Bulgaria adopts euro, becoming 21st member of eurozone

Bulgaria officially adopted the euro on Jan. 1, 2026, becoming the 21st member state to join the eurozone.

The change replaced Bulgaria’s national currency, the lev, with the euro and marked the culmination of a years-long effort by the government to meet the economic and legal requirements for joining the single-currency area of the European Union.

According to the European Commission and the European Central Bank, Bulgaria fulfilled requirements related to inflation control, fiscal discipline, long-term interest rates, exchange rate stability, and legal alignment with eurozone rules.

The country entered the Exchange Rate Mechanism II in 2020, a mandatory step that requires a national currency to remain stable against the euro for at least two years before adoption.

Bulgarian authorities have said euro adoption is intended to strengthen financial stability, attract foreign investment, and reduce transaction costs for businesses and consumers.

With Bulgaria’s accession, the eurozone now includes 21 countries and more than 350 million people, according to European Central Bank data