ECB invites Europeans to vote on future banknote designs as deadline approaches

Published on 15/09/2026 – 13:21 GMT+2•Updated 13:38

Birds, rivers and figures from European culture, including composers, are among the design choices the ECB is asking people to consider for future euro banknotes. More than 9 million people have already voted, but the ECB is encouraging more participants before the survey closes next Monday.

The ECB has previously consulted Europeans about the redesign, but this is the first time it has launched a survey asking them to assess the ten shortlisted designs. The proposed designs also differ markedly from those on existing banknotes.

In an increasingly cashless world, the ECB is sending a message to Europeans: cash remains a vital payment method, and citizens can help shape its visual identity.

“Cash is not simply a legacy of the past. It is part of daily life for millions of Europeans,” said ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone during an event on euro banknotes in Brussels on Monday.

The survey presents ten shortlisted designs under two possible themes: “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”. The outcomes will inform—but not dictate—the ECB Governing Council’s final decision, expected around the end of 2026. Development of the new notes will take several years, with gradual circulation starting in 2029.

“More than 31 billion euro banknotes, worth over €1.6 trillion, are in circulation, with an annual growth of around 3 %. There are also more than 150 billion euro coins,” Cipollone noted. He highlighted cash’s role when other payment methods fail, such as during power or internet outages.

Potential EU legislation known as the Single Currency Package aims to reinforce cash’s legal‑tender status and mandatory acceptance, further strengthening its importance.

“Cash provides something that is difficult to replace: a tangible anchor of stability and trust. Cash also fosters financial inclusion. It is simple and intuitive. It protects privacy. And, perhaps most importantly, it safeguards freedom of choice,” Cipollone added.

A 2024 ECB survey shows a growing majority of Europeans consider retaining cash as a payment option essential.

“Cash is the only form of money that every citizen can hold directly. Once you have cash, you don’t need any intermediaries or devices to use it,” Cipollone emphasized.

Digital and physical euro

The ECB’s payment strategy invests not only in redesigning banknotes but also in creating the digital euro, an electronic form of central‑bank money intended to complement cash. The digital euro would enable both offline and online transactions with a high degree of privacy.

The digital euro could be issued for the first time in 2029 if negotiations in Brussels are concluded by the end of 2026.

“We are investing in both euro cash and the digital euro. Together, they will ensure that Europeans have access to central‑bank money in both physical and digital form for day‑to‑day transactions,” Cipollone said.

Combined, the two forms of central‑bank money could provide a “European solution available for all types of payment, at all times, throughout the euro area,” he noted.

The new payments strategy also responds to the need for strategic autonomy amid geopolitical uncertainties and the EU’s reliance on U.S. payment infrastructure. Visa and Mastercard, both American companies, account for 61 % of card payments in the eurozone and nearly all cross‑border card transactions, according to 2025 ECB data.

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