From January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will officially adopt the euro, replacing its national currency, the lev. The move comes 19 years after the country joined the European Union and marks a major milestone in its economic integration with the bloc.

For tourists and international travelers, the transition is expected to simplify payments and reduce the need for currency exchange, aligning Bulgaria with most eurozone destinations. The shift is also intended to strengthen financial stability and further integrate the country into European markets.

However, expectations of economic benefits are tempered by public concern over potential price increases. Similar fears materialized in Croatia, which joined the eurozone three years ago and experienced noticeable inflation in certain consumer sectors. These concerns are particularly acute in Bulgaria, which remains one of the EU’s poorest member states in terms of average income levels.

One of the key legal acts governing the transition fixes the exchange rate at 1.95583 Bulgarian levs per one euro, a rate that has long been used under Bulgaria’s currency board arrangement. This fixed conversion is intended to provide predictability and limit volatility during the changeover period.

Once Bulgaria joins the eurozone, six EU countries will still remain outside the single-currency area: Hungary, Denmark, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. Despite ongoing debate, Bulgarian authorities present the euro adoption as a strategic step toward deeper European integration and long-term economic convergence.