The presentation of the riders will take place on the castle Esplanade on 30 June 2027, two days before the Grand Depart from the city.
Edinburgh Castle will host the opening ceremony of the 2027 Tour de France, as the race sets off from Scotland for the first time in its history. The event, on the castle Esplanade on 30 June, will feature the official presentation of the riders ahead of the 114th edition of the men’s race. The world’s top cyclists and their teams will be introduced to fans before the Grand Depart from the city on 2 July. Organisers expect millions more to watch internationally.
The ceremony
VisitScotland and Grand Depart GB say the Esplanade arena will hold 8,500 spectators. The programme will combine live music, special effects, storytelling and performances celebrating Scotland, England, Wales and France. It will include a performance by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with Highland dancers, massed pipes and drums, and new music written for the occasion. According to the research notes, the original music is by Angus MacPhail, a founding member of the Scottish band Skipinnish, and the programme will also feature military musicians and Highland traditions.
The ceremony is a ticketed event, though the race itself is free to watch. General sales are planned for autumn 2026, and subscribers to the Grand Depart GB newsletter will get an exclusive presale. Prices and a general-sale date have not been announced, and details will appear on the official event page.
Celebrations will spill beyond the castle. Organisers expect thousands to line the Royal Mile as the riders make their way to the presentation, giving fans across the city the chance to see them and join in. A procession timetable and public viewing arrangements have not been confirmed. The Edinburgh International Conference Centre will serve as the race headquarters and international press centre, opening on Tuesday 29 June 2027.
The route
The Tour’s three British stages cover 630km:
| Date | Stage | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 2 July 2027 | Edinburgh to Carlisle | 184km |
| 3 July 2027 | Keswick to Liverpool | 223km |
| 4 July 2027 | Welshpool to Cardiff | 223km |
The first stage includes the Cote de Melrose climb in the Scottish Borders. Midlothian Council has named communities along the A7 where spectators may see the riders on 2 July: Melville Dykes and Eskbank, Bonnyrigg, Newtongrange, Gorebridge and North Middleton. The race then continues in France.
A historic year for Britain
Edinburgh will be the third British Grand Depart host, after London in 2007 and Leeds in 2014. The Tour’s organisers say it will rival Copenhagen as the northernmost Grand Depart in the race’s history. Britain will also become the first country outside France to host the starts of both the men’s Tour and the Tour de France Femmes in one year. The women’s race begins in Leeds on 30 July 2027, with British stages through Manchester, Sheffield and London.
A Scottish Government freedom of information disclosure names the Scottish, Welsh and UK governments as the principal funding partners. It says Scotland-specific costs, including staffing, legacy activity and contingency, could bring the Scottish Government’s total exposure to a maximum of £9.25m. That is a ceiling, not proof that the full amount has been spent.
