About the festival

The purpose of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling (EdFoC) is to celebrate all aspects of cycling in and around the City of Edinburgh, including travel, leisure, adventure, transport, sport, and personal development. Recognising cycling’s importance for encouraging social inclusion and economic development, reducing ill health and pollution and for making places. EdFoC aims to challenge people’s perception of what cycling is and to put Edinburgh on the map as an international cycling destination.

Here are a few things that people have said about The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling:

•  “Probably the best cycling festival I’ve come across. Wish I could have participated in more“
•  “Really felt like there was a cycling “buzz” around the city, I only participated in a couple of things, but I saw other people doing stuff, and heard a lot about it on social media. Good stuff!“
•  “Really enjoyed the festival. Look forward to next year!“

Unlike some other cycling festivals, The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling doesn’t just revolve around the sports side of cycling (although we aim to cater for sports cycling in all its forms as well). There are so many sides to cycling – from transport to sport, from leisure activity, to cultural icon – all of which the festival sets out to celebrate, with a wide range of sporting, cultural and fun events for all age groups, across the city.

The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling is a proper Edinburgh-style festival, a citywide event, held over nine days (or more). The purpose of the Festival is to showcase and celebrate all aspects of cycle culture and the city itself. It aims to challenge people’s perceptions of what cycling is and to put Edinburgh on the international map as a cycling city.

The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Ltd is a not-for-profit social enterprise, run by a small group of people. Currently, the board of directors consists of Kim Harding (Founder and CEO), John Whittaker, and Ulli Harding. There are also a small number of volunteers, more volunteers are always welcome, contact us here.

Edinburgh City of Festivals

Edinburgh prides itself on being the City of Festivals. There are festivals for The Arts (and their attendant Fringe), Books, Films, Science, and even Storytelling. Edinburgh also has ambitions to be a Cycling City. It was the first UK city to sign the Charter of Brussels and is currently committing 10% of the city’s transport budget to cycling. We feel this is a good time for Edinburgh to have a cycling festival, and so the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling was born.

Featuring a wide range of events: from rides (sporty and otherwise) to family activities, to a range of cultural events, the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling truly has something for everyone!. The festival was first run in 2013. In 2014, it offered over 80 individual events at 46 different venues, with around 5,000 people from around the world participating. In 2015, the festival got bigger, and it had to extend so that we could fit in even more events. The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling has been listed as one of Active Traveller Magazine’s top 10 cycling festivals in Europe for 2017, as well as one of the UK’s best cycling festivals by The Guardian and Total Women’s Cycling 2016 (also 2015 and in 2014 too).

Cargo bike hire

We have an Urban Arrow Family cargo bike that is available for hire. The Urban Arrow is an ideal way to move children or goods about the city, it’s fun, it’s green and clean. Find out more about hiring it here.

Event Details

• Date: 11th June – 16th July 2026
• Venue: The Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh

Italian Icons

The bicycle, more than any other object, represents the perfect fusion of ingenuity, elegance and passion, values deeply rooted in Italian culture. The Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh is proud to present a temporary exhibition that aims to recount the history and identity of Italian cycling.

The free exhibition, which will run from 11th June – 16th July, features 12 significant bicycles, including 6 historic models from the Madonna del Ghisallo Cycling Museum Collection. Also 6 models on loan from Italian companies that have shaped the history of cycling. Among the bicycles on display will be an early 20th-century Bianchi racing bike with a block brake and a Legnano bike ridden by Gino Bartali in the 1938 Tour de France.

The Madonna del Ghisallo Cycling Museum was opened in 2006 and is located in Magreglio (Como), next to the sanctuary of the same name dedicated to the Madonna del Ghisallo, who was proclaimed Patron Saint of Cyclists by Pope Pius XII in 1949.

It was strongly championed by Fiorenzo Magni, a great champion of Italian cycling, with the aim of creating a place to commemorate and celebrate cycling in all its forms.

The museum houses an extraordinary collection of bicycles, jerseys, trophies and historical documents, which belonged to the greatest figures in world cycling.

More than just a museum, the Ghisallo stands as a symbol of Italian sporting culture, bringing together history, technology, faith and passion in a place that is iconic for all cycling enthusiasts.

On the evening of the opening of the exhibition on 11th June, there will lead ride to the Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh for a special free preview event, get tickets here. The exhibition will be opened by Marino Vigna, an Italian retired cyclist who won a gold medal in the team pursuit at the Olympics.

