ECB Records 9.96 Million Responses for New Banknote Design
Nearly ten million people answered the European Central Bank's survey, driving the next phase of the redesign.
Key points
- 9.96 million people participated in the European Central Bank's public survey on banknote design.
- Two-thirds of the survey respondents were under the age of thirty-five.
- The Governing Council expects to make the final design decision by the end of 2026.
9.96 million people completed the survey on the future design of euro banknotes. This response rate equals 2.6% of the total euro area population.
The European Central Bank confirmed that participation was strong across all member states. Two-thirds of respondents were under the age of thirty-five.
Participation reflects broad public interest
President Christine Lagarde stated that the volume of responses shows high public interest. The data will help the Governing Council select the final concept.
The survey ran from late July to late September 2026. It evaluated ten proposals based on European culture and natural themes.
Data analysis guides the final choice
Standard statistical methods will ensure the results represent the population accurately. A separate representative survey is currently being finalized by an independent firm.
The Governing Council will decide on the design by the end of 2026. Individual proposal scores are not published at this specific stage.
New notes arrive in the early 2030s
The selected design will be adapted for production with enhanced security features. Accessibility and sustainability improvements are also planned for the new series.
The new banknotes should enter circulation gradually from the early 2030s. Existing notes will remain valid and circulate alongside the new series.
