Overview
- The ECB closed its online survey on Monday, September 21, 2026, after more than nine million people cast ratings and left feedback on ten finalist design sets.
- The ten finalist sets are grouped under two themes, “European Culture” and “Rivers and Birds,” with several named artists from Bavaria among the shortlisted designers.
- The public vote will be combined with an independent jury’s views, technical security tests and representative market research before the ECB Governing Council makes a final choice by the end of 2026.
- The redesign is being driven by specific goals: to add new anti‑counterfeiting features, use more durable materials to extend note life, and improve tactile and visual cues so people with sight loss can recognise denominations more easily.
- After the council picks a design, the chosen motifs will be refined, tested and manufactured in the following years and current banknotes will remain legal tender during that transition for the roughly 358 million euro‑area users.