The European Central Bank (ECB) presented on Wednesday the ten finalist designs for the next generation of euro banknotes and has opened a public consultation for eurozone citizens to express their preferences before the final decision.
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The proposals are divided into two main themes: “European Culture” and “Rivers and Birds,” previously selected by the ECB’s Governing Council as the focus of the first complete redesign of the banknotes since their introduction in 2002. The €50 banknote with the “European Culture” theme focuses on libraries, and features the figure of Miguel de Cervantes on the obverse.
It will be the first comprehensive redesign of euro banknotes since their launch in 2002
The ten designs are the result of a European competition in which more than 1,200 graphic designers participated. Of these, 25 were invited to develop proposals for one or both themes.
The proposals were subsequently evaluated by an independent jury composed of 21 experts in disciplines such as graphic design, communication, history, and neuroscience, appointed by the national central banks of the euro area. Juan Lupiáñez Castillo, professor of Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Granada, is the only one from Spain.
The survey will remain open until September 21 and will be accompanied by an independent demographic study conducted on a representative sample of eurozone citizens. The ECB will subsequently publish the results of both consultations.
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The Governing Council expects to choose the winning design before the end of 2026, taking into account the jury’s recommendations, technical evaluation, and citizens’ opinions. Once the concept is chosen, a development and testing phase will begin before the production of the new banknotes, which will enter circulation in the coming years.
ECB President Christine Lagarde stated that banknotes “are much more than a means of payment” and constitute “one of Europe’s most tangible expressions,” while Executive Board member Piero Cipollone emphasized that the redesign aims to keep cash as a means of payment that is “safe, efficient, and close to citizens.”
In addition to the aesthetic change, the new series will incorporate reinforced security features to make counterfeiting more difficult, improve accessibility for visually impaired people, and reduce environmental impact through more sustainable materials and manufacturing processes.
Current banknotes will remain legal tender and will coexist with the new series when it enters circulation. The ECB invites Europeans to give their opinion on the designs by responding to the online survey provided.
