Canada Unveils First New Vertical Bill Since 2018
The Bank of Canada has introduced its first vertical-format bill in over seven years. The new $20 note, unveiled by Governor Tiff Macklem on September 3, 2026, features a portrait of King Charles and is made of polymer.
Macklem described the unveiling as 'historic,' noting that it's been over 70 years since a new monarch appeared on a Canadian bank note. The late Queen Elizabeth II first appeared on the Bank's inaugural $20 note in 1935 as a young princess.
The new bill is significant not only for its design but also because it 'features security technologies never before used on a Canadian bank note.'
The vertical orientation of the note has been adopted by several countries, including Canada, Bermuda, Cape Verde, and Switzerland. Numismatic experts agree that people tend to handle money vertically rather than horizontally.