Expo 2031 FAQ for Suppliers

Updated Nov 10, 2026 

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About Expo 2031 

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What is Expo 2031?
Expo 2031 Minnesota USA is the first A1 International Horticultural Exposition in the United States. The theme is Human/Nature: Where Humanity and Horticulture Meet. The expo brings together seven sectors: Agriculture, Energy, Water, Health & Wellbeing, Future Technology, Tourism and Horticulture.

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Where and when is it?
Expo 2031 will take place in Dakota County, Minnesota, and Lakeville is being advanced as the host city. It runs for six months, from May 1 to October 15, 2031. Organizers expect more than 4 million visitors and participation from 60 to 80 countries.

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What will visitors experience?
Visitors explore five immersive ecological zones: Tropical, Arid, Temperate, Continental and North Star, along with living landscape biodomes and international gardens. At the center is the USA Pavilion, with a vertical greenhouse, performance theater and programming on health, food, sustainability and technology. The pavilion stays after the expo as a year-round destination in the future living district.

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Why get involved as a Supplier for Expo 2031?

 

What could my company gain?

Visibility, credentials and connections. Your work is on display to millions of visitors and global decision makers for six months. You build relationships with governments and international partners that last well past 2031, and you walk away with a world-stage project in your portfolio. Opening day is May 1, 2031, and companies that get involved early can help shape the expo from the start.

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Do I have to be a large company? 

Expo 2031 needs companies of every size. Some contracts suit large firms, others suit small teams, and many large contractors bring in specialists as partners.

 

Types of Work and Timing

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What kinds of companies will Expo need? 

A wide range, from earthworks and construction to horticulture, transportation, security, hospitality, technology and professional services. If your company builds, grows, moves, protects, feeds, hosts or connects people, there’s likely a fit. Choose from a detailed list of supplier categories on the portal.

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When will the work happen? 

Work is spread across five years

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What happens after the Expo closes?

Key parts of the site stay open as a future living district, including the USA Pavilion and glass house, an Expo Hall for conventions and trade shows, a hotel, an amphitheater, multimedia studios, and public gardens and trails.  Each of these brings ongoing work in operations, maintenance, events and hospitality well after 2031.

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Next Steps

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How do I get started? 

Register through the Expo 2031 Supplier Portal. It takes about 20 minutes, and it puts your company on the list the Expo team uses to find suppliers and send bid announcements.

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How do I stay up to date on Expo 2031? 

Visit expo2031.org and follow our social media for news releases and project updates

 

Are there more ways to be involved? 

Companies that want a larger role can apply to become an Official Partner of Expo 2031. Official Partners invest in the Expo and, in return, are recognized as the official company in their category, with brand visibility across the Expo, its campaigns and its events from now through 2031. Partnerships are still available in many categories. If your company is ready to make that kind of commitment, we'd love to start the conversation.

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Who can I talk to? 

Contact us link at the bottom of any page, choose a topic, and send your message. We'll reply by email. You can also reply to any email the portal sends you or email directly to suppliers@expo2031.org

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Getting Started On the Portal

 

How do I register as a supplier? 

Go to the sign-up page and enter your email address. We'll email you a sign-in link. Open it, press Continue, pay the one-time registration fee, then fill in your company profile and submit it for review. 

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Do I need a password? 

No. Each time you sign in, we email you a link. Open the link from the same email address you registered with. 

 

I didn't get my sign-in link.  What should I do? 

Wait a few minutes and check your spam or junk folder. If it still hasn't arrived, request a new link from the sign-in page. If you still have trouble, use the Contact us link at the bottom of any page. 

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My sign-in link says it's expired or already used. 

Each link works once and expires after 15 minutes. Request a new link from the sign-in page. 

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Can I use a Gmail or other personal email address? 

Please register with your business email address if possible. 

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How long do I stay signed in? 

You stay signed in on the same browser for up to 30 days. Use Sign out on a shared computer. 

