New euro banknotes, first designs revealed

2026-07-23 20:58:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

For the first time since the launch of the euro, European citizens can choose the design of future banknotes. The European Central Bank today presented the 10 finalist designs for the new euro series and launched a public consultation that will remain open until 21 September.

Citizens, together with experts and the ECB's Governing Council, will contribute to the choice of the new graphic design of the single currency, the first completely redesigned since its introduction in 2002.

"Euro banknotes are more than a means of payment: they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe. Through designs that combine beauty and meaning, they will strengthen our common identity," said ECB President Christine Lagarde, presenting the 10 finalist designs on 23 July.

International competition

The proposals are the result of an international competition in which over 1,200 designers from across the European Union participated. After an initial selection, 25 graphic designers were invited to develop their projects. An independent jury of 21 experts, including specialists in graphic design, communication, neuroscience and history, appointed by the eurozone central banks, then selected the ten finalist proposals, divided into two themes identified by the ECB: "European Culture" and "Rivers and Birds".

From Neutrality to the Faces of European History

The change is not just about design. With the new series, the ECB is abandoning the philosophy adopted more than twenty years ago, when banknotes were decorated with bridges, windows and imaginary portals to avoid privileging the monuments or symbols of one member state over another.

However, future banknotes will tell a story. In November 2023, the Governing Council of the ECB chose two themes to represent European identity: "European Culture: Places of Culture and Division" and "Rivers and Birds: Resilience in Diversity". In January 2025, the decorative motifs, i.e. the subjects that will appear on the different denominations, were also determined.

The choice came at the end of a long participatory process involving over 365,000 European citizens, as well as multidisciplinary groups of experts from across the euro area.

"We are excited to present these motifs, real-life images that demonstrate our commitment to Europe and celebrate its cultural and natural heritage," said ECB President Christine Lagarde. "The new banknotes will symbolize our common European identity and the diversity that makes us strong."

Leonardo, Maria Callas and Beethoven on the new banknotes

If the series dedicated to European culture is chosen, each piece will pay homage to an important figure in the continent's history, along with symbolic places of cultural life.

The €5 banknote will be dedicated to Maria Callas and the performing arts, with street performers on the back. The €10 banknote will feature Ludwig van Beethoven, accompanied by a music festival with a youth choir. The €20 banknote will pay homage to Marie Curie, set in a school or university. The €50 banknote will feature Miguel de Cervantes, accompanied by a public library. The €100 banknote will be dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, with a museum frequented by adults and children, while the €200 banknote will honour Bertha von Suttner, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, in front of a public square conceived as a place of social meeting and gathering.

New euro banknotes, first designs revealed

Alternative: rivers, birds and European institutions

The second proposal follows a completely different theme. Each banknote depicts a stage in the course of a European river, from its source to the sea, accompanied by a bird species representative of different ecosystems.

The route starts at the mountain spring with the wall creeper and ends in the seascape, crossed by the northern sulak. On the reverse, some of the main institutions of the European Union are depicted, from the European Parliament to the Commission, the ECB, the Court of Justice, the European Council and the Court of Auditors.

Security, accessibility and sustainability

The new series is not just a cosmetic change. According to the ECB, the future banknotes will include more advanced security features to combat counterfeiting, will be easier to authenticate and more accessible to people with limited vision. The Eurotower also aims to reduce their environmental impact through more durable materials and greater resistance to wear.

"The design of the new graphic design for euro banknotes is part of the Eurosystem's long-term commitment to ensuring that cash remains a safe, efficient and citizen-friendly means of payment, while preserving their freedom to choose their payment method," explained Piero Cipollone, Member of the ECB's Executive Board.

Final project by the end of 2026

As mentioned, the public consultation will remain open until 21 September 2026. In parallel, an independent research firm will conduct a second survey among a representative sample of euro area citizens. The ECB Governing Council is expected to adopt the final draft by the end of the year, taking into account the jury's assessments, technical checks and the results of the two consultations.

The selected design will be further developed and tested before going into production. The new banknotes will enter circulation in the coming years and, at least initially, will coexist with the current ones, which will retain full legal tender status./ Adapted from CNA

Taken from Corriere della Sera