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