The future euro banknotes are taking shape and, this time, it will be European citizens themselves who have the final say. On Thursday the European Central Bank unveiled the ten shortlisted designs from which the new notes, due to enter circulation from the end of 2026, will be chosen.
More than 1,200 proposals were examined, but in the end two major themes emerged that can tell the story of the continent’s identity: European culture and the richness of nature.
On the one hand are the figures who have left their mark on the history of art, music, science and literature. On the other, rivers and birds that cross the continent’s borders, symbols of European biodiversity and of the need to protect it.
The ECB opens voting to citizens to choose the euro’s new look
The ten finalist designs were presented by European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde (source in Italian), who invited Europeans to help choose the new face of the euro.
You can cast your vote here (source in Italian). For each of the two themes, five different designs have been created in a range of graphic styles: some more modern and minimalist, others closer to the subjects they depict. Through a survey published on the ECB website, citizens can state their preference and help shape the final decision.
The "European culture" theme: six leading figures from history
If the culture theme is chosen, the new banknotes will feature some of the most influential figures in European history.
The 5 euro note would feature Maria Callas, the famous Greek-American soprano who revolutionised the world of opera.
The 10 euro denomination would be dedicated to German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, while the 20 euro note would honour scientist Marie Curie, Nobel laureate and pioneer of scientific research.
The 50 euro note would depict Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, one of the most important novels in world literature.
The higher denominations would celebrate two emblematic figures of European thought: Leonardo da Vinci on the 100 euro note, and Bertha von Suttner, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, on the 200 euro note.
The alternative proposal: Europe’s emblematic birds
The alternative theme focuses instead on nature. Each banknote features a different European bird species set in a river landscape, while the reverse side is devoted to the European Union’s main institutions.
The series pairs the wallcreeper with the European Parliament, the kingfisher with the European Commission, the bee-eater with the European Central Bank, the white stork with the Court of Justice of the European Union, the avocet with the European Council and the Council of the European Union, and finally the northern gannet alongside the European Court of Auditors.
When the new banknotes will arrive
The citizens’ vote is one of the steps in the process that will lead to the final choice of the euro’s new design. Once the consultation has been completed and the winning project identified, the ECB will move on to the technical stages required to produce the new banknotes, which are scheduled to be issued from the end of 2026.
The aim is to refresh the image of the single currency while maintaining a strong link with Europe’s shared values: its extraordinary cultural heritage and the natural environment that unites all member states.
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