The "lottery ceremony" to decide the order of the Gion Festival floats was held on July 2, 2024, at the City Hall City Council Assembly Hall in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City. Abura Tenjinyama was chosen as the "first float" following the leading Nagatsuchi Hoko in the pre-matsuri (early festival) on July 17. This is the first time in 22 years that Abura Tenjinyama has been the first float to go first in the Ato Matsuri (late festival) on July 24, and the first time since the pre-matsuri and late festival parades were separated in 2014. Kuronushiyama will parade first in the late festival on July 24 for the first time in six years. Kuronushiyama will parade after Hashibenkeiyama and Kitakannonyama.
Representatives of 24 of the 34 pre-matsuri and late festival floats, excluding the "not taking the lottery" floats whose order is already decided, drew lots. The lottery ceremony began in 1500 after the Onin War to avoid a fight to be the first float in the parade.
