The European Central Bank is preparing a new series of euro banknotes and plans to approve its design by the end of 2026. The new banknotes will enter circulation only after a few years, while the old ones will remain valid. Therefore, cash holders do not need to rush to exchange: savings in euros will remain accessible.
This is reported by Visit Ukraine citing the ECB.
New euro banknotes: when will the final design appear
In July 2026, the ECB will present ten design options for the banknotes. They have been developed within two themes: «European Culture» and «Rivers and Birds». An online survey, in which Europeans could evaluate the proposals, concluded on September 21.
Now the Governing Council of the ECB must take into account the survey results, the jury's conclusions, and technical assessments. The final version is expected to be chosen closer to the end of the year. There is currently no exact release date for the new money: after the design is approved, the banknotes still need to be developed, tested, and printed.
In the theme «European Culture», portraits of famous figures are proposed:
on the €5 banknote - Maria Callas;
€10 - Ludwig van Beethoven;
€20 - Marie Curie;
€50 - Miguel de Cervantes;
€100 - Leonardo da Vinci;
€200 - Bertha von Suttner.
On the reverse, libraries, educational institutions, and performance stages may appear. The other theme, «Rivers and Birds», is dedicated to the nature of Europe and combines images of water bodies and birds with the buildings of European institutions. Both concepts remain proposals for now. Earlier, the ECB explained that updating banknotes should also enhance their protection against counterfeiting, as in other currencies, where the protection of banknotes changes.
Do you need to change old euro banknotes
No. The ECB emphasizes that banknotes from previous series will retain their value and will remain in circulation alongside the new ones. An update in design does not mean that old banknotes will be immediately withdrawn or cease to be accepted.
Denominations will likely remain the same - from €5 to €200. They also plan to maintain familiar sizes and primary colors so that currency processing equipment does not need to be completely reconfigured. You can follow changes in the currency segment in the material about the euro exchange rate in Ukraine.