The Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria: Important Dates and Rules from February 1, 2026

At midnight on January 31, 2026, the one-month period during which the euro and the lev were in joint circulation expires. From tomorrow, February 1st, the official means of payment in Bulgaria becomes the single European currency. The lev will not be accepted for payment of goods, services, and obligations. Citizens are obliged to pay in euros, merchants are no longer obliged to accept leva, and change in every transaction will be returned only in euros. This is recalled by the Ministry of Finance. 

To ensure transparency and prevent speculative practices, prices will remain written in both currencies until August 8, 2026, in accordance with the requirements of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria.

If you still have leva, you can exchange them free of charge at commercial banks and at “Bulgarian Posts”, where there are no bank branches, until June 30, 2026. After this period, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will continue to exchange leva for euros indefinitely and free of charge, the Ministry of Finance points out.

Signals of violations will continue to be accepted by the control institutions. More information on how to report signals and all questions related to the introduction of the single European currency in the country are available on the specialized website for the euro. 

BTA reminds that on January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially adopted the euro and became the 21st member of the Eurozone. This happened exactly 19 years after our country's accession to the European Union.