ECB Unveils Euro Banknote Redesign Options Ahead of 2026 Rollout

The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled ten shortlisted design proposals for future euro banknotes, and is inviting Europeans to participate in a public survey until September 21, 2026. The redesign aims to make euro banknotes more secure, sustainable, accessible, inclusive, and relatable.

The ECB received over 1,200 applications from graphic designers across the European Union, with twenty-five designers invited to develop proposals. An independent 21-member jury selected the ten shortlisted designs, which are centered around two themes: 'European culture' and 'Rivers and birds.'

The redesign is not just about aesthetics; it's also a matter of identity, inclusion, and the public role of money. The ECB says that banknotes are among the few EU symbols handled across class, age, and geography, making their design a quiet form of public language.