutions require long-term commitment, cooperation, and partnerships built on mutual trust. Through collective action, the Nordic Circle demonstrates that together we can achieve sustainable success, turning ambition into tangible impact and shaping a better future for all.
The Pakistan Pavilion celebrates pink salt, a natural treasure formed over 800 million years in the Salt Range and a symbol of purity, healing, and resilience. Designed by Noorjehan Bilgrami under the theme The Universe in a Grain of Salt, the pavilion—constructed entirely from pink rock salt, copper, charcoal, and wood—offers an immersive, tactile journey connecting visitors to Pakistan’s heritage. Guests explore a Healing Garden, sculptural salt columns, historical and poetic displays, and an art film showcasing subterranean beauty, culminating in an interactive exhibit. The pavilion embodies sustainability, well-being, and cultural pride, reclaiming pink salt as a global emblem of harmony and resilience.
Poland’s Expo 2025 participation, under the motto “Poland. Heritage that drives the future,” celebrates a cultural legacy of creativity, resilience, and openness. The pavilion, crafted from wood with flowing arches and curves, evokes a spreading wave of Polish innovation while honoring traditional Polish and Japanese timber techniques. Its dynamic façade shifts with perspective, and the roof’s multi-level structure creates a striking visual landmark. Inside, interactive installations highlight the “creativity gene” embedded in Polish identity, blending nature, tradition, science, and technology. Visitors engage and co-create, experiencing a space where heritage inspires solutions, well-being, and forward-looking ideas for a sustainable, innovative future.
The Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed “Ocean, the Blue Dialogue,” offers an immersive exploration of the sea as heritage, resource, and global connector. Designed by Kengo Kuma, its exterior of nearly 10,000 suspended ropes and recycled fishing nets evokes ocean waves while emphasizing sustainability. Inside, visitors journey through two main zones: Our DNA, highlighting Portugal’s maritime history, cultural ties with Japan, and marine innovations; and Our Ambition, a 200 m² multimedia experience inviting engagement with ocean health and climate solutions. Outdoor spaces, events, and culinary offerings extend the dialogue, creating a poetic, participatory reflection on shared stewardship of the ocean.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka invites visitors on An Epic Journey of New Discoveries, a multi-sensory experience celebrating the nation’s past, present, and future. Inspired by Saudi urban patterns, guests explore shaded streets, a central Courtyard with 360-degree performances, interactive cultural studios, and the AR Botanist Garden. Culinary experiences at Irth Café and a retail Souk immerse visitors in heritage and innovation. Exhibits highlight sustainability, genomics, space, and clean energy, while modular, low-carbon architecture ensures net-zero operation and accessibility. Through storytelling, technology, and hospitality, the Pavilion bridges cultures and offers a living preview of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The Serbia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka showcases sustainable, culture-driven design through its “Floating Forest” concept, inspired by Belgrade’s Ratno Ostrvo. Featuring a living façade, 95% recyclable materials, and 80% reusable construction, it blends ecological innovation with emotional storytelling. Visitors enter a public ground level before ascending to the “Society of Play,” an immersive exhibition celebrating play as a driver of creativity, learning, and innovation across life forms. Interactive phygital installations, holograms, and tactile elements engage the senses, while the acoustically isolated Red Thematic Garden offers reflection. The pavilion combines sustainability, technology, and culture, drawing thousands of visitors daily.
The Singapore Pavilion, the Dream Sphere, embodies the nation’s spirit and sub-theme Saving Lives, inviting visitors to envision an inclusive future for people, animals, and nature. Guided by Where Dreams Take Shape, the immersive experience blends storytelling, interactive installations, and local art. Its shimmering façade of 17,000 recycled aluminum Dream Discs and sustainable design reflect collective aspirations and environmental stewardship. Visitors journey through three chapters—from the animated Canvas of Dreams, to a kinetic, nature-inspired dreamscape, culminating in the Dream Repository where individual hopes merge in a 360° dome presentation—concluding in the reflective Dream Forest, celebrating creativity, resilience, and shared possibilities.
The Spain Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka immerses visitors in the Kuroshio Current, a metaphor for creativity, connection, and cultural exchange between Asia and Spain. Its fluid, sun-and-sea-inspired architecture features a sustainable, gradient façade, while La Plaza del Sol welcomes guests with live performances and audiovisual art. The exhibition traces history—from the Manila Galleon and Keichō Embassy to modern oceanic research, algae biofuels, and offshore wind energy—through multimedia installations. “Corrientes que Unen” highlights forces linking nations, while “Greetings from Spain” celebrates tourism, culture, and cuisine. Through art, science, and live programming, the pavilion fosters dialogue and shared visions for the future.
The Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed From Heidi to High-Tech, offers an immersive journey from Alpine heritage to global innovation. Its lightweight, four-sphere structure emphasizes sustainability while guiding visitors through interactive experiences celebrating collaboration and foresight. A giant paper-cut installation introduces Swiss values, followed by a sphere where guest visions transform into dynamic art. The Anticipation sphere showcases cutting-edge breakthroughs and the AI-powered Geneva Public Portal invites co-creation of future scenarios. The pavilion blends joy, creativity, and technological ingenuity, with Heidi as a symbolic guide, and concludes with the Heidi Café and shop, highlighting Switzerland’s culture and innovation.
The Taiwan TECH WORLD Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, inspired by the nation’s mountainous terrain, embodies the theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives through the “Mountain of the Heart.” Its layered metal façade, native seagrass plaza, and a Hualien stone sculpture blend heritage, geometry, and symbolism, evoking strength, unity, and shelter. Inside, visitors ascend through the triple-height Life Theater with a Sacred Tree projection, explore the Nature Theater’s 360-degree forest, and descend into the interactive Future Theater, experiencing Taiwan’s past, present, and envisioned future. The pavilion merges natural inspiration, technology, and immersive storytelling, reflecting humanity’s connection to nature and innovation.
The Thailand Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, led by the Ministry of Public Health, highlights the nation’s theme of Immunity under the Expo’s Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Showcasing Thai nature, culture, cuisine, innovation, and public health, the immersive experience spans seven zones: AR-powered photo spots and biodiversity stories; the Wisdom of Life Immersive Theater presenting holistic health practices; public health innovation and medical facilities; relaxation through Thai massage; interactive healthy dishes and immunity-boosting products; and the Smiles of Impression zone capturing visitor experiences. Together, the pavilion celebrates Thailand’s wellness, culinary excellence, medical capabilities, and commitment to global health and well-being.
The UAE Pavilion, Earth to Ether, offers an immersive journey through the nation’s heritage, values, and ambitions, blending architecture, storytelling, and innovative materials. Visitors encounter a shaded pergola with Emirati khoos patterns and sustainable furnishings made from date palm waste, leading into exhibits guided by youth ambassadors. Towering date palm–inspired columns frame zones celebrating space exploration, healthcare, and sustainability, while interactive displays merge traditional crafts with digital technology. A central grove and thematic installations highlight community, innovation, and climate resilience. The journey concludes with Woven Legacies, immersive storytelling on Emirati culture, sustainable practices, and urban life, reflecting a shared, forward-looking vision.
Ukraine’s EXPO 2025 pavilion, Not For Sale, resembles a shop, but instead of goods, its shelves hold symbols of fundamental values — a tire for freedom of choice, a loudspeaker for self-expression, an Oscar statuette for freedom of speech. Each item carries a barcode that reveals powerful stories of Ukrainians living, working, and surviving amid war. Nearby, the Values-Driven Economy corner displays real, battle-worn tools from businesses persisting through conflict. With 18 objects in total, the pavilion transforms ordinary items into extraordinary reminders that freedom, dignity, and human rights are priceless — not commodities, but values Ukrainians are defending daily.
The USA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, themed “Imagine What We Can Create Together,” transforms the Expo’s call to Design Future Society for Our Lives into an immersive celebration of American innovation, culture, and collaboration. Inspired by Japanese architecture, the pavilion features canyon-like wings with LED screens, a floating translucent cube, and dynamic exhibits on agriculture, nanotechnology, advanced materials, and aerospace. Visitors are guided by the mascot Spark and over 80 Youth Ambassadors representing all 45 states. Interactive experiences, live performances, and regional cuisine highlight creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange, inspiring visitors to imagine a brighter, collaborative future with America at the forefront.
The Uzbekistan Pavilion, Garden of Knowledge – A Laboratory for a Future Society, offers an immersive journey from tradition to a knowledge-driven future. Its architecture blends a clay-and-brick base symbolizing heritage with a forest of timber columns inspired by temples and palaces, using locally sourced, reusable materials in circular, modular construction. Inside, thematic zones highlight sustainability, innovation, and education through interactive media, digital tools, and vocational programs. A 360° media platform climaxes with a pomegranate tree symbolizing unity and renewal. The rooftop garden invites reflection and dialogue. Combining storytelling, ecological design, and cultural exchange, the pavilion celebrates Uzbekistan’s growth and forward-looking vision.
The Vietnam Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai invites visitors on an immersive journey where tradition and innovation converge. Its bamboo-inspired façade symbolizes resilience and identity, blending modern design with cultural heritage. Inside, multi-sensory zones feature holographic introductions, traditional crafts, cuisine, and music, alongside interactive displays connecting guests with artisans. Highlights include live performances, such as the iconic water puppet show, and exhibitions emphasizing sustainability, education, and digital innovation. Tropical greenery and water elements recreate Vietnam’s countryside, while contemporary design and industry are showcased. The pavilion celebrates Vietnam’s cultural pride, global contributions, and forward-looking spirit in a vibrant, engaging experience.