The first euro banknotes began to be used many years ago, in 2002. Now, more than twenty years on, the Eurosystem is preparing for a new series of banknotes. The main steps are:
The ECB has shortlisted 10 finalists in the design contest and more than 9 million Europeans have given their opinion through a survey.
After listening to what ordinary people and experts think, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank will choose the final design, probably in late 2026. Once the design has been chosen, the Governing Council will decide when to start making the new banknotes.
