European Central Bank Unveils 10 New Euro Banknote Proposals and Opens Public EU Vote

The European Central Bank has unveiled ten design proposals for future euro banknotes and opened voting to all EU residents. The designs are centred around two main themes: European culture and nature.

The first concept is dedicated to figures who left a lasting mark on the history of art, music, science, and literature. The €5 banknote features opera legend Maria Callas, the €10 note displays German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, the €20 note showcases scientist and Nobel laureate Marie Curie, the €50 note features "Don Quixote" author Miguel de Cervantes, the €100 note hhonoursLeonardo da Vinci, and the €200 note highlights Nobel Peace Prize winner Bertha von Suttner.

The second concept focuses on nature. Each banknote depicts a specific bird species set against a river landscape, with a key European Union institution on the reverse side. The series pairs a wallcreeper with the European Parliament, a kingfisher with the European Commission, a European bee-eater with the ECB itself, a white stork with the Court of Justice of the EU, an avocet with the European Council and Council of the EU, and a gannet with the European Court of Auditors.

Twenty-five graphic designers were invited to participate in the competition. An independent jury of 21 experts spanning graphic design, communications, neuroscience, and history selected ten final designs from the submissions—five for each theme.

Anyone can now vote for their preferred option on the ECB website. Public voting remains open until September 21, 2026. Concurrently, a research firm will conduct a parallel survey among a representative sample of EU residents.

The final decision on the new banknote design will be taken at the end of the year. The selected concept will then undergo further refinement and technical testing before the new notes enter production and circulation. This marks the first complete redesign of euro banknotes since their introduction in 2002. Existing banknotes will retain their value and remain in circulation alongside the new series.