Bulgaria joining the Eurozone

On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially adopted the euro, becoming the latest member state to join the Eurozone. This marks a significant step in the history of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

Bulgaria’s accession follows the previous expansion in 2023, when Croatia joined the monetary union. Croatia was the first to join the Eurozone in 8 years. As of the start of the euro, the exchange rates for the Bulgarian lev have been fixed. Before the euro. the exchange rate was fixed to the Deutsche Mark.

The Road to the Euro

The process for Bulgaria mirrors the phases established during the initial creation of the euro. The EMU was developed in stages, with the third phase involving the fixing of conversion rates and the commencement of a single monetary policy under the European Central Bank (ECB).

Just as the original 11 member states did in 1999, Bulgaria fulfilled specific economic conditions to adopt the currency. Now that the country has entered this phase, the euro is the official currency for electronic payments and cash circulation, replacing the lev.

The Bulgarian euro coins will be minted by the Bulgarian Mint EAD. This is a company fully owned by the Bulgarian National Bank.

Design and mintage of Bulgarian euro coins from the Bulgarian National Bank

Design of the Bulgarian Euro coins

With the adoption of the euro, Bulgaria has begun issuing coins featuring national designs. Since the introduction of the euro in 2002, each member state has minted coins with their own unique motifs on the national side, while the common side remains the same. The national designs of Bulgaria’s euro coins closely resemble those of the original lev coins, preserving familiar symbols and historical themes. This continuity reflects Bulgaria’s cultural identity while smoothly transitioning to the euro.

Design details by denomination:

• Cent coins: Feature the Madara Rider, an iconic medieval rock relief and national symbol
• €1 coin: Depicts St. Ivan Rilski, the most revered Bulgarian saint
• €2 coin: Shows Paisiy Hilendarski (Saint Paisius of Hilendar), a key figure of the Bulgarian National Revival

National sides of the Bulgarian euro coins

Commemorative Issues

As a full member of the Eurozone, Bulgaria is now entitled to mint commemorative 2 euro coins. All euro countries have been allowed to issue two such coins annually. Commemorative 2 euro coins celebrate important national themes, anniversaries, and cultural heritage, and are legal tender across the entire Eurozone. Bulgaria has already announced several upcoming commemorative issues that highlight key elements of its history and identity.

The announced commemorative 2 euro coins are:

• 2026: The Bulgarian Alphabet
• 2027: The Bulgarian Rose
• 2028: The 150th anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria

In the future, we can expect more commemorative 2 euro coins from Bulgaria.

You can view information on Bulgarian coins on Coinection.