The euro is changing face: bridges and arches will be replaced by famous characters or birds

The European Central Bank (ECB) is banking on European culture, nature, security and sustainability.

For over twenty years, we've had virtually identical banknotes in our hands: imaginary arches, bridges and windows, designed to symbolize Europe without favoring any particular country. But today, the European Central Bank has decided it's time to turn the page. The banknote makeover project, officially announced in 2021, enters its concrete phase in 2026 and promises to radically change the face of the European currency.

The aim is not just aesthetic. The ECB wants to create banknotes that are safer, more durable and more inclusive, capable of better reflecting the contemporary identity of the European Union. Behind this graphic change lies, in reality, a colossal amount of work, involving anti-counterfeiting technologies, new materials and even a reduction in the environmental impact linked to banknote production.

The two themes chosen by the ECB

Following public consultations and exchanges with European experts, the ECB's Governing Council has chosen two possible artistic orientations. The first is "European culture", a theme that aims to tell the story of the continent's shared heritage through historical figures, art, music and emblematic places of learning.

The second proposal is entitled "Rivers and Birds" and focuses on biodiversity, natural landscapes and environmental resilience. It's an idea designed to underline the link between Europe's peoples and the ecosystems that cross national borders.

Among the hypotheses mooted in recent months are famous names such as Maria Callas, Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Cervantes and Bertha von Suttner, although the ECB has made it clear that no definitive image has yet been approved.

The European competition and the final choice

In July 2025, a major competition was launched for graphic designers resident in the European Union. Entries were due by the end of April 2026. An independent jury made up of specialists in design, art history and security will select up to ten finalists. A European public consultation will then be opened: citizens will be able to give their opinion on the shortlisted designs. The final decision on the new banknote design is expected by the end of 2026, but we'll still have to wait to see these new euros in our wallets.

Final farewell to the 500-euro bill

One thing is certain: the new banknote series will not include the 500-euro note. The ECB had already ceased production of this famous purple bill in 2019, judging that it was too often associated with money laundering, tax fraud and illegal trafficking. This does not mean, however, that the old 500-euro bills will lose their value. Banknotes already issued will retain their legal tender status indefinitely, and can be used, deposited or exchanged without any expiry date.

The traditional bridges and windows that accompanied the birth of the euro are gradually giving way to a much more human, cultural and real-life story of today's Europe.

Source : European Central Bank