You’ve probably heard the rumors. Maybe you saw a grainy "concept" image on social media or a headline claiming a new 5 dollar bill is hitting your wallet by tomorrow morning.
I hate to be the one to burst that bubble, but it's not happening this year. Or next year.
The U.S. government moves at a pace that makes a snail look like a sprinter, especially when it comes to "the greenback." According to the official timeline from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), the $5 note is actually sitting near the back of the line for the upcoming "Catalyst" redesign series.
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While 2026 is a massive year for American currency because of the $10 bill launch, the "fiver" is still quite a ways off.
The Official Redesign Schedule: Where is the $5?
The Treasury Department and the Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence (ACD) Committee don't just wake up and decide to change the money. They plan this stuff decades in advance to keep up with high-tech counterfeiters.
The current sequence for the new designs looks like this:
- $10 Note: Scheduled for 2026
- $50 Note: Scheduled for 2028
- $20 Note: Scheduled for 2030
- $5 Note: Scheduled for 2032
- $100 Note: Scheduled for 2034
So, if you’re looking for a new 5 dollar bill, mark your calendar for 2032. Honestly, by then, we might all be paying for things with chips in our wrists, but for now, the physical cash schedule is set. The $10 is coming first because it has the highest "velocity" (it changes hands a lot) and is currently deemed more vulnerable than the $5.
Who is going to be on the new 5 dollar bill?
This is where things get interesting. Since the 2016 announcement by then-Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, there has been a lot of talk about "thematic" changes.
Abraham Lincoln isn't going anywhere. He’s staying on the front.
However, the back of the bill is where the storytelling happens. The plan is to transform the back of the $5 note into a tribute to historic events that took place at the Lincoln Memorial. We aren't just talking about a building anymore; the Treasury wants to depict:
- Marian Anderson’s 1939 opera performance (after she was barred from Constitution Hall because of her race).
- Eleanor Roosevelt, who helped arrange that performance.
- Martin Luther King Jr. and his "I Have a Dream" speech from 1963.
It’s basically turning the five-dollar bill into a mini history book about American democracy. This fits the overarching theme for the next generation of currency, which the BEP has officially titled: Democracy.
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Why the long wait?
You might wonder why it takes until 2032 to print some new pictures on paper. It’s not just the art.
Security is the real driver. The BEP is currently overhauling its entire production process. They are moving to something called "non-sequential" serial numbering and upgrading their facilities in Washington, D.C., and Fort Worth, Texas. Every time they change a bill, every ATM, vending machine, and self-checkout kiosk in the world has to be updated to recognize it.
It’s a massive logistical nightmare. If they released them all at once, the global economy would basically glitch out.
What security features will the 2032 bill have?
While we won't see the final design until about six to eight months before the 2032 release, we can make some educated guesses based on the $10 note coming in 2026.
The $5 bill is "low-tech" compared to the $100, but it still has some clever tricks. The current version (Series 2008) uses a purple-to-gray color scheme and those tiny yellow "05"s scattered in the background (the EURion constellation) that tell photocopiers not to copy the bill.
Expect the new version to include:
- Enhanced tactile features: Raised printing that's even more aggressive to help the visually impaired.
- Embedded Security Threads: These will likely still glow blue under UV light, but they might be more complex.
- New Watermarks: Currently, the $5 has two watermarks—a large "5" and a column of three smaller "5"s. The redesign will likely update these to be even harder to bleach and reprint.
Real-world impact: Do you need to trade in your old bills?
Short answer: No.
The U.S. government is very proud of the fact that all U.S. currency remains legal tender, regardless of when it was printed. You could walk into a grocery store today with a $5 bill from 1950, and legally, it’s still worth five dollars.
When the new 5 dollar bill finally drops in 2032, the Fed will simply stop printing the old ones. As the "Lincoln ovals" get torn, crumpled, and dirty, banks send them back to the Fed to be shredded, and the new "Democracy" series bills will take their place.
It’s a natural cycle of life. For a $5 bill, that "lifespan" is usually only about 4.7 years because they get used so much.
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Actionable Next Steps for You
Since the new bill is still years away, you don't need to do much, but there are a few things to keep in mind to stay savvy:
- Watch the 2026 $10 Launch: This will be your "preview." The security features and artistic style used on the $10 in 2026 will almost certainly be the blueprint for the $5 in 2032.
- Don't Fall for Scams: If someone tries to sell you a "rare new 5 dollar bill" before 2032, it’s a fake. The Treasury doesn't even reveal the final image until right before the release to prevent counterfeiters from getting a head start.
- Check Your Current Fives: If you’re a collector, keep an eye out for "Star Notes" (bills with a star in the serial number) from the current series. Once the redesign starts, these older series eventually become harder to find in crisp condition.
- Stay Updated via Official Channels: Always verify currency news through uscurrency.gov or bep.gov. These are the only sources that matter when it comes to the money in your pocket.