Europeans Vote on New Euro Designs: Birds or Beethoven?

For the first time ever, everyday Europeans get to decide what their money looks like. The European Central Bank just unveiled ten finalist designs for new euro banknotes, and they want your vote.

More than 1,200 proposals flooded in from across the continent. After careful review, two clear themes emerged: celebrating European cultural giants or honoring the natural world that connects all member states.

The cultural option features six history makers who changed the world. Greek opera legend Maria Callas would grace the €5 note, while composer Ludwig van Beethoven claims the €10. Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie, who pioneered radioactivity research, would appear on the €20 bill.

Author Miguel de Cervantes takes the €50 spot with his masterpiece Don Quixote. Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci would feature on the €100 note, and peace activist Bertha von Suttner rounds out the series on the €200 bill.

The nature theme takes a completely different approach. Each banknote showcases a different European bird species paired with river landscapes. The wallcreeper appears alongside the European Parliament, while the kingfisher represents the European Commission.

Other featured birds include the European bee-eater with the European Central Bank, the white stork with the Court of Justice, the avocet with the European Council, and the northern gannet with the European Court of Auditors. Each design symbolizes Europe's biodiversity and the urgent need to protect it.

ECB President Christine Lagarde announced the designs at a presentation in Frankfurt, Germany. The public vote is now open on the ECB website, giving citizens across all member states a direct say in shaping the currency they use daily.

The Ripple Effect

This democratic approach to currency design marks a meaningful shift in how European institutions engage with citizens. Instead of experts making decisions behind closed doors, regular people get to choose which values their shared currency should represent: the cultural achievements that shaped European thought or the natural beauty that transcends borders.

The winning design will undergo technical production steps before the new banknotes enter circulation by the end of 2026. Whether Europe chooses to celebrate its intellectual heritage or its environmental treasures, the redesign strengthens the connection between the euro and the shared values that unite the continent.

Your vote helps decide which story Europe tells the world every time someone opens their wallet.