The Bank of Spain has launched “Imagine your banknotes”, inviting children aged 6 to 12 to submit drawings showing what future euro banknotes could look like. Entries must use the official template and be based on one of the two themes preselected by the Eurosystem for the next euro banknote series, European culture or rivers and birds of Europe. Five prizes will be drawn from entries received by 19 June 2026, each consisting of institutional gifts and a guided visit to the Bank of Spain’s headquarters in Madrid. The central bank will also host a virtual exhibition on its website featuring a selection of submitted drawings. The initiative forms part of the wider process for designing the next euro banknote series. The European Central Bank announced the two shortlisted themes in 2024 and launched a Europe-wide design contest in 2025. In 2026 it is due to announce the finalist proposals and gather public views through an online survey, with the ECB Governing Council expected to choose the winning design by the end of 2026. The timing of issuance will be decided after the design is selected.
Bank of Spain2026-05-18
Bank of Spain launches children’s call for euro banknote design ideas ahead of 19 June 2026 deadline
The Bank of Spain has launched “Imagine your banknotes”, inviting children aged 6 to 12 to submit drawings based on the Eurosystem’s shortlisted themes for the next euro banknote series, European culture or rivers and birds of Europe. The initiative, which includes prizes and a virtual exhibition of selected drawings, forms part of the wider European Central Bank process to select the final design for the new euro banknotes by end-2026.