Serbia will open applications for Expo 2027 Belgrade volunteers on May 15, 2026, and through the “Expo Playmakers” program it is looking for 20,000 people to take part in organizing the country’s biggest international event of the coming year. The program was presented at the event “Volunteering? Changing the Game,” held at the Expo 2027 Playground, where organizers said the name “Expo Playmakers” symbolically refers to people who set things in motion and whose engagement shapes the overall event experience and contributes to the image Serbia presents to the world.
Who can apply and what they can expect
According to the press release, the program is open to all candidates aged 18 and above, both from Serbia and abroad. Participants will be able to work in 48 different roles, develop practical skills, and become part of an international team that will deliver the event over 93 days. Organizers also stress that volunteering is positioned as both a personal and professional investment through a partner-based system of benefits.
From ECTS credits to travel discounts
First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali said the program also brings concrete educational value. “We will follow European Union practices, meaning that students who volunteer for more than 15 days will be eligible to receive between one and three ECTS credits, giving this experience formal recognition within the education system,” Mali said. The release also states that participants will have access to numerous benefits, “from 27% discounts on airline tickets with Air Serbia to special offers from Telekom Srbija.” 
Athletes in focus: volunteers shape Serbia’s image
Special attention at the presentation was drawn by program ambassadors, celebrated athletes Tijana Bogdanović and Milan Glusac. Glusac said volunteers are often the first to welcome athletes and that their energy directly influences the atmosphere of competitions. “They are always there smiling and dedicated, and they transfer that energy to us. It truly makes a difference,” he said, stressing that Expo 2027 is an opportunity for volunteers to show the best image of Serbia to the world.
Bogdanović said volunteers are not a supporting element of the organization, but an integral part of it. “No medal comes without the people behind the system. Through experiences like this, volunteers build confidence, develop skills, and gain the opportunity to discover their own path. It is an experience that stays with you for a lifetime,” she said. Serbian media reports covering the event also emphasized that volunteers will take away new connections, confidence, and experience that cannot be learned from books.
The manifesto and the broader message
The event also featured Persida Miljković, described as the oldest volunteer in Serbia, symbolically reinforcing the message that Expo 2027 connects all generations. It concluded with the symbolic signing of the Playmakers Manifesto and the message that every encounter, smile, and gesture of attention helps build the image of the host country. Organizers also stressed that Playmakers are the ones who will connect people, make every guest in Belgrade feel welcome, and lay the foundations for future generations of leaders.
Photos: Dragan Kujundžić
