Tickets for the opening ceremony of the 114th Tour de France, which will take place at Edinburgh Castle on 30 June next year, will go on sale from Saturday at noon for pre-sale to members of British Cycling, Scottish Cycling and Beicio Cymru.

Tattoo customers have priority to tickets from noon on Monday 26 October and tickets go on general sale from midday on Friday 30 October.

Festivities on the esplanade will include the presentation of the riders, billed as the “world’s best cyclists”.

The ceremony at the castle will be a blend of elite sport combined with a Scottish welcome from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with Highland dancers, massed pipes and drums and new music composed for the occasion.

According to the race owners, this will be an opportunity to display Scottish culture alongside the historic Grand Départ. 

The men’s race begins on 2 July 2027 and will be the first time that both the men’s and women’s races have taken place in the same country outside France in the history of the race. 

From Edinburgh the men’s race will travel to Carlisle before weaving through the Lake District and Liverpool, before finishing in Cardiff.

Millions are expected to watch the race – the world’s biggest free to watch sporting event.

Tickets for the ceremony are priced from £27 but Tour de France promise that there will be other opportunities to see the cyclists as they travel up to the Castle.

Finances

The City of Edinburgh Council is making a contribution of up to £1.7m towards the estimated cost of the whole event of £3.3m. The Scottish Government has said it will underwrite any remaining difference and will settle any balance over £1.7m.

In total the government is investing up to £9.25m to support the Tour de France.

In February then Business Minister, Richard Lochhead, announced that £1m of the total funding will be made to Scottish Cycling for a social impact programme to “capture the benefits of this once in a generation event”.

Mr Lochhead said at the time of the announcement: “Hosting the opening stage of the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ is a once in a generation opportunity. It is the biggest free spectator event in the world and will showcase our country to a global audience.

“But it is about more than just a race. This £1m investment will ensure communities feel the benefits across Scotland, supporting people to become more active, improving wellbeing and helping local areas to thrive long after the race has left.

“The Tour de France is just one of three upcoming major sporting events – along with this summer’s Commonwealth Games and the UEFA EURO 2028 football championships – that will underline Scotland’s status as a global sporting venue.”