One year to go until Tour de France comes to Cumbria
July 2, 2026
With one year to go until the Tour de France visits Cumbria, residents are being encouraged to sign up to volunteer and be part of the historic event.
A Stage One finish in Carlisle and a Stage Two start in Keswick is confirmed for the 2027 Tour De France.
Set to be the largest free sporting spectacle in British history, the men’s Tour de France will begin in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, with the opening stage finishing in Carlisle the same day, before stage two travels from Keswick on Saturday 3 July 2027 - through the Lake District and Lancashire to finish on The Strand in Liverpool the same day.
The Tour de France (TdF) is the world’s biggest annual sporting event. The race attracts 10-12 million live spectators each year. It is broadcast on television in over 180 countries and has a TV viewership of 150m in Europe alone.
The 2014 Grand Départ in Yorkshire generated an estimated £131 million in economic benefits.
Be part of it!
Volunteer ‘JOY Makers’ required
The search is now underway for thousands of volunteers to help bring one of the world’s biggest sporting events to life.
Applications are open for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Grand Départs in summer 2027.
Around 9,000 volunteers are being recruited across Scotland, England and Wales to play a key role in the event. Known as ‘JOY Makers’, these volunteers will be at the heart of the races, helping to create a welcoming atmosphere for spectators, supporting event logistics and ensuring everything runs smoothly across all six stages.
Applications are now open for anyone interested in getting involved, with opportunities available across all six stages of the event. Registrations remain open until Tuesday 1 September 2026.
To find out more and apply, visit www.letourgb.com/volunteer
Readiness to Work programme
The Readiness to Work programme will give 18 to 25 year olds the chance to gain real world experience by volunteering at this globally recognised event, alongside practical training in skills like CV writing, interviews and personal development.
More information is available at Readiness to Work | Grand Départ GB 2027
We’re encouraging young people to get involved, build confidence, develop valuable skills and take their first steps towards employment while playing a role in a once-in-a-generation event.