Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 31, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
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The ECB is revamping euro banknotes with themes like European culture or nature. Notable figures such as Beethoven may be featured. The design will be finalized in 2026.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is seeking a new design for euro banknotes, with possible subjects including great cultural figures like German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, or birds and rivers.
The first revamp of euro banknotes since their launch 23 years ago is designed to make them more appealing and relatable. They currently feature nameless bridges and windows.
Designers can choose from two alternative sets of motifs: European culture or a combination of rivers, birds and European institutions.
Under the former, the fronts of the euro's six banknote denominations will feature famous Europeans.
In ascending order of banknote value, these are: Greek opera singer Maria Callas, Beethoven, Polish-French scientist Marie Curie, Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, Italian artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci and Austrian peace activist Bertha von Suttner.
These names, put forward by a group of independent experts and then picked by the ECB-POLICY-3fdc7763-f2c0-4c30-b494-8614852eaf43>ECB, might prove controversial as only six of the euro zone's 20 countries are represented.
The reverse will feature cultural events or facilities such as a song festival or a library.
The alternative motif will feature birds and rivers on the front of the notes, and European institutions including the ECB-POLICY-3fdc7763-f2c0-4c30-b494-8614852eaf43>ECB itself on the reverse.
The ECB-POLICY-3fdc7763-f2c0-4c30-b494-8614852eaf43>ECB will open the contest this year and select the design in 2026 although the new banknotes will only go into circulation several years later.
(Reporting By Francesco Canepa; Editing by Kim Coghill)
The European Central Bank is seeking a new design for euro banknotes to make them more appealing and relatable, moving away from the current designs featuring nameless bridges and windows.
Proposed cultural figures include German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, Greek opera singer Maria Callas, Polish-French scientist Marie Curie, and Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes.
An alternative motif for the banknotes will feature birds and rivers on the front, with European institutions, including the ECB, depicted on the reverse.
The ECB will open the design contest this year and select the design in 2026, although the new banknotes will only go into circulation several years later.
The selection of cultural figures might be controversial as only six of the euro zone's 20 countries are represented among the proposed names.
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