# Bureau of International Expositions

> international organization

**Wikidata**: [Q1010514](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1010514)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_International_des_Expositions)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bureau-of-international-expositions

## Summary
The Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) is an international organization established by treaty between governments, headquartered in Paris, France. Founded on November 22, 1928, it operates under the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions and serves as the intergovernmental body responsible for overseeing and regulating international exhibitions and expos.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** BUREAU INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITIONS (registered under French law)
- **Short Name:** BIE
- **Founded:** November 22, 1928
- **Location of Formation:** Paris, France
- **Headquarters:** 34 avenue d'Iéna, Paris (coordinates: 48.8660875, 2.2950912)
- **Country:** France
- **Legal Form:** International organization (per legal categories in France)
- **Industry Classification:** Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies (Nomenclature d'activités française, rév. 2)
- **Foundational Text:** Convention Relating to International Exhibitions
- **Instance Of:** International organization, festival organization
- **Head of Organization Position:** Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions
- **Wikipedia Title:** Bureau International des Expositions
- **Commons Category:** Bureau of International Expositions
- **Website:** https://www.bie-paris.org/ (English) | https://www.bie-paris.org/site/fr/ (French)
- **SIREN Number:** 784656688
- **Wikipedia Languages:** 28 editions (ar, az, ca, commons, cs, de, en, eo, es, fa, fr, he, it, ja, kk, ko, nl, no, pt, ro, ru, sr, sv, th, tr, uk, ur, wuu, zh)
- **Sitelink Count:** 30

## FAQs
**Where is the Bureau of International Expositions headquartered?**
The BIE is headquartered at 34 avenue d'Iéna in Paris, France, situated at coordinates 48.8660875 latitude and 2.2950912 longitude.

**When was the Bureau of International Expositions founded?**
The BIE was established on November 22, 1928, in Paris, France, under the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions.

**What type of organization is the BIE?**
The Bureau of International Expositions is classified as both an international organization and a festival organization. Under French law, it operates as an extraterritorial organization engaged in activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies.

**How can I access the BIE's online presence?**
The BIE maintains a website at bie-paris.org with English and French versions, and is active on social media: Twitter (@bieparis), Facebook (bieparis), Instagram (@bieexpo), Threads (@bieexpo), and LinkedIn (bureau-international-des-expositions).

**What is the foundational document of the BIE?**
The Convention Relating to International Exhibitions serves as the foundational text governing the establishment and operations of the Bureau of International Expositions.

## Why It Matters
The Bureau of International Expositions serves as the primary intergovernmental authority for regulating and overseeing international exhibitions and expos worldwide. Established through an international treaty, the BIE provides the governance framework ensuring these global events meet established standards while fostering international cooperation and cultural exchange. Its classification as an extraterritorial organization underscores its unique diplomatic status and the trust placed in it by member governments. Spanning nearly a century since its 1928 founding, the BIE has demonstrated enduring relevance in coordinating large-scale international events. With Wikipedia articles in 28 languages and presence in major library and authority systems worldwide, the organization occupies a significant position in international cultural and diplomatic infrastructure.

## Notable For
- One of the older intergovernmental organizations dedicated to cultural and exhibition oversight, founded in 1928
- Headquartered in Paris, a city historically central to international diplomacy and cultural exchange
- Operates under the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions as its foundational treaty
- Classified as an extraterritorial organization, granting it special legal status
- Dual classification as both an international organization and festival organization
- Multilingual Wikipedia presence across 28 language editions, reflecting global recognition
- Registered with over 15 international authority and library identification systems
- Maintains an active presence across five major social media platforms
- Listed in the Roller Coaster Database, connecting it to amusement and exhibition history

## Body

### Identity and Overview
The Bureau of International Expositions, officially registered under French law as "BUREAU INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITIONS," operates under the widely recognized abbreviation "BIE." The organization is known by numerous aliases and translations across languages, including International Exhibitions Bureau in English, Oficina internacional de exposiciones in Spanish, Internationales Büro für Ausstellungen in German, 万国博覧会事務局 and 国際博覧会事務局 in Japanese, 國際展覽局成員國 in Chinese, and Oficina Internacional de Exposições and Gabinete Internacional de Exposições in Portuguese.

### Founding and Legal Framework
The BIE was established on November 22, 1928, in Paris, France. Its creation stems from the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions, which serves as the organization's foundational text. Under French legal categories, the BIE is classified as an international organization. Its industry classification falls under "activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies" according to the Nomenclature d'activités française, rév. 2, as documented in references dated October 27, 2021. The organization holds SIREN number 784656688 and is listed on OpenCorporates under fr/784656688.

### Headquarters and Location
The BIE maintains its headquarters at 34 avenue d'Iéna in Paris, France. The precise coordinates are latitude 48.8660875 and longitude 2.2950912. Paris serves as the capital and most populous city in France, a country in Western Europe with overseas territories in America, Africa, and Oceania. France's historical inception dates include 481 as Francia, 843 as West Francia under the Treaty of Verdun, and 1804 as the First French Empire.

### Leadership and Governance
The organization's leadership structure includes the position of Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions as the head of the organization. This role serves as the primary leadership position within the BIE's governance framework.

### Digital Presence and Media
The BIE maintains a comprehensive digital footprint. Its official website offers English content at https://www.bie-paris.org/ and French content at https://www.bie-paris.org/site/fr/. On social media, the organization operates under handles including Twitter as bieparis, Facebook as bieparis, Instagram as bieexpo, Threads as bieexpo, and LinkedIn as bureau-international-des-expositions. The organization's logo is available through Wikimedia Commons, and an image of its headquarters is documented as Siège_du_Bureau_international_des_Expositions_Paris.jpg. The BIE has a Wikipedia presence across 28 languages including Arabic, Azerbaijani, Catalan, Czech, German, English, Esperanto, Spanish, Persian, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Korean, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Wu Chinese, and Chinese. The Wikimedia Commons category for the organization is "Bureau of International Expositions."

### Authority and Library Identifications
The BIE is registered with numerous international authority and library systems:
- **ISNI:** 0000000119394431
- **GND ID:** 2181879-4
- **VIAF ID:** 126320326 (referenced from source , retrieved 2015-08-07)
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n85366616
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 12006969b (referenced from source , retrieved 2015-08-26)
- **IDRef ID:** 028244087 (referenced from source , retrieved 2015-08-26)
- **SBN Author ID:** UFIV113426
- **National Library of Portugal ID:** 274664
- **Libraries Australia ID:** 36586945
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007263039805171
- **KISTI ID:** K000236236
- **NL CR AUT ID:** kn20010711040 (listed as International Exhibitions Bureau)
- **Termdat Concept ID:** 249350
- **Yale LUX ID:** group/04fbf1a9-0519-4fb7-a1cf-87829376538d
- **Wikikids ID:** Bureau_International_des_Expositions
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0pld6 (referenced from source , published 2013-10-28)
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID:** topic/Bureau-of-International-des-Expositions
- **UIA Open Yearbook Organization Website ID:** 1100067508
- **Roller Coaster Database ID:** 15943
- **OpenCorporates ID:** fr/784656688

### Organizational Connections
As an international organization established by treaty between governments, the BIE operates within the broader framework of intergovernmental cooperation. Paris serves as both its founding location and current headquarters, placing the organization within one of the world's primary centers for international diplomacy and cultural institutions.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. SIRENE
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013