On 23 July the ECB unveiled the ten finalists for the first full redesign of euro banknotes since they appeared in 2002. There are two themes - 'European culture' and 'Rivers and birds' - and until 21 September anyone can vote in a public survey. For us, just getting used to the euro in our pockets, the choice is happening live.
- On 23 July the ECB announced the ten approved designs for the new euro banknotes - under the themes 'European culture' and 'Rivers and birds'.
- The public online survey is open until 21 September 2026; the final decision is expected toward the end of the year.
- This is the first full redesign since the euro's introduction in 2002; current banknotes remain valid.
A banknote is one of the hardest design objects in the world. An object that passes through the hands of hundreds of millions of people has to be recognized in a second, be hard to forge, and on top of that carry identity.
There's something here that rarely happens with public design: they're asking the user before printing. Usually it's the other way around - the design comes down finished and people get used to it by force.
And since we in Bulgaria are just getting used to these banknotes, the irony is nice: we're settling into a design that's already on its way out. No harm done. This way the new series will be ours from day one - chosen with our vote too. The survey is open to everyone and takes minutes. How many times in your life have you gotten to choose what your money looks like? I can't remember another case like it.