Cumberland students invited to design official Tour de France posters
Art and design students in Cumberland are being invited to create official posters for the 2027 Grand Départs of the Tour de France.
Last updated 5th May 2026
The competition is open to students studying art, design, graphics, creative and photography courses at further and higher education institutions in areas hosting stages of the races.
It includes students in the Cumberland Council area, with Carlisle confirmed as the Stage One finish and Keswick confirmed as the Stage Two start for the 2027 men’s Tour de France.
The race will begin in Edinburgh on Friday, July 2, 2027, before the opening stage finishes in Carlisle later that day.
Stage Two will set off from Keswick on Saturday, July 3, travelling through the Lake District and Lancashire before finishing on The Strand in Liverpool.
The poster competition has been launched as part of Grand Départ GB’s JOY social impact programme.
Each edition of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is traditionally represented by its own official poster, unveiled in Paris each October as part of race organiser ASO’s route presentation for the following year.
As host of the 2027 Grand Départs, Britain will design both posters, with students being given the chance to have their work selected.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said: “We look forward to welcoming the globally renowned Tour De France to Cumberland.
“It will provide a big boost to the local economy and will showcase Cumberland to an international audience. We hope that our communities are inspired to get involved and promote the health and wellbeing of sport.
“The poster competition is a brilliant opportunity for students, studying in our area, to play a part in this amazing event. Take part and celebrate our area to a global audience.”
The winning designs will be used across the event, including in promotional materials and digital advertising by the Amaury Sport Organisation.
Organisers say the artwork will be seen by millions of people, both at the roadside and around the world.
Karen Jones, Business Manager at the Institute of Education, Arts and Society at the University of Cumbria, said: “This competition sends a strong message to students studying creative subjects across local authority regions: you don’t have to go far to go far.
“It highlights that students can study locally while still having their work showcased on a global stage.
“The creative industries play a vital role in supporting and influencing many other sectors, and opportunities like this can have a lasting impact — helping to inspire, develop, and shape future careers.
“We look forward to working with the delivery partners on this exciting event.”
The competition is the first part of the JOY programme’s Arts and Culture strand to launch, with more opportunities for communities to get involved expected to follow.
Tracy Power, speaking 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.”
Entries will be judged by an expert panel headed by award-winning artist Lucy Pittaway.
Shortlists for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift posters will be put forward to ASO, which will choose the final winners.
The winning designers will then work with ASO to develop their designs ahead of the official reveal in Paris in October 2026.
Both winners will also be invited to Paris for the unveiling during ASO’s route presentation of the 2027 races and will receive a hospitality experience at one of next year’s British stages.
The competition is open until 5pm on Friday, June 26, 2026.
Full details, including terms and conditions and how to enter, are available at www.letourgb.com/poster-competition .
More information about the 2027 Grand Départs, including volunteering opportunities ahead of registration opening at the end of May 2026, is available at letourgb.com.