ECB unveils new euro banknote designs, asks 358 million citizens to vote on culture vs nature themes

Two competing themes

The ECB's selection committee narrowed thousands of submissions to 10 proposals, producing 120 individual designs (60 front and 60 back). The "European Culture" series places historical figures on the front: Maria Callas on the €5 note, Ludwig van Beethoven on €10, Marie Curie on €20, Miguel de Cervantes on €50, Leonardo da Vinci on €100, and Bertha von Suttner on €200. The ECB notes that the selection achieves gender parity. Reverse sides depict cultural spaces such as theatres, libraries, schools, museums, and public squares. The "Rivers and Birds" series features European river landscapes paired with bird species: a wallcreeper on €5, a kingfisher on €10, a bee-eater on €20, a white stork on €50, and a gannet on €100. The backs show EU institutions including the European Parliament, the European Commission, the ECB, the Court of Justice, the European Council, and the European Court of Auditors.

Public consultation and decision

From 23 July to 21 September 2026, around 358 million citizens in 21 EU countries can vote online for their preferred design. ECB President Christine Lagarde, presenting the proposals at the ECB's Eurotower in Frankfurt, framed the vote as a democratic exercise.

The banknotes belong to you.

She also stressed the symbolic weight of the currency.

Euro banknotes are more than a means of payment - they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe.

Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel called for broad participation, saying more votes would better reflect Europe's diversity and values. An independent polling institute will conduct parallel surveys to supplement the online consultation. The ECB Council will make the final selection by the end of 2026, with some reports specifying December.

Why redesign now?

The ECB cites the natural lifecycle of banknotes and the need to stay ahead of counterfeiters. New security features will make forgery harder and verification easier for both the public and machines. The notes will also use more sustainable materials, have a longer lifespan, and be designed for better accessibility for visually impaired people. The current series, with its abstract bridges, windows, and gateways, dates from the euro's introduction in 2002. Those motifs were deliberately generic to avoid favoring any member state. A second generation with enhanced security entered full circulation in 2019, but this is the first fundamental redesign.

What stays the same

The denominations remain unchanged: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, and €200. The colour scheme and the cotton-based material will also be retained. The ECB says the redesign is about motifs, not the physical composition of the notes.

Timeline to circulation

The process began in 2021 when the ECB decided to redesign the notes. After the public consultation closes in September and the Council decides by year-end, production and testing will take several years. The new banknotes are expected to enter circulation from 2028 or 2029.