ECB Unveils 10 New Euro Banknote Designs and Launches Public Vote

The European Central Bank has unveiled ten design proposals for the next series of euro banknotes and opened a public online vote on the concepts. The process is also being supported by a separate, representative survey run by an independent research institute, as the ECB prepares what it describes as the first complete redesign of euro banknotes since they entered circulation in 2002.

Key takeaways

• Ten new euro banknote design ideas have been presented by the ECB, covering two themes: “European culture” and “rivers and birds.”
• The public online survey runs until 21 September 2026, with Europeans invited to share their views on the proposals.
• A separate representative study is being carried out by an independent polling organization alongside the online vote.
• This will be the first full redesign of euro banknotes since their introduction in 2002, when the notes featured abstract bridges, gates, and windows.
• The ECB’s final decision on the future design is expected around the end of 2026, with production and rollout likely to take several more years.

What’s changing—and what the concepts show

The ECB says it is aiming for a major refresh of euro banknotes, with the current series being the first fully new design since the currency was launched in 2002. So far, the banknotes have relied on abstract motifs such as bridges, gates, and windows; the new set of proposals moves in a more figurative direction.

All ten designs come from an EU-wide competition that attracted more than 1,200 graphic designers. A panel of 21 specialists selected ten finalists, grouping their concepts into two thematic tracks.

One track, “European culture,” is focused on well-known Europeans and notable cultural locations. The other track, “rivers and birds,” centers on European bird species alongside river landscapes.

Finalists include German designers

Among the selected finalists are three German entries. Jan-Robert Dünnweiler, based in Passau, and the Berlin design company Neue Gestaltung GmbH both propose personalities such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonardo da Vinci, and Marie Curie as part of their “European culture” approach.

Meanwhile, an atelier based in Regensburg—run by Gisela Goppel and Florian Toperngpong—goes with handcrafted watercolor bird motifs. Their proposal highlights species including the kingfisher, the white stork, and the common swift, with the designers saying the selection reflects the diversity of cultures across Europe.

The ECB’s new proposals have already sparked debate, including in online community discussions.

Why the ECB is redesigning the euro notes

The ECB lists several goals for the redesign: strengthening citizens’ identification with the banknotes, enhancing security features to better protect against counterfeiting, improving accessibility through optimized ways to distinguish denominations, and raising environmental sustainability in both the production and circulation of the notes.

The ECB expects the Governing Council to make the final choice for the future design around the end of 2026. After that, the selected concept will be further developed, technically assessed, and prepared for production. Even after a decision, the ECB indicates that it may still take several years before the first new euro banknotes actually enter circulation.

Importantly, the current euro banknotes are expected to keep their value during the transition period and remain valid as a means of payment even once the new series is introduced.