Business

ECB unveils 10 euro banknote designs: cultural figures vs. birds

Herz — Business Desk · 2 August 2026 at 07:19 · 30s summary · 4 min read

The essentials

The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled 10 proposals for the first complete redesign of euro banknotes since they entered circulation in 2002. The designs are split equally between two themes: European cultural figures including Maria Callas, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Marie Curie, or continental birds such as kingfishers, wallcreepers, and white storks. A public vote on the ECB website has already attracted more than 6 million participants in less than one week, with voting open through September 21, 2026. The winning theme will be selected by the ECB by the end of 2026, with new banknotes expected to enter circulation in 2030 or 2031.

First complete redesign of euro banknotes since their introduction in 2002.
10 shortlisted designs split equally between two themes: European cultural figures and continental wildlife.
Over 6 million people voted in the first week; public voting continues through September 21, 2026.
Winning design to be selected by the ECB by end of 2026; new notes to enter circulation 2030–2031.
10 proposals selected from 1,241 applications by designers outside the banknote industry.

What we know

The European Central Bank (ECB), the main monetary institution of the European Union, has unveiled 10 proposals for the first complete redesign of euro banknotes since 2002, according to The Guardian. The designs, revealed in late July 2026 by ECB President Christine Lagarde, will cover €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200 denominations.

The 10 proposals are split into two distinct themes: five feature European cultural figures, while five illustrate birds and landscapes typical of the continent.

The two themes explained

The cultural figures theme places six personalities on the front of the banknotes: soprano Maria Callas (American-Greek), composer Ludwig van Beethoven (German), scientist Marie Curie (Polish-French), author Miguel de Cervantes, Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci, and pacifist Bertha von Suttner (Austrian). Von Suttner, an Austrian pacifist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905 and served as vice-president of the International Peace Bureau from 1892 to 1914, represents the peace movement and women's rights. The reverse side depicts scenes of artistic and intellectual activity.

The wildlife theme features six birds set against landscapes typical of Europe: wallcreeper, kingfisher, bee-eater, white stork, avocet and northern gannet.

Designers outside the banknote industry

The 10 shortlisted proposals were selected from 1,241 applications received during an open call launched in 2025. The ECB deliberately sought out creatives who do not normally design banknotes.

Among the selected designers are Dutchman Joost Grootens (a book designer who crops the cultural figures tightly around the eyes), German Jan Robert Dünnwelle (employing a graphic-novel style), Frenchwoman Isabelle Daëron (using a vertical layout for the ornithological notes), and Finn Ville Tietäväinen (depicting birds' migrations in sequence).

Public voting open through September 21, 2026

The vote launched on the ECB website has attracted more than 6 million participants in less than one week. Voting remains open through September 21, 2026.

Public voting will not be the sole determinant of the final choice: a second quantitative survey and a jury of designers will also play a role. The ECB will select the winning theme by the end of 2026.