European Central Bank opens voting for new euro banknote designs

The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched an online public consultation allowing citizens of the eurozone to vote on the design of new euro banknotes. The voting process, which covers denominations ranging from 5 to 200 euros, is open until September 21, 2026.

Participants can choose from ten different design proposals presented by the ECB in July. These proposals are categorized into two main themes: 'European Culture,' featuring iconic figures such as Maria Callas, Beethoven, and Cervantes, and 'Rivers and Birds,' which utilize symbols of freedom and nature.

The ECB Governing Council will make a final decision on which design to adopt toward the end of the year. This decision will be based on technical evaluations, findings from a critical committee, and the results of two surveys: the public online vote and a parallel study conducted by an independent firm on a representative sample of eurozone citizens. The bank has committed to publishing a report on the survey results once the final proposal is selected.