Bulgaria to Adopt Euro, Enhancing Economic Integration from January 1

Beginning January 1, Bulgaria will officially transition to the euro as its primary currency, marking an essential milestone for both the nation and the European Union. This significant shift comes after Bulgaria has diligently fulfilled all necessary criteria for euro adoption.

The switch to the euro aims to provide substantial benefits to both Bulgarian citizens and businesses. It promises to ease travel and residency across the eurozone, enhance market transparency, boost competitiveness, and streamline cross-border trade. The new euro banknotes and coins will represent the freedoms and opportunities tied to EU membership.

The European Commission has been a strong ally for Bulgaria during this accession journey. With Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone, the number of EU member countries utilizing the euro will increase to 21, accommodating over 357 million residents. Public sentiment remains largely favorable, with recent Eurobarometer results showcasing widespread approval among EU citizens regarding the euro's benefits for individual nations and the Union as a whole.

As of January 1, the euro will begin to replace the Bulgarian lev at a fixed exchange rate of 1.95583 lev for €1. Both the lev and euro will coexist for a month to ensure a seamless transition, with transactions in lev yielding change in euro to gradually phase out the lev.

Since August 2025, displaying dual prices in both currencies has been obligatory, continuing until August 2026. To protect consumers and prevent unjustified price increases during this switch, Bulgaria will implement strict consumer protection regulations bolstered by informative public campaigns.

By January 1, 96% of ATMs in Bulgaria will distribute euro banknotes, with the remainder expected to roll out within two weeks.

According to the European Commission's 2025 Convergence Report, Bulgaria has met all the prerequisites for euro adoption, corroborated by the assessment from the European Central Bank.

EU Finance Ministers granted formal approval for Bulgaria's transition to the euro in July 2025, paving the way for this landmark economic transition.