Join 2025 We will solicit proposals for events to be held at the Expo!
The Second Round of  Applications opens on 31 May 2024 join 2025 We are inviting proposals for events to be held at the Expo!

For Applicants

With the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan provides an opportunity for a diverse range people, regardless of nationality, region, culture, race, gender, age or ability, to take up the challenge of addressing social problems and creating the future

The Expo aims to encourage society to support the aspirations of those taking on the challenge of solving social problems by bringing people together and becoming the catalyst of solutions.

We are looking for events that have the power to create connections by providing a wide variety of interactive and non-interactive experiences such as presentations and exhibitions, in an entertaining way that enables participants to feel the exciting future that is nearby.

Interactive events, such as matsuri (Japanese festivals), aim to offer opportunities for the whole community to participate.
People can bring together their passions and ideas, share and discuss local attractions and culture with the aim for co-creating to establish approaches for solving social problems.
Examples: matsuri (Japanese festivals), workshops,etc.

Presentation-style events aim to offer opportunities for event hosts to share their ideas and stories.
They use entertaining methods to communicate the host’s hopes and ideas and send their message to the future.
Examples: Dance acts and other performances, presentations, music concerts, comedy events, etc.

Exhibition events offer opportunities to showcase diverse cultures and arts by combining new forms of expression and local tradition in the form of an exhibition or installation art to show your vision for the future.

Seizing this Expo as an opportunity to send a message to the world, we want to provide spaces for participants to play the leading roles in shaping their diverse dreams and taking on the challenges that each of them faces to take a step further toward creating the future.
We are looking forward to receiving your proposals for events full of passion for the creation of the future.

Process Flow from Application to Implementation

1. Application (Fill out application Documents, Submit your  proposal) / 2. Evaluation. (Applications evaluated and interviews carried out, Applicants  notified of results) / 3. Cordination and Development(Final registration, Final decision of which events will be carried out, Proposals refined and adjusted)/ 4. Implementation (Expo Opens)

Solicitation Guidelines

Application schedule

From 17:00 on Friday, 31 May, 2024 (Japan standard time)

Application Period Notification of Results
1st period 2024/5/31~7/31 2024/9~
2nd period 2024/8/1~8/31 2024/10~
3rd period 2024/9/1~9/30 2024/11~
4th period 2024/10/1~10/31 2024/12~
5th period 2024/11/1~11/30 2025/1~
6th period 2024/12/1~12/31 2025/2~

* Applications will close once all available slots at each facility are filled.
* In the second round of applications, events shall be selected and applicants notified of their results after each period. So, there will be fewer slots available for each facility in each subsequent period. For this reason, applicants should apply early to increase the probability of being selected.
* The timing of application result notices may differ between facilities.
* Applications may be called for in January 2025 and onward depending on facility vacancies.

Types of General Public Events All forms of events in various genres are being solicited.
Note: Events should be planned to allow general visitors to view and participate in the events. (Events that are kept only within particular groups of people are not acceptable)
Exhibiting in the metaverse space An available option when holding an event in the event facilities on Yumeshima Island (real space) is the holding of a virtual event simultaneously at the virtual event hall in the Metaverse space which will be developed as a Virtual Expo.
We will also accept events to be held only in the virtual event site. For details, please see Virtual Events in these guidelines. Check here for details.
Application Procedures If you wish to participate, please download the two files and send them to the following e-mail address.
Note:Applications will be closed as soon as the facility is no longer available.
Note:Those who applied for the first application can also enter the second application.

Entry Sheet[excel]
Proposal Document[ppt]
Office of “Events Organised by the General Public” at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. E-mail
expo_ippansaiji_osk@jimukyoku.jp
Cost of Participation Regarding of the venue usage charge , the cost of service fee , production cost and operation cost to hold the event will be charged to the applicants.
.
Event Facilities

The following facilities are available for events.

1.Pop-Up Stages

The facility guidelines are available here.

  • Pop-Up Stage Outer East

    Pop-Up Stage Outer East

  • Pop-Up Stage Inner East

    Pop-Up Stage Inner East

  • Pop-Up Stage West

    Pop-Up Stage West

  • Pop-Up Stage North

    Pop-Up Stage North

  • Pop-Up Stage South

    Pop-Up Stage South

    *The design are subject to change.

