Edinburgh Castle to host 2027 Tour de France opening ceremony

Edinburgh Castle will host next year’s Tour de France opening ceremony, the organisers have announced, with tickets for the event due to go on general sale from next week.

The ceremony takes place on the castle Esplanade on June 30 and will feature the official presentation of the riders ahead of the 114th edition of the men’s race.

This will see the world’s top elite cyclists and their teams introduced to fans, ahead of the Grand Depart from the city on July 2.

It will also feature a performance by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, including Highland dancers, massed pipes and drums, and new music created specially for the occasion.

Celebrations are set to extend beyond the castle walls, giving fans across Scotland’s capital the chance to see the riders en route to the castle, and join in the festivities ahead of the Grand Depart.

The race sets off from Edinburgh on July 2 – the first time it has departed from Scotland in its 120-year history.

The peloton will go along the Royal Mile, before heading south, going through Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders and heading to Carlisle via Dumfries and Galloway.

It will then continue through the Lake District to Liverpool, before heading into Wales for a finish in Cardiff.

Tickets for the event will go on general sale from Friday October 30, priced from £27.

A pre-sale window will be available from October 23 to anyone who has subscribed in time to the official newsletter for next year’s Grands Departs.

Members of British Cycling, Scottish Cycling and Beicio Cymru will also have access to a pre-sale window on Saturday 24.