Bulgaria will be ready to use the euro from 1 January 2026, as the EU Council adopted the final three legal acts required for Bulgaria to introduce the euro in 2026.
“This marks the culmination of a thorough process towards Bulgaria’s accession, comprising rigorous analysis and intensive preparation,” said Danish minister for economic affairs Stephanie Lose, for the EU presidency: “I warmly congratulate Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people on this tremendous achievement.”
Earlier today, the European Parliament adopted a report confirming Bulgaria fulfils the criteria for adopting the euro on 1 January 2026.
Following confirmation by the EU member states, Bulgaria will now become the 21st member of the Euro area. The most recent country to join was Croatia in 2023.
One of the three legal acts sets the conversion rate between the euro and the Bulgarian lev at 1.95583 lev per €1. This corresponds to the current central rate of the lev in the exchange rate mechanism (ERM II).
Council decision on the adoption of the euro by Bulgaria