 

Registration Fee 

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Is there a fee to register? 

Yes. There's a one-time $200 registration fee. It's paid once and doesn't renew. The fee is non-refundable. 

 

How can I pay? 

By credit or debit card (including Apple Pay and Google Pay), Link, or directly from a US bank account (ACH). You pay on Stripe's secure payment page. We never see or store your card or bank details. 

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My card was declined. What now? 

Nothing was charged. Try another card or pay from your bank account instead. If you left the payment page, sign in and press Continue to payment to try again. 

 

I paid by bank account. When can I use the portal? 

Bank payments take about 4 business days to clear, but you can use the portal straight away while it does. 

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My bank payment didn't go through. 

We'll email you if a bank payment fails. Sign in and pay again. Your profile and documents are still saved. 

 

Where's my receipt? 

Stripe emails your receipt as soon as your payment goes through (for bank payments, once the payment clears). Your company name and billing address from the payment page appear on it. 

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Can I get a refund? 

No. The registration fee is non-refundable. 

 

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Your Company Profile 

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Do I have to finish my profile in one go? 

No. Save a draft at any time and come back later. Your profile isn't sent for review until you press Submit. 

 

What do I need to submit my profile? 

Fill in every field marked with an asterisk (*), choose at least one category, and agree to the consent statement at the end. 

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How do I choose my categories? 

Tick every category that applies to your business, not just your main one. We use your categories to match you with opportunities. 

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What do "Closed" and "Partner-sponsored" next to a category mean? 

They show that category's current status. You can still select it. If a category you've selected changes, it will be reflected in the portal. we'll email you. 

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Can I change my profile after I submit it? 

Yes. Sign in and choose Edit your profile. Changes are saved to your record right away. 

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Documents 

Which documents should I upload? 

Your W-9, certificate of insurance, capability statement, and any certifications your business holds. You can add documents once you've saved your profile. 

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What file types can I upload? 

PDF, Word (.docx), JPG, or PNG, up to 10 MB each. 

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Who can see my documents? 

Only the Expo 2031 review team. W-9s are stored separately, and only administrators can open them. 

 

How do I update an expired certificate of insurance? 

Upload the new certificate and enter its expiration date. It replaces the current one; earlier versions are kept on file. The documents page shows when a certificate expires within 30 days or has expired. 

 

Your Status 

What does my status mean? 

Draft: you haven't submitted your profile yet. 

Received: we have your profile, and it's waiting for review. 

In review: the Expo 2031 team is reviewing your profile. 

Registered: you're registered as an Expo 2031 preferred supplier. 

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What do the statuses next to my categories and bids mean? 

Each shows where you stand for that category or bid opportunity:

Registered, Invited to Bid, Shortlisted, Awarded, or Not selected at this time. 

Will you email me when my status changes? 

No. Sign in to the portal to see your current status. 

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Does registering guarantee me work? 

No. Registering doesn't guarantee an invitation to bid, a contract or any other work with Expo 2031.
 

Your account and email 

How do I change the email address I sign in with? 

On the portal home page, find Account and choose Change. Enter the new address and we'll email it a confirmation link. Once you confirm, you'll be signed out and can sign in with the new address. Until then, keep using your current one. 

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I can't get into the inbox I registered with. 

Use the Contact us link. An administrator can change your sign-in email for you. 

 

What emails will I get from the portal? 

Sign-in links, a confirmation when you submit your profile, a notice if a bank payment fails, and announcements about categories and bid opportunities. 

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How do I stop getting announcement emails? 

Click Unsubscribe at the bottom of any announcement. Your registration isn't affected, and you'll still get emails about your own account, such as sign-in links. 

 

Getting help 

How do I contact the supplier team? 

Use the Need help? Contact us link at the bottom of any page, choose a topic, and send your message. We'll reply by email. You can also reply to any email the portal sends you.