{"id":103296,"date":"2026-07-27T09:23:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T09:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/103296\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T09:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T09:23:19","slug":"europeans-asked-to-choose-the-new-face-of-euro-banknotes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/103296\/","title":{"rendered":"Europeans asked to choose the new face of euro banknotes\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Europeans are being invited to help shape the future look of the euro after the European Central Bank (ECB) unveiled ten shortlisted designs for the first complete redesign of the currency\u2019s banknotes since their introduction in 2002.<\/p>\n

The proposals are divided between two themes,\u00a0\u201cEuropean culture\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cRivers and birds\u201d, offering a choice between banknotes featuring figures including Maria Callas, Ludwig van Beethoven, Marie Curie and Leonardo da Vinci, or European bird species and natural landscapes.<\/p>\n

A public survey is now open <\/a>and will run until\u00a021 September 2026, with the ECB\u2019s Governing Council expected to select the final design around the end of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cEuro banknotes are more than a means of payment \u2013 they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe,\u201d said ECB President Christine Lagarde. \u201cThrough designs that combine beauty and meaning, they will reinforce our shared identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Callas, Beethoven, Curie and Da Vinci<\/p>\n

Under the \u201cEuropean culture\u201d theme, each denomination would celebrate a different figure from Europe\u2019s cultural and intellectual history.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0\u20ac5 note would feature opera singer Maria Callas, followed by composer\u00a0Ludwig van Beethoven on the \u20ac10, scientist and Nobel Prize winner\u00a0Marie Curie on the \u20ac20, and\u00a0Don Quixote\u00a0author\u00a0Miguel de Cervantes on the \u20ac50.<\/p>\n

\"\"Some of the designs in the contest \u00a9 ECB<\/p>\n

Leonardo da Vinci would appear on the \u20ac100 note, while Austrian writer, peace campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate\u00a0Bertha von Suttner would feature on the \u20ac200.<\/p>\n

Together, the six figures represent different areas of European culture, including performing arts, music, science, literature, visual arts and education.<\/p>\n

Rivers and birds offer an alternative<\/p>\n

The second theme, \u201cRivers and birds\u201d, focuses instead on Europe\u2019s natural environment and biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Each denomination would depict a different European bird in a river landscape. The series includes the wallcreeper, kingfisher, European bee-eater, white stork, avocet and northern gannet.<\/p>\n

\"\"Some of the designs in the contest \u00a9 ECB<\/p>\n

The reverse sides would feature European institutions, including the European Parliament, European Commission, European Central Bank, Court of Justice of the European Union, European Council and Council of the European Union, and European Court of Auditors.<\/p>\n

The two themes had already been selected following earlier consultations on the redesign of the euro banknotes.<\/p>\n

More than 1,200 designers applied<\/p>\n

The ten shortlisted proposals are the result of an EU-wide design competition that attracted more than\u00a01,200 applications from graphic designers.<\/p>\n

Twenty-five designers were invited to develop proposals for one or both themes before an independent jury of 21 experts selected the ten finalists. The jury included specialists in fields such as graphic design, communication, neuroscience and history, with each member nominated by a euro-area central bank.<\/p>\n

Five competing designs have been shortlisted for each of the two themes.<\/p>\n

The next stage now puts Europeans at the centre of the selection process. Anyone can provide feedback through the ECB\u2019s online survey until 21 September.<\/p>\n

In parallel, an independent research company will conduct a separate survey using the same questions among a representative sample of euro-area citizens.<\/p>\n

Final decision expected by end of 2026<\/p>\n

The results of both surveys will be considered alongside the conclusions of the design jury and a technical assessment before the ECB\u2019s Governing Council makes its final decision, expected around the end of the year.<\/p>\n

The selected design will then undergo further development and testing before production begins. The ECB says the new banknotes are expected to enter circulation\u00a0in subsequent years, rather than immediately after the design is selected.<\/p>\n

Existing euro banknotes will retain their value and continue to circulate alongside the new series.<\/p>\n

They carry my signature, but these are your banknotes.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s your turn to help shape what they\u2019ll look like in the future.<\/p>\n

Take part in the survey before 21 September and tell us which of the design proposals you\u2019d like to see in your wallet https:\/\/t.co\/2WiJdeIQNv<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/uBmbetV5aC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Christine Lagarde (@Lagarde) July 23, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

The redesign is also intended to improve security and accessibility. New features will seek to make the banknotes easier to authenticate and more accessible to visually impaired people, while greater durability and more sustainable materials and production processes should reduce their environmental footprint.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe redesign of the euro banknotes is part of a long-term effort by the Eurosystem to ensure that cash remains a secure, efficient and relatable means of payment, preserving citizens\u2019 access to public money and their freedom to choose how to pay,\u201d said ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone.<\/p>\n