Overview
- The ECB presented the ten shortlisted design sets on Thursday, July 23, and opened an online consultation that runs until 21 September 2026 for euro‑area citizens to register preferences.
- Designs fall into two clear motif families: “European Culture,” featuring famous Europeans and everyday cultural scenes, and “Rivers and Birds,” showing natural landscapes, bird species and EU institutions on reverse sides.
- The public online vote will be combined with a representative poll commissioned by the ECB and a technical assessment before the Governing Council makes a final choice likely in December 2026.
- The redesign aims to add concrete security measures to stay ahead of counterfeiters, extend note longevity to reduce environmental impact, and improve accessibility through clearer tactile and visual features for people with sight loss.
- The ten proposals came from an EU‑wide competition with about 1,200 entrants and a 21‑member expert jury; commentators have warned that depicting real people or places could revive national sensitivities while the ECB plans a multi‑year phased introduction with current notes remaining valid.