● Pop-Up Stages are outdoor event spaces of approximately 50 m2 that face pathways and are without guest seats.
– These facilities are suitable for live music events, performances, and small-stage events.
– Use of these facilities is allocated in three-hour units:
(1) 9:00 – 12:00
(2) 12:00 – 15:00
(3) 15:00 – 18:00
(4) 18:00 – 21:00
It is possible to use multiple slots. e.g. Slots 1-3 (9:00-18:00) for one event.
* Note: The time slots include the time for set-up, rehearsals, and clear-up.

●Notes:
– The stages are small scale, they are not suitable for events that require large-scale setup.
– These facilities are not equipped with screens or video equipment.
– These facilities are pathway-facing stages without guest seats. The stages are not suitable for symposiums and presentations that require seating.
– Rehearsals will be in the form of open rehearsals.

2.EXPO Arena “Matsuri”

Confirm Overview of Event Facilities from here.

  • EXPO Arena

  • EXPO Arena

●EXPO Arena “Matsuri” is the largest outdoor event plaza at the Expo. It does not have seating and is suitable for events such as live performances by large musical artists, outdoor festivals, etc.
– Use of the facility is granted for a full day.
– facilities usage time is per day.

●Available periods
– Select one of [A] – [C] on the entry sheet.
* Multiple selections are possible. If all the options are possible for you, please write down your order of preference.
* The time slots include the time for set-up, rehearsals, and clear-up.

[A] One- or two-day event in the first half of July
[B] One- or two-day event in late June
[C] One-day event in May, July, or August

3.New event space

The facility guidelines are available here.

● The new event space is a special space where festivals, traditional crafts, and performing arts, regardless of region in Japan or overseas, are gathered in one place for viewing and experiencing. It will provide a space where all can interact while experiencing traditional cultures through festivals of respective regions. Regarding this location, we solicitate to a broad range of users so that it may lead to attracting tourists to respective regions.
*New event space is currently under consideration, and the details are subject to change.

(1) Stage
Stage size: approx. 70m² (14m wide and 5m deep)
LED displays will be installed (allowing documents and videos to be shown).
Number of guest seats: approx. 300–350 planned. Fully indoors.
Users may also hold exhibition-form events with the seating removed. (Users will be responsible for venue setup.)

(2) Experiential event booth Tent size: approx. 19m2 (5.4m wide and 3.6m deep).
Tents will be installed on plots in an outdoor space.
Experiential events such as crafts workshops etc. are anticipated.
*Details about this facility will be announced from July onwards. Offer notices will be issued from September.
*Applications will open on 31 May. Applicants will be emailed with the detailed information once it is confirmed. Entry information could be updated frequently.

Important Points to Note

Specifying a specific desired date and time in your application will lower the probability that your event is selected. Applicants are requested to be as flexible as possible in the organisation of their event. Additionally, minimising the time used for activities other than the actual event, including setup, removal, and rehearsals, will increase the chances of your event being selected.

(Example)

High probability of being selected
Requesting a specific date but being open to alternatives.
Being open to holding the event on a weekday.
Proposing an event that can be carried out from set-up to clear-up in only one day.
Low probability of being selected
Requesting a specific date.
Requesting only a weekend or holiday.
Requesting four days for set-up, event, and clear-up

Evaluation / Selection

Selection Procedure The judging committee, consisting of intellectuals, will be responsible for selecting the participants based on the following criteria for selection:
Assessment Criteria Used for Selection
1. Theme
Is the event in line with the theme of the Expo, what is provided regarding the challenges of solving social problems and the information in the For Applicants section above?
2. Quality
Is the quality level appropriate for an international exposition?
3. Feasibility
Is the applicant sufficiently experienced and capable of implementing the event?
4. Diversity
Does the proposal offer a range of ways to participate and involve people who have diverse backgrounds?
5. Entertaining
Will the event please spectators and participants and motivate more people to visit the Expo?
6. Future prospects
Is the content of the event sustainable and able to continue even after the Expo?
7. Expandability
Is the proposal linked to any other events that will boost the Expo apart from the event on the day?

Assessment criteria 1, 2 and 3 will be weighed heavily during evaluation

Notification of Evaluation Results

Applicants will be notified of the evaluation results by E-mail. We will not respond to any inquiries about or objections regarding the process or results of the evaluation.

