ECB unveils ten shortlisted designs for next euro banknotes and opens public survey

The European Central Bank (ECB) on 23 July 2026 unveiled ten shortlisted design proposals for the next series of euro banknotes and launched a public survey for feedback from people across Europe. The proposals are based on two themes — “European culture” and “Rivers and birds” — and the associated motifs previously selected to illustrate them, according to an ECB press release.

“Euro banknotes are more than a means of payment – they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe,” ECB President Christine Lagarde said. “Through designs that combine beauty and meaning, they will reinforce our shared identity.” The shortlisted designs resulted from a European Union-wide design contest that attracted over 1,200 applications from graphic designers. Twenty-five designers were invited to create proposals for one or both themes. An independent jury of 21 experts in fields including graphic design, communication, neuroscience and history — each nominated by a euro area national central bank — then selected the ten finalists, the ECB stated.

The public survey is open online until 21 September 2026 at the ECB’s dedicated platform. A parallel survey with identical questions is being conducted by an independent research company among a representative sample of euro area citizens. The ECB will publish a report on both surveys’ results after the final design concept is chosen. Feedback forms a key part of the Eurosystem’s inclusive approach, the central bank noted.

The Governing Council is expected to select one design proposal around the end of 2026. Its decision will draw on the Design Contest Jury’s conclusions, a technical assessment and the survey results. The chosen design will then undergo further development and testing before production. New series banknotes are expected to enter circulation in subsequent years. Existing euro banknotes will retain their full value and continue circulating alongside the new ones. This will be the first complete redesign of euro banknotes since their introduction in 2002, per the ECB announcement.

Details of the proposals include, under the “European culture” theme, figures such as Maria Callas (performing arts on the €5), Ludwig van Beethoven (music on the €10), Marie Curie (universities and schools on the €20), Miguel de Cervantes (libraries on the €50), Leonardo da Vinci (museums on the €100) and Bertha von Suttner (public squares on the €200), with reverse sides showing related public or cultural scenes, as reported by Il Sole 24 Ore based on the unveiling. The “Rivers and birds” theme features species including the wallcreeper, kingfisher, bee-eater, white stork, avocet and northern gannet paired with European landscapes, with reverses depicting EU institutions such as the European Parliament, Commission and ECB itself, according to the same reporting and a Yahoo/DPA summary.

ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said the redesign forms part of a long-term effort to keep cash secure, efficient and relatable while preserving access to public money. New banknotes will incorporate improved security features for easier authentication and better accessibility, including for visually impaired people. The ECB also aims to lower the environmental footprint through greater durability and more sustainable materials and processes, the press release stated. National central banks, including the Deutsche Bundesbank, echoed the call for public participation.

Images and videos of the proposals are available on the ECB’s multimedia site. The process builds on earlier public consultations on themes and motifs conducted in prior years.