Setting the tone of connection and collaboration that will dominate Expo 2020 Dubai, the first event of the ‘Expo Beats’ festival series will feature artists of various genres, from every corner of our planet.

World Beats

Expo Beats

Featuring: Naked, Les Grand Hurleurs, Sima Dance Company, Master KG ft. Zanda Zakuza, Adonis, Step Afrika! , Sanam, Bader Al Shuaibi, and Malaysian Cultural Dance.

Expo Beats: World Beats - Day 1

Expo Beats is an all-day festival that celebrates traditional and contemporary music, dance and spoken word, encouraging highly visual and original collaborative moments woven throughout.

The Beats Festival series is focused on integrating artists from Expo participating countries across six festivals, generating meaning-making and cross-national collaboration.

Visitors can enjoy performances that enhance collaboration and solidarity between nations, local and international performers in a celebration that that brings people together and connects global communities.

Description 

The Beats Festival series is focused on integrating artists from International Participants.

Showcasing artists from participating Expo nations across six festivals.

Festival of contemporary and traditional music, dance and spoken word.

Enjoy the music and energy of Grupo Bahía. Representative of the music and culture of Colombia's Pacific coast, Grupo Bahia preserve the roots, feeling and spirituality of Colombian sound.  Having performed for around 22 years, they are part of a cultural movement that has universal recognition. UNESCO has declared the music of the marimba and chants of Colombia’s South Pacific as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. Come and enjoy the music of Grupo Bahía when they take to the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre stage.  

Grupo Bahía

Bahia

Come and enjoy the music of Grupo Bahía when they take to the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre stage.  

Colombia Pavilion

stamp Colombia

Colombia Carousel

From the streets of Bogotá and beyond, the entire world dances to the beats of Colombian music stars like Shakira and J Balvin. At the lively Colombia Pavilion, you’ll see — and most importantly, hear — how this infectious rhythm connects the nation to a thriving future of culture, innovation and urban growth.

The pavilion’s airy, free-ranging design represents Colombia itself, open and unbounded. In and around its four light-filled floors, an abundance of rhythmic attractions awaits: interactive instruments that let you play along with the music, a giant digital jukebox, holographic light shows and more.


colombia logo

The Colombia pavilion’s airy, playful design looks more like a three-dimensional checkerboard than a traditional building. The structure trades typical walls for a rectangular grid of colossal white metal beams and transparent panels and floors, which meet at varying levels to create a four-story tower of platforms, open air plazas, and spacious rooms that peek out in unexpected directions. 


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that connects us to the future

The rhythm 

Colombia: Grupo Bahía 

Welcome to a stunning performance of the art of Azerbaijani dance. These ancient dances with fast rhythms and up-tempo drumming, are performed on holidays, weddings and other social gatherings and form part of the rich art and culture of Azerbaijan.

Dances and Rhythms

Azerbaijan: dances and rhythms

A stunning performance representing the rich art and culture of Azerbaijan through traditional dances and rhythms.

Azerbaijan feature image  

stamp Azerbaijan

Image Gallery

With a striking design that takes inspiration from the natural world and strives to protect it as well, the Azerbaijan Pavilion invites visitors on a journey to discover how each of us can pitch in to restore balance to the planet.

Outside the pavilion, a vast leaf-shaped solar roof harnesses the sun’s rays, while the stylised wooden “tree” shelters a performance stage and authentic Azerbaijani garden below. Inside, dynamic video screens on the floor will guide your path as you plant “seeds for the future”, using a unique card chosen at the pavilion’s entrance to power a variety of interactive, thought-provoking exhibits.

Personalised, digitally enhanced sustainability experience

Advanced eco-features such as rainwater harvesting and a leaf-shaped solar roof

Authentic Azerbaijani garden area and performance space

Azerbaijan Features

Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijan Pavilion’s central column takes the shape of a stylised tree trunk, with massive wooden “branches” that extend upwards to cradle its top level, as an elevated walkway hugs its base. The pavilion is sheltered by a vast, leaf-shaped canopy. 

