The UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 has opened a window onto a better future, conveniently located between the gift shop and a family arguing over the map.
UN Pavilion solves tomorrow before lunch
The exhibit covers 80 years of international work and contributions from dozens of UN bodies. Visitors can therefore experience the full complexity of global cooperation without leaving the air conditioning.
Ambassador Perdita Lanyard, Commissioner for Meaningful Footfall, said: “Peace, dignity and equality require every nation to work together. The interactive display requires everyone to stand on the blue circle at the same time. Progress is encouraging.”
A five-minute immersive video shows one possible future on a healthy planet. The film took less time than the meeting that decided whether the future should begin with a dissolve or a tasteful lens flare.
Meanwhile, a large Sustainable Development Goal wheel helps guests identify humanity’s priorities. Children spin it and receive either climate action, clean water or a small pencil that says partnership.
The pavilion expects visitors from the Expo’s projected 28 million guests. Each will learn that unity makes success possible, while division makes it much easier to reach the café first.
After six months, the better future will close at 9pm. Anyone still building it must exit through sustainable retail and return tomorrow with a valid ticket.
Read the real story: the UN Pavilion opening announcement.
Organisers say the experience encourages people to imagine a shared future. Visitors have already imagined one in which every country pays its dues, every pledge arrives on time and nobody has to scan a QR code to discover where the toilets are. The queue remains cautiously multilateral.
