ECB launches public survey on 10 potential new euro note designs

The European Central Bank (ECB) has released a shortlist of potential new euro note designs. Members of the public can give feedback on the designs until September 21. 

EU residents can help choose new bank note design

After holding an EU-wide design contest and receiving 1.200 design proposals, the ECB has revealed a shortlist of 10 designs for a new series of euro bank notes. The 10 new design proposals are based on two themes: European culture and rivers and birds.

Now, anyone can take part in a public survey and have their say on which design should be selected for the new series. You can see the bank note mock-ups here and take part in the survey, which runs until September 21, here. An independent research company will also run a parallel survey with the same questions, but only EU citizens can take part.

Once the survey has closed, the governing council will choose the final design based on feedback from the jury that chose the 10 shortlisted designs, the public and independent surveys, and a technical assessment.

The chosen design will be announced by the end of the year, and the new series of notes will enter circulation in the coming years.

First complete euro note redesign since 2002

In a press release, ECB board member Piero Cipollone said the first complete euro note redesign since 2002 was part of a “long-term effort to ensure that cash remains secure” and to “preserve citizens’ access to public money and their freedom to choose how to pay”. 

The ECB said that the new bank note designs will use more advanced technology which makes counterfeiting more difficult. The notes should also be more durable than the previous series, and use “more sustainable materials and production processes”. 

Cash payments are still very popular in Germany compared to in other European countries. According to the German Federal Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank), 55 percent of payments made in 2025 were card payments and 45 percent were cash payments.