Bulgaria will join the euro area on 1 January 2026

15 December 2025

As of 1 January 2026, Bulgaria will become the 21st member of the euro area. On 8 July 2025, the Council of the European Union approved the accession of Bulgaria to the euro area and set the conversion rate for the Bulgarian lev at 1.95583 lev (BGN) per 1 euro (EUR). 

The general public will be able to request the exchange of Bulgarian currency, free of charge, starting in January and until 2 March 2026, at the fixed conversion rate (1.95583 BGN per 1 EUR), up to a maximum amount of 2,000 BGN (approximately 1,000 EUR) per party/transaction in any one day, at the following Banca d'Italia branches: Milan, Bologna, Rome Main Regional Branch, Naples and Catanzaro.

Financial intermediaries holding an account with Banca d'Italia may exchange Bulgarian currency banknotes for euros exclusively at the CDM (Centro Donato Menichella) Rome Branch.

For further information, please consult the official website of the ECB.