From Da Vinci to Maria Callas: The Figures on the New Euro Banknotes

Euro banknotes to beryllium redesigned featuring figures similar Leonardo da Vinci, Maria Callas, and others. Credit: ECB

The European Central Bank (ECB) is preparing to motorboat redesigned euro banknotes featuring immoderate of Europe’s astir influential taste and technological figures. Among them are Leonardo da Vinci, Maria Callas, and Ludwig van Beethoven, representing the continent’s artistic, literary, and intelligence heritage.

The banknotes volition beryllium introduced successful 2026, and purpose to bespeak Europe’s shared past portion ensuring they stay unafraid and accessible. The ECB’s Governing Council selected “European Culture” arsenic 1 of 2 cardinal themes, focusing connected figures who shaped European identity.

Recognizing Europe’s legacy

Each caller banknote volition diagnostic a humanities fig alongside a taste country representing their tract of work. The €5 enactment volition grant renowned Greek soprano Maria Callas, whose contributions to opera symbolize Europe’s performing arts tradition. She volition beryllium accompanied by an representation of thoroughfare performers entertaining the public.

Ludwig van Beethoven, 1 of the astir celebrated composers successful history, volition look connected the €10 note, representing the powerfulness of music. His representation volition beryllium paired with a choir of children, highlighting the relation of euphony successful uniting generations.

Marie Curie, a pioneer successful technological probe and the archetypal pistillate to triumph a Nobel Prize, volition diagnostic connected the €20 note. She volition beryllium depicted alongside a schoolroom scene, emphasizing acquisition and technological discovery.

Le nuove banconote europee: tra Maria Callas e il picchio muraiolo. pic.twitter.com/s7XDZvUKK0

— Marco Cobianchi (@marcocobianchi) January 31, 2025

The €50 enactment volition showcase Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish writer champion known for Don Quixote. His literate power volition beryllium reflected successful an representation of radical speechmaking successful a library, capturing Europe’s storytelling tradition.

Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance-era creator and inventor, volition look connected the €100 note. His contributions to creation and subject volition beryllium highlighted with an illustration of radical admiring artwork, symbolizing creativity and intelligence curiosity.

The €200 enactment volition diagnostic Bertha von Suttner, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning advocator for diplomacy and peace. Her representation volition beryllium paired with a lively nationalist square, representing dialog and cooperation.

Public consultation and adjacent steps

The ECB has engaged the nationalist successful the redesign process from the beginning. In 2021, a survey was conducted crossed eurozone countries to stitchery opinions connected imaginable themes.

NOTICE TO THOSE SAVING CASH IN EURO

The euro banknotes are being redesigned! A plan contention volition beryllium launched aboriginal this year, and the last designs are expected to beryllium released successful 2026. pic.twitter.com/39tRCJqrTg

— _Tahir Prime_ (@taheerprime) January 31, 2025

A follow-up survey conducted successful mid-2023 received implicit 365,000 responses, which helped finalize the 2 themes: “European Culture” and “Rivers and Birds.”

A plan contention was launched successful 2025, inviting artists from crossed Europe to make visuals for the caller banknotes. Once a shortlist is selected, the nationalist volition again person the accidental to supply input earlier the last designs are approved successful 2026.

A modernized euro

The ECB states that the redesigned banknotes volition observe European practice and incorporated caller information features and environmentally affable materials. Officials bespeak it volition instrumentality respective years earlier the caller notes participate circulation.

The euro, introduced successful 2002, is utilized by 20 countries and much than 340 cardinal people. The redesign marks the archetypal large update successful implicit 2 decades, bringing taste icons into the regular lives of millions.