- The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched a public survey allowing European citizens to vote on the themes and visual concepts for the next generation of Euro banknotes.
- The online public consultation is open for voting through September 21, 2026.
- Following the public vote, the ECB Governing Council will select the final themes, followed by a design competition, with new banknotes expected to enter production in the coming years.
Europeans can vote on 10 shortlisted designs until September 21, but the current euro notes are not going anywhere yet.
Euro banknotes are getting ready for their biggest makeover since 2002, and Europeans can now have a say in what the next generation will look like. The European Central Bank has unveiled 10 shortlisted designs and opened a public survey that will remain available until September 21, 2026.
For travelers, however, there is an important detail: your current euro banknotes are perfectly safe.
The ECB has not announced an immediate changeover. The Governing Council is expected to select the final design around the end of 2026. The chosen design will then have to be developed, tested and put into production, meaning it will take several more years before the new banknotes enter circulation.
And when they do arrive, the current notes will not suddenly become worthless. The ECB says banknotes from the previous series will retain their value and continue circulating alongside the new series.
So what will the new euros look like?
The 10 shortlisted proposals are based on two themes: European Culture and Rivers and Birds.
More than 1,200 applications were submitted by graphic designers across the European Union. Twenty-five designers were then invited to develop proposals, with an independent 21-member jury eventually selecting 10 designs for the public to consider.
The ECB’s public survey is open to everyone, regardless of age, nationality or country of residence, provided they have an internet-connected device. It is available in all 24 official EU languages.
Why change the banknotes?
The redesign is not simply a cosmetic exercise.
The ECB says the new series will incorporate new and improved security features to make the notes easier to authenticate and harder to counterfeit. Accessibility for people with visual impairments is also being considered, while the ECB says it wants to reduce the environmental footprint of future banknotes through greater durability and more sustainable materials and production methods.
The current denominations are expected to remain €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200, while their sizes and dominant colours are also likely to remain broadly unchanged to simplify the transition.
What travelers need to know
Nothing changes for your next trip.
If you are traveling through Greece, Italy, Spain, or anywhere else in the euro area, your existing euro notes remain valid.
The ECB is asking Europeans what they want the future euro to look like. It is not asking travelers to empty their wallets and exchange their €20s before boarding a plane.
So if you have a holiday coming up, keep the cash.
You have several years before you need to worry about the new ones.
