The European Central Bank (ECB) wants your input on future euro banknotes. Voting on ten finalist designs runs until September 21, 2026.
Anyone in Europe can take part in the voting. It is not limited to German citizens.
The ECB Is Redesigning Euro Banknotes Through Voting
More than 1,200 graphic designers entered the ECB’s competition for the next Euro Banknotes. Only 25 were invited to submit full designs.
An independent jury reviewed the entries for the competition. It included 21 experts in design, communication, neuroscience, and history.
The jury narrowed the field to ten finalists. These fall under two competing themes.
The themes are “European Culture” and “Rivers and Birds.” You can view and vote on all ten online.
ECB President Christine Lagarde called banknotes more than payment. She said they are “a tangible European expression.”
ECB board member Piero Cipollone linked the redesign to public confidence. The goal, he said, is keeping cash “secure, efficient, and appealing.”
How to Vote on the New Euro Banknote Designs
Anyone in Europe can vote through the ECB’s survey portal. The site is surveys.ecb.europa.eu.
A representative survey is also underway. An independent polling institute is running it across the eurozone.
The ECB’s Governing Council will decide by the end of 2026. Production and rollout will follow in the years after.
NOTE: Your current euro banknotes stay valid indefinitely. Old and new notes will circulate together during the changeover, so you will not need to exchange anything.
What Will Change on the New Notes?
The redesigned banknotes are expected to include several upgrades. Four changes stand out:
- New and improved security features to stop counterfeiting
- Larger, more tactile numbers for visually impaired users
- Better durability for daily use
- More sustainable materials and production methods
This is the first full redesign since euro banknotes launched in 2002.
How to Spot a Counterfeit 50 Euro Note
You do not need to wait for the new design. You can check your current notes today.
The €50 note is Germany’s most counterfeited denomination. Look for these five features:
- A raised relief texture on the main image and lettering
- A watermark visible when held up to light
- An embedded security thread running through the note
- A color-shifting emerald number that shifts shade when tilted
- A hologram strip that changes appearance from different angles
Most retailers and ATMs also screen notes automatically. Sensor technology rejects counterfeits deposited into machines.
