Ludwig van Beethoven on 10 euros, Marie Curie on 20 euros, Leonardo da Vinci on 100 euros. But also a wallcreeper, a kingfisher, the European Parliament and the ECB headquarters: these are some of the subjects featured on the new euro banknotes for which today the European Central Bank presented the finalist designs.
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The competition for the design of the next series of banknotes is in its final phase: now a survey among European citizens, as also explained by President Christine Lagarde, will help determine the choice of design which will then be developed and tested before going into production. The introduction of the new banknotes into circulation is expected in the following years, and the previous series of euro banknotes will retain their value and continue to circulate alongside the new series.
First redesign since 2002
This will be the first complete redesign of the euro banknotes since their issuance in 2002. The new banknotes will feature new and more advanced security features to facilitate their recognition and accessibility, including for people with visual impairments. The ECB also aims to reduce the environmental footprint of banknotes by making them more resistant to wear and tear and by using more sustainable materials and production processes. The proposals are based on two different themes (‘European Culture’ and ‘Rivers and Birds’) and were chosen from over 1,200 submissions by graphic designers, 25 of whom were asked to develop their proposal for one or both themes.
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The survey
An independent jury of 21 experts from different disciplines has selected the ten proposals, which will now be the focus of the new online survey open until September 21, 2026. Another survey, with the same questions, will be conducted in parallel by an independent research company among a representative sample of citizens in the euro area. The ECB will publish a report on the results of both surveys once the final design is selected. Public responses are a fundamental element to ensure the inclusivity pursued by the Eurosystem, allowing the opinions of citizens across Europe to be heard.
Timeline for voting
The Governing Council is expected to adopt the final decision on the design of the new banknotes around the end of the year, based on a combination of inputs, including the conclusions of the competition jury, a technical assessment, and the results of the two surveys. «The design of the new euro banknote series is part of the Eurosystem’s long-term action to ensure that cash remains a secure, efficient, and accessible means of payment for citizens, preserving their access to public money and their freedom to choose how to pay,» stated Piero Cipollone, member of the ECB’s Executive Board. «Euro banknotes are not just a means of payment: they are one of Europe’s most tangible expressions,» said ECB President Christine Lagarde. «By combining beauty and meaning, they will strengthen our common identity.»