Honestly, it feels like we’ve been talking about the new twenty dollar bill forever.
Back in 2016, when the Treasury Department first announced that Harriet Tubman would be replacing Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20, people thought the change was just around the corner. Some folks even predicted we’d see her face by the 2020 centennial of the 19th Amendment. But here we are in 2026, and if you pull a twenty out of an ATM right now, you’re still looking at the same old portrait of Jackson that’s been there since 1928.
So, what’s the holdup?
It isn't just one thing. It's a messy mix of high-stakes security, bureaucratic timelines, and, yeah, a fair bit of political tug-of-war.
The Long Road to a Redesign
The U.S. doesn't just "print" new money because they feel like a change of scenery. Our currency is a massive target for international counterfeiters, so every redesign is primarily about staying one step ahead of the bad guys.
The current schedule for the new twenty dollar bill is actually part of a much larger overhaul of all U.S. paper currency. The Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence (ACD) Steering Committee, which is basically the group that decides when your money gets a facelift, sets these dates years—sometimes decades—in advance.
According to the latest updates from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s office, the $20 isn't actually the next bill in line. That honor goes to the $10 bill, which is slated for its own redesign in 2026.
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Here is the current "best guess" timeline for when these new notes will actually hit the streets:
- $10 Bill: 2026
- $50 Bill: 2028
- $20 Bill: 2030
- $5 Bill: 2032
- $100 Bill: 2034
Waiting until 2030 feels like a lifetime away. But the Treasury argues that the $20 is the most widely used note in circulation globally, making it the most vulnerable. They can't just slap a new picture on it; they have to integrate complex security features like 3D security ribbons, color-shifting ink, and watermarks that are incredibly hard to replicate.
Who is Actually on the New Twenty Dollar Bill?
The plan is still for Harriet Tubman to take the prime spot on the front. Andrew Jackson isn't being erased entirely, though. He’s expected to move to the back of the bill, likely integrated into an image of the White House.
Tubman's selection is deeply symbolic. Born into slavery, she escaped only to return dozens of times to lead others to freedom via the Underground Railroad. She was a spy for the Union, a nurse, and a suffragist. Putting her on the $20 bill marks the first time a woman has appeared on U.S. paper currency since Martha Washington's brief stint on the $1 Silver Certificate back in the late 1800s.
Why 2030 is the New Target
You might remember some drama during the previous administration where the project was reportedly "sidelined." Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin famously stated in 2019 that the redesign wouldn't happen on his watch, citing a focus on anti-counterfeiting tech rather than imagery.
When the current administration took over, they "resumed" the effort, but they didn't exactly speed it up. Why? Because the technical requirements are grueling.
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Creating a new banknote involves:
- Approval of the portrait: This isn't just an artist's sketch. It has to be an engraving that works with high-speed printing presses.
- Security Feature Testing: Every new thread or ink has to be tested to ensure it doesn't wear off after a few months in someone's pocket.
- Machine Readiness: Every ATM, vending machine, and self-checkout kiosk in the world has to be able to recognize the new bill.
If you release a bill that a soda machine rejects, you’ve got a massive public relations nightmare on your hands.
What Will the New Bill Look Like?
While the final design for the new twenty dollar bill hasn't been officially unveiled to the public, we have some clues.
Early concepts shown by the BEP suggest a portrait of Tubman based on an 1860s photograph. She’s depicted with a look of quiet, steely determination. The overall color scheme of green and peach will likely remain—standardizing the colors helps the visually impaired distinguish between denominations—but expect more vibrant "security colors" that are harder for digital scanners to pick up.
One of the coolest features being discussed is a "tactile feature." This would be a raised pattern on the note that allows people who are blind or have low vision to tell it's a $20 just by touch. This is something the American Council of the Blind has been fighting for for years, and it looks like it’s finally happening.
Is This Change Controversial?
Yeah, obviously.
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Andrew Jackson is a polarizing figure. To some, he’s the "people’s president" and a war hero. To others, his legacy is defined by the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears. Moving him to the back of the bill was a compromise meant to satisfy both sides, but in our current political climate, "compromise" usually just means everyone is a little bit annoyed.
Then there’s the camp that thinks we shouldn't be spending millions of dollars redesigning physical cash when everyone is using Apple Pay or Venmo anyway. But the reality is that physical cash still accounts for a huge chunk of transactions, especially in lower-income communities and for international use.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you're waiting for that first Tubman twenty, don't hold your breath for 2026. However, you can track the progress of the currency overhaul through official channels.
- Monitor the U.S. Currency Education Program: This is the official site (uscurrency.gov) where the government posts high-res images and security guides for new notes about 18 months before they launch.
- Watch the $10 Bill Release: Since the $10 is due this year (2026), its launch will give us a huge hint about the design language and security tech that will eventually be used for the $20.
- Check for Commemorative Coins: If you just want to see Tubman on currency, the U.S. Mint already released Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coins in 2024. They aren't for general circulation, but they are legal tender and collectors' items.
Basically, the new twenty dollar bill is a "when," not an "if." It’s just that the "when" is a lot further away than most of us hoped.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the Treasury’s quarterly reports regarding the ACD Steering Committee’s progress. Once they finalize the security features for the $10 bill later this year, the production pipeline for the $20 will become much clearer. You can also sign up for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s newsletter to get direct alerts when the official "unveiling" of the Tubman design finally happens, which is expected to occur roughly two years before the 2030 release date.