Azerbaijan intro image  

for the future 

Sowing seeds

Azerbaijan Pavilion 

Azerbaijan: Dances and Rhythms

In celebration of Hungary's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, enjoy the Hungarian State Folk Orchestra at Al Wasl Gardens. Presenting folk music with centuries-old roots in the Carpathian Basin, the orchestra have a great repertoire and have given many highly successful concerts throughout the world. A must see!

Music in the Garden

In celebration of Hungary's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, enjoy the Hngarian State Folk Orchestra at Al Wasl Gardens.

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

EXHIBITOR Magazine's World Expo Awards

EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

Al Wasl Plaza

Al Wasl 

Al Wasl Plaza Images

Expo 2020 Dubai, the first Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region in the 170 years of World Expo history, opened with a celebration of global togetherness and optimism. Spectacular storytelling, performances, fireworks, and immersive projections on the dome of Al Wasl, the heart of Expo 2020, all told a story of collaboration and hope for the future, echoing Expo 2020 Dubai's theme of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". Global artists joining in the celebration included Andrea Bocelli, Ellie Goulding, Lang Lang and Mohammed Abdu.

The first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 opened with a celebration of global connection and hope for the future.

Expo 2020 Dubai Opening Ceremony

Long ago, travellers referred to Dubai as Al Wasl, or “the connection” – a name that reflects the area’s heritage as a meeting point. This spirit of coming together takes shape in Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020’s spectacular centrepiece and gathering ground for celebration and wonder. 

Situated at the meeting point of Expo’s three thematic districts, Al Wasl Plaza's dome is tall enough to fit the Leaning Tower of Pisa beneath it. By night, she transforms into a 360-degree projection screen, blanketed by more than 250 state-of-the-art projectors. Al Wasl Plaza is a hub for visitors and the vibrant heart of our Expo.

Daily performances, national day ceremonies and more

Immersive 360-degree domed projection screen

Lush garden spaces for relaxation and connection

Al Wasl features

Al Wasl Logo-01

Al Wasl Plaza 360

Al Wasl Plaza is 130 metres in diameter and more than 67 metres tall. Delicate-looking despite its titanic scale, her pattern is inspired by our Expo's logo, which is fully visible at the oculus.

and magical

Extraordinary

The life force of the Expo 2020 site, Al Wasl Plaza proudly carries the old name of Dubai.

The beating heart of Expo 2020

A series of immersive 360° videos of Al Wasl's projection shows that put you centre stage for each stunning performance. 

Al Wasl Plaza 360° Immersive Experiences

The Beating Heart of Expo 2020

Band of The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble perform at Al Wasl Stage m65054

Band of The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble perform at Al Wasl Stage m65056

Band of The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble perform at Al Wasl Stage m65057

Band of The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble perform at Al Wasl Stage m65063

Band of The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble perform at Al Wasl Stage m65068

Join us in celebrating Hungary's National Day at Expo 2020

Hungary flag

Hungary National Day

Hungary 1

stamp Hungary

There are more than 1,400 thermal springs in Hungary, in which Hungarians have soaked for health and relaxation for centuries. The Hungary Pavilion celebrates this rich tradition of thermal bathing with a deep dive into the country’s naturally steaming waters. Follow the glowing blue path to tour the hot springs’ geothermal origins, from the mystical cave bath at Miskolctapolca to the grand spas of Budapest. At the end of your journey, relax and reflect in the pavilion’s meditative inner dome, or take a sip of Hungary’s mineral and thermal waters at the Aqua Bar.

Experience an interactive journey on the theme of water without the use of water.

Meditative inner dome offering a moment of relaxation

Immersive tour of Hungary’s thermal waters and bathing culture

Hungary Features

Hungary

The Hungary pavilion is a wide, gently curved concrete cylinder featuring long, vertical planks of exposed wood. Approached from the front, two thick square columns of intricately woven wood frame the entryway and rise above the main building’s domed roof. The entrance plaza features a miniature forest of smart trees, built of the same wood and featuring digital screens and umbrella-like white roofs. In step with the organic design philosophy, these trees blend in seamlessly with the pavilion’s minimalist gardens.

World Beats

Expo Beats.