SNB announces winning design of new Swiss banknotes

After asking the public in Switzerland to vote on the next generation of Swiss banknotes, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) has now revealed the winner and unveiled the country’s new banknote designs.

SNB unveils new Swiss banknotes design

In a press release, the SNB announced that Emphase Ltd, led by Fabienne Kilchör and Sébastien Fasel, is the winner of the competition to design the next generation of colourful banknotes.

The design (Concept J) created by Emphase Ltd focuses on the theme “Switzerland and its altitudes” and “pays homage to the country's unique topography, from the Jura and the Central Plateau to the Alps.” The design aims to “reflect the diversity of life at the various altitudes.”

On the front of the winning banknotes are plants native to Switzerland, such as broadleaf plantain (10 Swiss francs), peas (20 Swiss francs), beech trees (50 Swiss francs) and even blueberry bushes (100 Swiss francs) and glacier buttercups (1.000 Swiss francs). On the reverse side are “identity-defining civilisation achievements”. Take a look at the designs on the SNB website.

Concept J came out as one of the top designs in both the 2025 public survey and the external advisory board review. In second place was Concept L, designed by Maxitype Sàrl, and in third place was Concept B by Norr Design AG.

Watch the SNB video below to see an overview of the winning design. The video is in German with English subtitles.

Video credit: Swiss National Bank / YouTube.com

New Swiss banknote expected in 2030s

In all, 12 designs were submitted for the new edition of Swiss banknotes. These 12 concepts will be on display for the public to view at the SNB Forum, found at Fraumünsterstrasse 8 in Zurich. The exhibition will run daily from March 5 to 15 at 9.30am to 4.30pm.

The SNB said that the new banknotes are expected to be released at the beginning of the 2030s at the very earliest.