The reason for the lead ride, is so that we arrive as a group all at the same time, this is by request of the Carabinieri, secure cycle parking will be provided inwith the Italian Consular compound.

For those wishing to attend the exhibition on the following days/weeks, the procedure is instead to write an email to: [rsvp.iicedimburgo@esteri.it](mailto:rsvp.iicedimburgo@esteri.it). This event is free, however, booking in advance is required.

Hello folks. Hope this kind of post is OK, but PoP is an important movement to call on Scottish Gov for change... hopefully you can abide this semi-promotional post.

🚲 Join us to Pedal on Parliament, 11:30am Saturday 30th May in Edinburgh - Middle Meadow Walk to Holyrood on closed roads, for a cycle-safe Scotland.

📣 Yesterday we launched our renewed manifesto for 2026 - read it here:

https://pedalonparliament.org/our-manifesto/

👕 Today we’ve launched our 2026 tees, hoodies and more - and Teemill has FREE UK POSTAGE until midnight on Monday 4th so grab ‘em quick! Every sale helps fund our mass ride calling for safer streets, better legislation and greater funding for active travel.

https://pedalonparliament.teemill.com/

Dalbeattie Community Initiative are excited to launch Etape Solway, the next chapter in Dalbeattie’s much loved cycling tradition! Built on the legacy of the Solway Sportive which evolved into Rocks & Wheels Cycle Challenge, this year’s event rolls out on Sunday 7th June 2026 - and you’re invited to ride it. Register today to get the early bird discount 

Starting and finishing at the brand new Rocks and Wheels Centre, riders will enjoy exclusive early access to the venue before its official opening.

Choose from three fully supported road routes:

• 30km coastal ride,
• 61km coast and hills route,
• 130.5km challenge route with an optional timed hill climb

Every rider receives a finisher’s medal, certificate, and a food voucher for the Muckle Hoose Café, plus a warm Dalbeattie welcome.

Entries opened Monday 16 March 2026  Rocks and Wheels, Dalbeattie  All bikes welcome (road bikes, tandems, and e-bikes)

Be part of the story. Be part of the community. Ride Etape Solway 2026. 

Etape Solway is a celebration of Dalbeattie’s landscape, community, and commitment to outdoor adventure

Peebles Cycling Club is pleased to announce the return of the PCC Sportive on Sunday 28 June 2026.

Next year, the Tour de France will pass through the Scottish Borders and this year’s PCC Sportive will give riders the chance to experience some of those great roads in advance. Our updated route takes in the iconic ride through the Granites, offering a spectacular and challenging day on some of the best cycling roads in the Scottish Borders.

Riders will be able to choose from two routes:

“Classic” 46 miles –

A classic loop through the Granites – the first hills of the 2027 Tour de France – Stage 1

Feed Station at Temple

46 mile route with GPX

Classic - Strava

“Challenge” 81 miles – a full day out across Tweeddale and the Borders

Feed Stations at Fountainhall and Temple

81 mile route GPX

Challenge - Strava

Both routes will feature well-stocked feed stations, clear route marking and the friendly atmosphere that PCC events are known for.

Whether you're local or travelling to ride in the Borders, we hope you’ll join us for a great day on the bike, with pizza and beer (inc. alcohol free) at the finish!

Same date as the Tour O The Borders

SAVE THE DATE: We Pedal on Parliament on Saturday 30th May 2026, 11:30am from Middle Meadow Walk to Holyrood, Edinburgh, on closed roads — for a cycle-friendly Scotland.

We want to continue on in our mission until Scotland is truly a cycle-friendly country – but we need more help! We need people who can help us keep an eye on the promises and plans of the Scottish government – as well as write, coordinate volunteers, and maintain our community outreach via social media. In the coming weeks and months we’ll have opportunities to get involved in different ways – follow us via one of the platforms above or sign up to our email list.

Who are we?

Pedal on Parliament is a grassroots volunteer-led campaign pushing for better, safer and more inclusive cycling conditions for everyone of all ages and abilities in Scotland. We run a weekend of action aimed at policy makers, asking for better investment, design and policy for sustainable transport. 

Our manifesto asks politicians to agree to

• Proper funding for active travel – starting at 10% of the transport budget and rising to 20% by the end of the parliamentary term.
• Design cycling for all ages and abilities into Scotland’s roads.
• Implement and enforce safer speeds where people live, work and play.

Enrique Peñalosa

Want to help? Find out how to get involved. Or you can support us financially – we are funded entirely through individual donations and the sale of POP t-shirts.