EXPO 2027 Volunteer Programme (Expo Playmakers): How to Apply

Expo Playmakers is the official volunteer programme of Expo 2027 Belgrade, run by the state company EXPO 2027 d.o.o. Beograd. The organiser calls it Serbia's largest-ever volunteer programme. The name is linked to the Expo theme, "Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All".

Volunteers work during the 93 days of the Expo, from 15 May to 15 August 2027. If you are new to the event itself, our complete Expo 2027 visitor guide covers the dates, the Surčin site and what a Specialised Expo is.

Age

You must be at least 18 years old by 15 April 2027. In practice that means you were born on or before 15 April 2009. There is no upper age limit in the official announcement.

Nationality

The programme is open to applicants from Serbia, from the region and from abroad. Foreign applicants are not a special category you have to request: the launch announcement names international applicants alongside local ones.

Minimum commitment

You need to be available for at least 15 days during the Expo. The published information does not say whether those days must be consecutive, how long a shift lasts or how dates are assigned. If that matters for your travel plans, ask the organiser before you book anything (contact details are below).

The organiser is looking for more than 20,000 volunteers. Applications arrived quickly at the start:

• More than 5,000 applications arrived in the first five days, according to the official about page.
• By 31 August 2026 there were 10,000 candidates from 119 countries.

That is still about half the target, so places are open. No figures have been published on how many applicants have been accepted so far.

There are 48 volunteer roles. They fall into a few broad areas:

• Visitor services and delegation services
• Logistics
• Event operations
• Support for international teams

According to the organiser, the most popular choices so far are marketing and protocol, pavilion support, visitor guidance, information points, and sport and education programmes. With more than 140 participants confirmed in September 2026, pavilion and delegation work is a large part of the job.

The official material describes one route: an online application on the Playmakers portal. The steps below follow what the organiser has published.

1. Check you qualify. You must be 18 by 15 April 2027 and able to give at least 15 days between 15 May and 15 August 2027.
2. Go to the official portal. Applications are made at join.volunteer.expobelgrade2027.org, the address given in the organiser's own announcement. Several unofficial Expo websites exist, so start from expobelgrade2027.org if you are unsure you are in the right place.
3. Complete and submit your application. Think about which of the role areas above suits you before you start.
4. Watch your inbox. The organiser says recruitment and training are most intensive between September 2026 and April 2027, so that is when to expect the next steps.
5. Ask if anything is unclear. The programme's contact address is playmakers@expobelgrade2027.org.

No closing date has been announced. With 10,000 applications already in and training running until April, applying sooner is the safer choice.

The official announcement lists these benefits:

• A uniform and a welcome pack
• Training before the Expo
• A certificate, which the press release describes as endorsed by the BIE (the international body that oversees Expos)
• Up to 27% off Air Serbia flights
• Free travel on Srbijavoz, the national passenger rail operator
• Benefits from Telekom Srbija (details not published)
• Possible ECTS credits for university students

The certificate and ECTS credits are the parts that last beyond the summer. If you want credits, check with your own university early, since "possible" is the organiser's wording.

Accommodation for international volunteers is not mentioned anywhere in the official material we reviewed. Meals and help with travel costs beyond the Air Serbia discount are not on the benefits list either. Until the organiser says otherwise, plan on paying for your own flights, housing and food.

That is a real cost. Belgrade expects more than 4 million visits during the Expo (the organiser's estimate), and summer 2027 will be a busy season for hotels and short lets. Our guide to where to stay for Expo 2027 covers areas with good links to the site, and our cost of living guide helps you budget for food and daily costs.

Visas and entry

No special Expo visa has been announced, and the volunteer announcement does not cover entry rules. Serbia's normal rules apply. According to the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

• Many nationalities can enter without a visa. Check your country on the MFA visa regime list.
• If you hold a valid Schengen, EU member state, UK or US visa, or a residence permit in the Schengen area, the EU or the US, you can enter without a Serbian visa for up to 90 days in any 180.
• If you do need a visa, you apply online through welcometoserbia.gov.rs.

A 15-day volunteering stay fits well inside 90 days, but ask the organiser whether volunteering needs any extra paperwork for your nationality. Our Serbia visa guide for Expo 2027 explains the rules in more detail.

Phone and mobile data

You will need a working phone for shift messages and maps. Telekom Srbija offers volunteer benefits, but the details have not been published. Our SIM card and mobile internet guide explains how to get a local number when you land.

Getting around

Free Srbijavoz rail travel is the most useful benefit for commuting. A new Zemun Polje to Airport to Expo rail line is under construction and is currently expected to open in spring 2027, after an earlier target of end 2026 slipped. For buses and trams in the city, see our Belgrade public transport guide, and for the routes to Surčin, our guide on how to get to Expo 2027.

Many people searching for Expo volunteering are also looking for paid work. As of 22 September 2026 we have found no central official jobs portal for Expo 2027, and we could not verify any official recruitment call for paid roles.

Paid work is likely to come from the organisations around the Expo rather than from one hiring desk: participating countries staffing their pavilions, construction and services contractors, caterers and security firms. That is our expectation, not an announcement, so we do not link to job adverts on this page.

A few rules of thumb until an official channel exists:

• Expo Playmakers is a volunteer programme, not paid employment.
• Be wary of any site or agent that asks for money to guarantee an Expo job or a volunteer place.
• If you are not a Serbian citizen, check what your immigration status allows before you accept any paid offer.

If a verified hiring channel appears, we will add it here.