ECB unveils designs for new euro banknotes as public vote begins

The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled the shortlisted designs for the future euro banknotes, launching a public voting system that will allow citizens to help choose the next visual identity of the currency.

More than 1,200 design proposals were reviewed by the bank’s governing council before two main themes emerged as finalists, both reflecting key aspects of European identity: European culture and the continent’s natural heritage. The shortlisted concepts were published by the ECB on July 23, as Belgian media reports.

The culture-focused designs highlight figures who have shaped European achievements in art, music, science, and literature. The nature-themed proposals instead feature rivers and birds that cross national borders, representing Europe’s biodiversity and the importance of environmental protection.

The public vote marks one of the final stages in the process of selecting the new euro banknote designs, which are expected to enter circulation from the end of 2026.

After the consultation concludes and the winning concept is selected, the ECB will begin the technical preparations required to produce the new notes. The redesign will represent the first complete overhaul of euro banknotes since the currency entered circulation in 2002.

The initiative comes as the ECB continues developing the digital euro, with the project recently advancing through negotiations at the European Parliament after lawmakers held a vote on the issue.

For each of the two shortlisted themes, five different design proposals have been created, ranging from modern minimalist approaches to more traditional artistic interpretations.

European figures on future banknotes

If the culture theme is selected, the new euro banknotes will feature some of the most influential figures in European history.

The €5 note would feature Greek-American soprano Maria Callas, who transformed the world of opera through her performances.

The €10 note would honour German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, while the €20 note would feature Polish scientist Maria Skłodowska Curie, better known as Marie Curie, who became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and a pioneer in scientific research.

The €50 note would depict Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, one of the most influential works in world literature.

The higher-value notes would celebrate major figures in European intellectual history. The €100 note would feature Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci, while the €200 note would honour Austrian novelist Bertha von Suttner, the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nature-inspired alternative

The second shortlisted theme focuses on Europe’s natural environment. Under this concept, each banknote would display a different species of European bird alongside a river landscape.

The reverse side of each note would feature one of the European Union’s main institutions, highlighting the shared political and cultural framework connecting EU member states.

The ECB said the final design choice will reflect public preferences while also preparing the euro banknotes for the next generation of European currency.

By Nazrin Sadigova