August 8, 2026: The day the euro cycle in Bulgaria comes to a close
There are dates you remember only because someone reminds you of them—and dates you feel physically, because they’ve been part of your daily life for an entire year. August 8, 2026 falls into the second category. Exactly one year since prices began appearing twice on every label, receipt, and price list in Bulgaria—once in leva, once in euros—this practice is coming to an end. Starting the next day, August 9, 2026, prices in Bulgaria will be listed only in euros.
If you’ve been following our journey over the past year and a half—from the ECOFIN decision in July 2025, through the mandatory dual pricing starting in August 2025, the official adoption of the euro on January 1, 2026, and the end of dual circulation on February 1, 2026—then this article is the final chapter in the series. The cycle that began with two currencies side by side on every label is coming to a close with just one.
Why exactly August 8, 2026?
The period of mandatory dual pricing was not chosen at random or extended arbitrarily—it is set forth in the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (ZVERB). Initially, the legislature had envisaged a period lasting until the end of 2026, but with amendments adopted on July 29, 2025 (published in the State Gazette, Issue No. 65 of 2025), the deadline was shortenedand specified precisely as August 8, 2026—exactly one year to the day after the start on August 8, 2025.
This symbolic “round” duration is not unique to Bulgaria. The practice of many countries that adopted the euro before us shows a similar pattern: a period of dual pricing that lasts between six months and one year, to allow consumers to get used to the new prices without losing their bearings with respect to the old currency. Croatia, for example, will maintain dual pricing until the end of 2023 — about 12 months after the introduction of the euro on January 1 of that year. Slovakia and Slovenia applied similar timeframes of about 12 and 16 months, respectively, during their transitions in 2009 and 2007. Bulgaria is following nearly the same model, albeit with a shorter and more strictly defined period than originally planned.
Complete chronology of the transition — from ECOFIN to the end of dual pricing
To understand why August 8, 2026, is the final date—and not just another date on the calendar—it is helpful to view the entire chain of events in context. Below is a summary table of the key stages, their legal basis, and exactly what they meant for merchants at each
| Date / Period | Event | Legal Basis (ZVERB) | Requirements for Merchants |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 8, 2025 | Decision of the Council of the EU (ECOFIN) on Bulgaria’s admission to the eurozone | Decision pursuant to Article 140(2) TFEU; Regulation pursuant to Article 140(3) TFEU | Initial preparations—point-of-sale systems, labels, and price lists ready for dual pricing |
| August 8, 2025 — August 8, 2026 | Period of mandatory dual pricing in leva and euros | Art. 15, para. 2; Art. 16; Art. 12; Art. 13; Art. 15, para. 4 | All prices must be displayed simultaneously in leva and euros—on labels, price lists, online stores, advertisements, and receipts—using the same font size, font style, and color. Conversion is based on an exchange rate of 1.95583 without rounding the rate; the result is rounded to the second decimal place |
| August 8, 2025 — October 8, 2025 | Grace period (adjustment without fines) | § 19 of the Amendment to the ZVERB (State Gazette, No. 65/2025) | Only written warnings for violations—no fines—while merchants adjust to the new requirements |
| October 31, 2025 | Start of dual pricing for taxi services | Art. 15, para. 3, item 4 + § 16, para. 1 of the Amendment Act | Delayed start for taxi displays compared to the general start date |
| January 1, 2026 | Official introduction of the euro—Bulgaria becomes the 21st member of the eurozone | Art. 3 of the Law on the Adoption of the Euro; Decision of the Council of the EU | Salaries, pensions, taxes, and public payments are now in euros. Accounting is transitioning entirely to the euro |
| January 1 — January 31, 2026 | Dual circulation period (the lev and the euro are both legal tender) | Art. 24; Art. 25 | Acceptance of payments in both currencies; change given only in euros; refusal to provide more than 50 BGN in coins upon request |
| January 1–June 30, 2026 | Free exchange of leva for euros at banks and Bulgarian Post offices | Article 26, paragraphs 1–3 | The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) exchanges currency indefinitely and free of charge; banks and post offices — free of charge for the first 6 months |
| February 1, 2026 | End of dual circulation—the euro becomes the sole legal tender | Article 24 of the Law on the Conversion of the Bulgarian Lev to the Euro | Cash payments are now made exclusively in euros. The lev ceases to be legal tender |
| April 30, 2026 | European Commission Report on the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria | Council Regulation; EC Decision | Transition period—no new obligations for merchants |
| August 8, 2026 | End of mandatory dual pricing | Art. 15, para. 2 of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria (expiration of the period) | Last day for dual pricing on labels, price lists, menus, online stores, and receipts |
| August 9, 2026 | Prices are displayed only in euros | Article 15 of the ZVERB (after the transition period ends) | Only euros on price tags; the lev equivalent is at the merchant’s discretion, for informational purposes only |
| July 1–December 31, 2026 | Exchange of leva at banks, with a possible fee | Art. 26, paras. 6–8 | Banks may charge a fee but may not refuse to exchange levs until December 31, 2026 |
| December 31, 2026 | Deadline for mandatory exchange of leva at banks | Art. 26, para. 9 | After this date, banks are not required to exchange levs. The BNB continues to do so indefinitely and free of charge |
Who was not yet required to display dual pricing
Not all goods and services were subject to dual pricing for the entire one-year period. The law provides for specific exceptions, some of which take effect on separate, later start dates.
