Euro banknote design is changing: EU asks people to vote
Anyone in Europe can take part in the online survey
Published
The design of euro banknotes is about to change and people across Europe are being invited to share their opinions on what the next generation of notes should look like.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled 10 shortlisted designs for future euro banknotes and launched a public online survey.
These designs are the result of a Europe-wide competition. The ECB received more than 1,200 applications from graphic designers. Twenty-five designers were then invited to develop proposals for one or both of the two themes.
Finally, an independent jury of 21 experts then shortlisted the 10 designs.
Two themes for the new notes
The 10 proposals are based on two themes selected by the ECB: ‘European culture’ and ‘Rivers and birds’.
The ‘European culture’ is meant to showcase Europe’s cultural heritage and the role of culture in bringing people together.
The other theme, ‘Rivers and birds’ highlights Europe’s natural environment. The ECB said rivers and birds can represent freedom, unity and Europe’s connection with nature.
Why are the banknotes being redesigned?
The ECB said the new series will help keep euro banknotes secure as counterfeiting technology develops.
The new notes will include improved security features and will be designed to make them easier to check and use.
The redesign is also set to reduce the environmental impact of banknotes by improving their durability and using more sustainable materials and production methods.
This is the first complete redesign of euro banknotes since their original introduction in 2002.
Will the denominations change?
The ECB intends to retain the current denominations from €5 to €200 for the new banknote series, while the €500 note remains in circulation but is no longer issued and will not be included in the new design.
The sizes and dominant colours are also likely to remain the same, to make the change easier for cash-handling machines and businesses.
When will the new banknotes arrive?
The new notes will not appear in people's wallets immediately. Once the Governing Council has selected the winning design, it will undergo further development and testing before production begins.
The ECB said the new banknotes are expected to enter circulation in the following years but no exact launch date has yet been decided.
Existing euro banknotes will remain valid and will continue to circulate alongside the new series.
How to vote
Anyone in Europe can take part in the ECB’s online survey, regardless of age, nationality or country of residence.
The survey opened on July 23 and closes at 23:59 CET on September 21. The survey is available in all 24 official EU languages and can be accessed here.
However, even though the public vote will help with the decision making, it’s the ECB’s Governing Council that will make the final decision, taking into account the public survey results. The decision is expected around the end of 2026.
