Europe

Euro, new series of banknotes without the 500 denomination coming soon

The cash restyling started in 2021 continues. The competition to submit proposals for the new design expires at the end of April

by Valeriano Musiu

22 April 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The euro banknotes lose a piece: the next series will no longer include the largest denomination, the EUR 500. The decision by the European Central Bank (ECB), already announced in 2019 and now confirmed, is part of a broader process initiated by the institution in 2021 to update the design and some technical aspects of the banknotes.

The reasons for the divestment

The ECB's decision to discontinue the EUR 500 banknote is aimed at countering the risks of money laundering and other illicit activities, as well as at achieving a more accurate tracking of financial activities.

In any case, the EUR 500 pieces currently in circulation remain valid and can still be used normally, without time limits.

New design coming soon

In December 2021, the Governing Council of the ECB decided to develop a new banknote series after those that came into circulation on 1 January 2002.

Two years after the announcement, in 2023, the possible themes for the new design were chosen: 'European Culture' and 'Rivers and Birds'.

The former aims to highlight Europe's cultural heritage, while the latter wants to celebrate a symbol of freedom and unity among the citizens of the Union, emphasising the value of environmental protection.

In July 2025, the ECB launched a competition open to European graphic designers to collect their visual proposals: the deadline for submittingdesigns, which will be evaluated by a jury of experts, is the end of April 2026.

The jury may choose a maximum of ten proposals (five per theme) to be submitted to the Board.

Next Steps

The competition is expected to end in June 2026. Afterwards, the ECB will conduct a public survey to also consult citizens on the selected proposals.

The final selection of projects should be announced by the end of 2026.

As a final step, the ECB will start producing and issuing the new banknotes. The date of entry into circulation of the new series, however, is not yet defined: as stated on the institution's website, it will still take "several years" before the banknotes enter our daily lives.