Filenews 7 August 2025
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced a public tender for the design of future euro banknotes, inviting graphic designers from the European Union to submit applications by 18 August.
The competition will be held in two phases: initially, the qualifications and experience of the interested creators will be evaluated and in a second stage, the selected participants will be invited to submit completed design proposals.
Two themes: culture and the natural environment
The Governing Council of the ECB has chosen two key themes that will determine the design of the new banknotes:
- European culture, which highlights common cultural sites and historical personalities.
- Rivers and birds, focusing on the resilience and diversity of European natural ecosystems.
The themes emerged after consultations with experts and the general public, while in January 2025 the first motifs that will form the basis of the new visual style were chosen.
Final selection by 2026
The design proposals will be evaluated by an independent panel of experts, which will select up to five proposals per topic. The ECB's Governing Council is expected to decide on the final plan by the end of 2026.
The new banknotes are scheduled to be launched a few years later, after the production phase has been completed.
ECB President Christine Lagarde stressed that the euro "is more than a currency, as it symbolises the unity and diversity of Europe", adding that through the competition designers are invited to capture the common European identity and natural heritage in the new banknotes.
