ECB unveils finalist designs for new euro banknotes with da Vinci, Beethoven, Callas; public vote open until 21 September

The finalist designs

On 23 July 2026, the European Central Bank unveiled 10 finalist designs for the next series of euro banknotes, the first complete redesign since the currency's introduction in 2002. The proposals are grouped under two themes: "European culture" and "Rivers and birds". The culture theme assigns a historical figure to each of the six denominations: Maria Callas on the 5 euro note, Ludwig van Beethoven on the 10 euro, Marie Curie on the 20 euro, Miguel de Cervantes on the 50 euro, Leonardo da Vinci on the 100 euro, and Bertha von Suttner on the 200 euro. The reverse sides depict cultural spaces: the 5 euro note shows Callas with street performers, the 10 euro note pairs Beethoven with a youth choir at a music festival, the 20 euro note places Curie in a school or university, the 50 euro note features Cervantes with a public library, the 100 euro note has da Vinci in a museum with adults and children, and the 200 euro note honours von Suttner with a public square. The nature theme features European river landscapes and bird species, with the wallcreeper and kingfisher among the subjects, while the backs show EU institutions including the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the ECB itself. The 10 finalists were chosen by an independent jury of 21 experts from over 1,200 submissions; from the initial pool, 25 graphic designers were invited to develop proposals for one or both themes.

Public consultation and decision timeline

The ECB immediately opened an online public consultation that runs until 21 September 2026. Citizens can rate each series on a five-point scale from "like very much" to "don't like at all" and provide reasons for their preferences. A parallel survey, using the same questions, will be conducted by an independent research firm on a representative sample of euro area residents. The ECB will publish a report on both surveys once the final design is selected. The Governing Council is expected to make that decision by the end of 2026. After that, the chosen design will undergo further development and testing before production begins. The new notes will enter circulation in the years that follow, while the current series will retain its legal tender status and circulate alongside the new one.

What the ECB says

ECB President Christine Lagarde stressed the symbolic weight of the project.

Euro banknotes are more than a means of payment: they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe. Through designs that combine beauty and meaning, we will strengthen our common identity.

Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB's Executive Board, framed the redesign as part of a long-term effort to ensure cash remains a safe and efficient payment method and to preserve citizens' freedom to choose how to pay. The design process itself was shaped by public input: an earlier participatory phase involved over 365,000 citizens across the euro area, alongside multidisciplinary expert groups. The themes were selected by the Governing Council in November 2023, and the specific motifs for each denomination were defined in January 2025.

Security and sustainability

The new series will incorporate more advanced security features to combat counterfeiting and will be designed for easier recognition, including by people with visual impairments. The ECB also aims to reduce the environmental footprint of banknotes by making them more resistant to wear and by using more sustainable materials and production processes.