The Baltic Pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka has already welcomed around 800,000 visitors — a strong sign of its growing popularity. Its success has also been confirmed on the international stage: at the TEDA Awards, organised by the Experience Design Association, the pavilion won 2nd place in the Visitor’s Choice category and 5th place for Best Mascot.
The TEDA “Expolympics” competition highlights the most creative, innovative and impactful experiential design solutions at EXPO. This year, more than 160 countries and organisations are taking part.
“Visitor interest in the Baltic Pavilion has been strong from the very first days of the Expo, and we are delighted that the way we present Lithuania and the Baltic region has also been recognised by the international jury. Our aim was not only to capture attention, but also to build lasting connections — combining modernity and innovation with elements that reveal our identity and uniqueness. Standing out among so many participating countries is no easy task, and we are proud that Lithuania has succeeded,”
– Lina Antanavičienė, Commissioner General of the Lithuanian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 and Ambassador
In the Visitor’s Choice category, the Baltic Pavilion competed with Malta, Singapore, the Czech Republic and the “Tech World” Pavilion, with the final rankings determined by public vote. For the Best Mascot award, Barabi-chan stood alongside mascots from the Czech Republic, Portugal, Bulgaria and Thailand.
Meet Barabi-chan
The pavilion’s mascot — the playful mushroom Barabi-chan — was created by the Lithuanian creative design studio KOI, led by creative producer Sergejus Grigorjevas.
“As the creator of the mascot, I wanted to express Baltic values to a Japanese audience in an open and direct way — moderation, respect for traditions and food culture, and a sincere curiosity. The rest is up to the viewer,”
– Sergejus Grigorjevas, Creative Producer
About EXPO 2025
The World Expo is the largest international showcase event, held every four years and lasting six months. Lithuania’s participation is organised by the Government Office, with Lithuania and Latvia joining forces in the Baltic Pavilion. Together, they highlight the relationship between nature, people and technology, while inviting visitors to contribute to the preservation of our planet.