The period of the notifying the results are as below.

Application Period Notification of Results
1st period 2024/5/31~7/31 2024/9~
2nd period 2024/8/1~8/31 2024/10~
3rd period 2024/9/1~9/30 2024/11~
4th period 2024/10/1~10/31 2024/12~
5th period 2024/11/1~11/30 2025/1~
6th period 2024/12/1~12/31 2025/2~

*Applications will close once all available slots at each facility are filled.

If you wish to participate, please download the two files(Entry Sheet and Proposal documents) and send them to the following e-mail address.
*Applications will be closed when all the available slots at each facility are filled.
Office of “Events Organised by the General Public” at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
*Those who applied for the first application can also enter the second application.

E-mail expo_ippansaiji_osk@jimukyoku.jp

©NTT CORPORATION

Virtual Event

The Virtual Event allows content created by the event organiser to be deployed and distributed to people around the world in a virtual event space that is developed as a Virtual Expo application. “Virtual Event Planning and Creation Procedure” that contains the information necessary for considering the implementation of a virtual event will be available for viewing after you submit your entry form.

“Outline of Virtual EXPO and Virtual Events” are available here
*Please note that some of the venues for virtual events are different from those in the Yumeshima venue, so be sure to check the overview.

Cautionary Notes

Commercial Activities, Food and Drink

To eliminate excessive commercialism from the Expo in principle, only commercial activities accompanying the event are allowed. (Ex: Sales of an artist’s merchandise associated with a concert; products, food or drink sold in sets with experiences in line with the theme of the Expo, etc.)
Events primarily designed to sell products or to provide meals are not allowed.

Note: Sales of products and eating and drinking are not allowed in some of the event facilities. Check the Outline of Event Facilities for details.

Collection of Costs from Visitors in Each Event

Individual event admission fees cannot be collected from general visitors.

Prohibitions
  • Event content that undermines public order or that violates laws/treaties, etc.
  • Content that involves security concerns
  • Abuse or slander against a particular country, group or company
  • Content that is likely to be hazardous to visitors or the facilities
  • Content that excessively deviates from the original proposal.
  • Any content other than as set forth above that is deemed to impede the management or administration of the Expo.
Refusal to deal with organised crime
  • Applications submitted by an organised crime group, a member of an organised crime group (or a person for whom a period of five years has not yet elapsed from the day on which the person ceased to be a member of an organised crime group), an associated member of an organised crime group, a company related to an organised crime group, a corporate racketeer, a racketeer acting under guise of social movements, etc., a member of an intellectual crime group or a group that is likely to engage in an act of terrorism or other criminal acts, a terrorist (including suspected terrorist) or other equivalent people. When a group submits an application, these conditions shall apply to all group members. If an application is found to be submitted by an antisocial force or group in the process of evaluation, the application shall be rejected.
  • Any content other than as set forth above that is deemed to impede the management or administration of the Expo.
Cancellation Policy

The events shall be cancelled if any event occurs that makes it impossible to implement the Expo itself or that makes it difficult to use the event facilities. The Organiser shall assume no responsibility for damages incurred by the event organisers as a result of the cancellation. The same applies in cases where the streaming of the event is cancelled due to reasons such as a failure or emergency maintenance of the online streaming systems, including the virtual site platform.
Moreover, when any of the prohibited actions set forth in the previous section have occurred, the decision of the event’s having been selected may be rescinded or the event’s content may be restricted or suspended. 
If the event is cancelled for reasons ascribed to the applicant, the applicant shall immediately inform the Association of the cancellation and send the Association written notice. A cancellation fee may be charged depending on when the cancellation notice is submitted.

Compliance with the Rules

Please observe the rules in the Expo Site.

Handling of Personal Information

The personal information of applicants shall be used within the scope necessary for contacting the applicants for communication concerning their applications, evaluation and implementation of the events or for the evaluation process. Moreover, it may be provided to the Association, the BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) or the judging committee within the scope necessary. We require you to consent to the Privacy Policy set by the Association

FAQ

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

For inquiries or information about applications
Office of "Events Organized by the General Public" at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
E-mail expo_ippansaiji_osk@jimukyoku.jp