ECB reveals shortlisted designs for new banknotes and launches public survey
Executive Summary
The ECB has unveiled ten shortlisted design proposals for the next series of euro banknotes and launched an EU‑wide public survey running to 21 September 2026, ahead of a Governing Council decision on the final design around end‑2026. This is the first full redesign since 2002 and will introduce new security, accessibility and environmental features, requiring bank, payments and cash‑handling firms to plan for operational, technical and customer‑facing changes to cash handling, processing and authentication.
What Changed
- - The ECB has published ten shortlisted design proposals for the next series of euro banknotes, based on the two themes “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”.
- An EU‑wide online public survey has been launched to collect feedback on the shortlisted designs, forming part of the ECB’s inclusive approach to banknote design.
- The ECB’s Governing Council will select a single design proposal around the end of 2026, informed by the Design Contest Jury conclusions, technical assessments and survey results.
- The chosen design will undergo further development and testing before production, including integration of new and improved security features.
- The new series of euro banknotes will be introduced into circulation in subsequent years, alongside existing series, which will retain their legal value and continue to circulate.
- The redesign explicitly aims to enhance ease of authentication and accessibility, including for visually impaired users.
Suggested Considerations
- Establish an internal project workstream to monitor ECB communications on the banknote redesign and plan for operational impacts on cash handling, ATM networks and merchant devices.
- Conduct a preliminary impact assessment of how new banknote security and design features may affect existing banknote sorting, authentication and recycling equipment, and identify likely upgrade or replacement needs.
- Engage with ATM and cash‑handling hardware vendors to understand expected firmware, sensor and software changes required to support the new banknote series and to secure upgrade slots ahead of issuance.
- Review and update internal cash‑handling and banknote authentication procedures, including staff training materials, to incorporate new design and security features once technical specifications are published.
- Plan customer communications strategies to explain the coexistence of old and new series banknotes, reaffirm the continued validity of previous series, and address any fraud or counterfeiting concerns.
- Coordinate with cash‑in‑transit providers and cash‑centre operators to align on timelines and testing of new banknote processing, including segregation rules and quality standards.
Key Dates
Compliance Impact
Non‑compliance will primarily manifest as operational and conduct risk rather than direct regulatory sanction at this stage, but inadequate preparation could lead to service disruption, increased counterfeit losses, customer detriment and potential supervisory scrutiny over firms’ cash‑handling controls. Early engagement and orderly implementation will be important for banks and payment providers
Who is Affected
References
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Summary
ECB unveils ten shortlisted design proposals for next series of euro banknotes Europeans invited to have their say in online survey open until 21 September Governing Council expected to select one design proposal around the end of the year The European Central Bank (ECB) today unveiled the shortlisted design proposals for the next series of euro banknotes and launched a public survey inviting people across Europe to provide their feedback. These design proposals are based on two different the...