The ECB launches a survey to choose the design of the new euro banknotes: European culture or nature?
European citizens are invited to vote on ten shortlisted designs for the first comprehensive redesign of euro banknotes since 2002.
Ten designs have been shortlisted for the new euro banknotes, as revealed by the President of the ECB Christine Lagarde at 4.15 pm on 23 July 2026: five designs for the decorative motifs of each of the two selected themes, which are ‘European Culture’ and ‘Rivers and Birds’.
TAKE PART IN THE OFFICIAL ECB SURVEY: closes on 21 September 2026.
An independent jury comprising 21 experts from various disciplines (graphic design, communication, neuroscience and history), each appointed by the central bank of their respective euro area country, has finally shortlisted the ten designs shown here for the series of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 euro banknote series, comprising:
1) European culture:
5 euros (performing arts) front Maria Callas – reverse: street performers (music/dance/theatre) entertaining passers-by
10 euros (music) front Ludwig van Beethoven - reverse: a song festival with a choir of children and young adults singing
20 euros (universities and schools) front Marie Curie (née Skłodowska) - reverse: a school or university with a female teacher and young students. There are exercise books and books on the tables
50 euros (libraries) front Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - reverse: a library with some adults reading printed and digital books. A boy and a girl in front of a bookshop trying to pick up a book
100 euros (museums and exhibitions) front Leonardo da Vinci – reverse: adults and children admiring examples of street art, contemporary art, etc.
200 euros (public squares) front Bertha von Suttner (Austrian writer, the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and the second woman to win a Nobel Prize (after Marie Curie) – reverse: a tree-lined square where people can gather, with adults and children talking, walking, playing, etc.)
2) rivers and birds:
5 euros front wallcreeper, mountain in spring – reverse: European Parliament
10 euros front kingfisher, waterfall – reverse: European Commission
20 euros front bee-eater, river valley – reverse: European Central Bank
50 euros front white stork, meandering river – reverse: Court of Justice of the European Union
100 euros front avocet in a muddy marsh – river mouth – reverse: European Council and Council of the European Union
200 euros front northern gannet flying over the great waves of the ocean, seascape – reverse: European Court of Auditors
