STUDENTS from Scotland, England and Wales are all being invited to design the official posters for the 2027 Grand Départs of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Launched as part of the Grand Départ GB’s JOY social impact programme, students enrolled on art, design, graphics, creative and photography courses at further and higher education institutions across the local authority areas hosting each of the six stages can enter a competition that will ultimately select the official poster for the 2027 edition of each race.
Tour de France Grand Départs 2027 is split across three stages, with stage one beginning in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July and ending in Carlisle. Stage two is from Keswick to Liverpool and stage three is from Welshpool to Cardiff.
It is a long-standing tradition that each edition of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is represented by its own unique official poster, unveiled each October in Paris as part of race organisers Amaury Sport Organisation’s (ASO) official route presentation for the following year’s races.
As hosts of the 2027 Grand Départ, Britain will design both posters – and Grand Départ GB is extending that opportunity to students.
The opportunity will showcase the skills of UK-based designers at the world’s biggest annual sporting spectacle when it comes to Britain in July 2027, marking the first occasion that both races have begun from the same country outside of France.
Used across the entire event, the artworks will be seen by millions, both on the roadside and worldwide, with the artwork being used by ASO across promotional materials, digital advertising and much more, making for an incredible opportunity for two students to truly go global with their work.
The competition is the first part of the JOY programme’s Arts and Culture strand to go live, with further opportunities for different communities to get involved and celebrate the Grand Départs creatively to follow.
Commenting on the competition, Tracy Power, on behalf of JOY, the Grand Départ GB 2027 social impact programme, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for two talented students to showcase their creative skills on a truly global platform, and to forever be associated with this historic Grand Départ.
“The competition reflects the ambitions we have for JOY to be at the front and centre of the 2027 Grand Départ and we can’t wait to see the creativity of students and their submissions.”
An expert panel, headed by award-winning artist Lucy Pittaway will judge the submissions. Shortlists for both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will be put forward by the Grand Départ GB 2027 panel to ASO, who will select the final winners for each race and then work with them to develop their designs ahead of the October reveal in Paris.
Lucy, a former graphic designer and teacher, who has been recognised with several awards, including ‘UK’s Most Popular Published Artist’ in 2018, 2019, and 2022 by the Fine Art Trade Guild, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be part of the judging panel. Cycling has long been a source of inspiration in my work, and art has a unique power to capture the emotion, movement and stories behind these iconic races.
“Supporting emerging talent as they interpret such a historic moment for cycling across England, Scotland and Wales is truly exciting, and I’m honoured to help celebrate creativity at this level.”
The competition will run from 4 May until 5pm on 26 June 2026. Full details, including terms and conditions and how to enter, are available at www.letourgb.com/poster-competition
