Overview
- At midnight on January 1, the lev was replaced by the euro, making Bulgaria the 21st euro-area member; the conversion rate is fixed at 1.95583 lev per euro.
- Bulgarian‑designed euro coins enter circulation, and residents visited ATMs overnight to withdraw cash in the new currency.
- The changeover proceeds without a regular government or an approved 2026 budget after mass protests prompted the cabinet’s resignation in December.
- Public skepticism centers on potential price hikes, while the ECB says past currency switches typically added only 0.2–0.4 percentage points to measured inflation.
- Authorities and EU leaders highlight benefits for exporters, tourism, and consumers, and Bulgaria will now have a seat on the ECB Governing Council.