Bulgaria will switch to the euro on January 1, 2026, with a fixed rate of 1.95583 leva for one euro. Card payments will remain convenient, and merchants are preparing for the transition.

Bulgaria will adopt the euro as its official currency starting January 1, 2026, thus becoming the 21st member state of the eurozone. The General Director of VISA Bulgaria, Krasimira Raicheva, stated that card payments will remain the easiest option, and payment institutions are well prepared for this transition. The conversion will be made at a fixed rate of 1.95583 leva for one euro, and both currencies will be displayed on price tags for a period of six months. Additionally, citizens will have six months to exchange cash savings without a fee. Raicheva emphasized that although cash transactions may create some difficulties, small merchants will benefit from POS terminals for quick and secure payments. The adoption of the euro comes three years after the 2023 expansion, when Croatia became the first new state in the eurozone.