| Exception | Legal basis | Start of dual pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Goods with a price permanently marked at the time of manufacture | Art. 15, para. 3, item 1 | Not applicable |
| Tobacco products | Art. 15, para. 3, item 2 | Not applicable |
| Fuels (price totems and displays at fuel pumps) | Art. 15, para. 3, item 3 | Not applicable |
| Taxi services | Article 15, paragraph 3, item 4 + § 16, paragraph 1 of the Amendment Act | October 31, 2025 |
| Documents under Art. 112, para. 1 of the VAT Act | Art. 15, para. 3, item 5 | Not applicable |
| Labels from electronic scales | Article 15, paragraph 3, item 6 | Not applicable |
| Vending machines and self-service devices | Article 15, paragraph 3, item 7 | Not applicable |
| Paper-based transport documents | Art. 15, para. 3, item 8 | Not applicable |
| Books, textbooks, printed works | Art. 15, para. 3, item 9 + § 16, para. 2 of the Amendment Act | January 1, 2026 |
What happens if a merchant continues to display only the lev
The penalty regime under Art. 59 of the ZVERB remains in effect until the last day of the period—and it is not merely symbolic. Here are the most significant fines applicable through August 8, 2026, inclusive:
| Violation | Fine for Individuals | Penalty for legal entities |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to provide dual labeling (Art. 15, para. 1; Art. 16) | 400–5,000 BGN (repeat offense: 800–10,000 BGN) | 600–7,000 BGN (repeat offense: 1,200–14,000 BGN) |
| Missing duplicate amount on a cash register receipt (Art. 20) | 50–200 BGN (repeat offense: 100–400 BGN) | 100–400 BGN (repeat offense: 200–800 BGN) |
| Unjustified price increase (Art. 15, para. 4) | 1,000–10,000 BGN (repeat offense: 2,000–20,000 BGN) | 5,000–100,000 BGN (repeat offense: 10,000–200,000 BGN) |
| Failure to provide information during an inspection (Art. 55a) | 1,000–5,000 BGN (repeat offense: 2,000–10,000 BGN) | 5,000–100,000 BGN (repeat offense: 10,000–200,000 BGN) |
| Enterprises with a turnover exceeding 50 million BGN — Art. 15, para. 4 | — | Up to 0.5% of turnover (repeated: up to 1%, max. 1,000,000 BGN) |
| Other violations of the ZVERB | 100–1,000 BGN | 150–1,500 BGN |
From August 9, 2026, onward, however, the logic is reversed: the requirement for dual pricing simply disappears, so these specific penalties lose their practical application going forward. Control over unjustified price increases prices does not disappear entirely, however—with amendments to the Consumer Protection Act adopted in June 2026, some of the price control provisions remain in effect beyond the deadline for dual pricing.
Currency conversion and rounding (Articles 12 and 13 of the ZVERB) — the rules remain in effect
Even after August 8, 2026, the principles of correct currency conversion remain relevant—for example, in historical records, old contracts, or accounting archives denominated in leva. The rule is simple, but important to remember:
Currency Conversion Rule (Article 12):
- The numerical value in leva is divided by the full exchange rate of 1.95583 (6 digits, 5 decimal places)
- The exchange rate is not rounded or truncated during the calculation
Rounding Rule (Art. 13):
- The resulting amount is rounded to the second decimal place
- If the third digit is < 5 --> the second digit remains unchanged
- If the third digit is ≥ 5 --> the second digit is increased by 1
Example: 10.00 BGN ÷ 1.95583 = 5.11293... --> 5.11 euros
The Full Circle: What Comes Next After August 9
If you follow the series of articles on the transition—from the initial explanations regarding dual pricing in 2025, through the official launch of the euro on January 1, 2026, and the end of dual circulation a month later, — this date marks the end of the natural adaptation cycle. Only technical details remain: the exchange of leva at banks will continue free of charge until June 30, 2026, after which a fee may be introduced, and the option to exchange currency at banks will expire on December 31, 2026. However, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will continue to exchange leva for euros indefinitely and free of charge—for those who find a forgotten banknote in a drawer years from now.
For businesses, the practical implication is clear: starting August 9, 2026, all pricing—including labels, menus, online stores, and advertisements—will switch entirely to the euro. The lev equivalent is now optional, not mandatory. Psychologically, this is the moment when the euro ceases to be the “new” currency and simply becomes the currency.
Conclusion
August 8, 2026, will not bring fireworks or official ceremonies—unlike January 1, it is a quiet date. But that is precisely why it is important: it marks the moment when the transition ceases to be an event and becomes the new normal. The cycle, which began in July 2025 by the ECOFIN decision, closes right where the sense of change actually began—with the price on the label.
Sources
- Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) — bnb.bg
- evroto.bg — Questions and Answers for Businesses
- Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) — kzp.bg
- Ministry of Economy, Investment, and Industry
- European Commission — economy-finance.ec.europa.eu
- ZVERB — Full, Current Text (with amendments from State Gazette No. 65 of 2025)
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