Where will the next major Tour de France starts take place?

Every year, the Grand Départ of the Tour de France attracts the attention of cycling enthusiasts around the world. From Brussels to Florence, via Denmark and Bilbao, the cities that host this historic event benefit from exceptional visibility. In this article, we look back at the start locations of the last 10 Tours de France, before revealing the next Grand Départs already confirmed: Barcelona in 2026 and Edinburgh in 2027.

Starting points of the last 10 Tour de France races

For more than a decade, the Grand Départ of the Tour de France has made a habit of being exported to emblematic cities, both in France and abroad, thus reinforcing the international aura of the Grande Boucle.

• 2025: Lille (France)
• 2024: Florence (Italy)
• 2023: Bilbao (Spain)
• 2022: Copenhagen (Denmark)
• 2021: Brest (France)
• 2020: Nice (France)
• 2019: Brussels (Belgium)
• 2018: Noirmoutier-en-l'Île (France)
• 2017: Düsseldorf (Germany)
• 2016: Mont-Saint-Michel (France)

Tour de France 2026: Barcelona (Spain)

For the Grand Départ of the 2026 Tour de France, the Catalan capital Barcelona will offer a spectacular and innovative launch:

• Stage 1 – Saturday, July 4: Barcelona → Barcelona (19.7 km, team time trial) Starting from the beaches, fast course along the seafront and at the foot of the Sagrada Família, before two climbs leading to the Montjuïc Olympic stadium: classification based on the time of the first rider in each team (already allowing for gaps from the start) tourdefranceparcours.fr +15 Le Tour de France +15 Le Tour de France +15 Tour Barcelona'26 +1 Le Tour de France +1 .

• Stage 2 – Sunday 5 July: Tarragona → Barcelona (178 km, hilly stage) Departure from Tarragona, a UNESCO-listed city, coastal road via Sitges then demanding climb to Begues before a spectacular finish at Montjuïc, with three final climbs Wikipedia +9 Le Tour de France +9 tourdefranceparcours.fr +9 Diario AS +2 Freewheeling France +2 Le Tour de France +2 .
• Stage 3 – Monday, July 6: Granollers → towards France (distance to be confirmed) Departure from Granollers, a handball stronghold and close to the F1 circuit, with a cross-border stage towards a French destination not yet revealed

More information on the official Tour website .

Tour de France 2027: Edinburgh (United Kingdom)

For the very first time in its history, the Tour de France will start in Scotland, with a Grand Départ organized in Edinburgh. This 2027 edition will also mark the second start from the United Kingdom, after London in 2007 and Leeds in 2014. A city rich in heritage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Edinburgh will offer a spectacular backdrop of historic castles, medieval streets, and lush green landscapes.

The decision to hold a Grand Départ in the Scottish capital is part of a desire to further expand the Tour's international reach. The full route has not yet been revealed, but we can expect stages combining rugged terrain and coastal roads, in a setting as demanding as it is picturesque. A bold and symbolic choice, which reinforces the Tour's image as a global sporting and cultural event.

With Grand Départs in Barcelona in 2026 and Edinburgh in 2027, the Tour de France continues to expand its international reach. A delight for cycling fans and those who love unique destinations.