--- title: "Bulgaria adopts the euro in 2026 - what you need to know" canonical_url: https://docs.connect.worldline-solutions.com/blog/#bookmark_bcf263cb32e3712918d320ea5be881cd section: bookmark_bcf263cb32e3712918d320ea5be881cd --- # Bulgaria adopts the euro in 2026 - what you need to know 02 Jan 2026 Zoltan Jeszenszki, Product Manager ![](https://docs.connect.worldline-solutions.com/dA/bcf263cb32/image/BGN to EUR.jpg?language_id=1) **On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria adopted the euro (EUR) as its official currency,** replacing the Bulgarian lev (BGN). Going forward, card schemes and acquirers will require authorizations in EUR, and BGN authorizations will be rejected. Existing BGN transactions stay valid, but they follow specific transition rules and timelines. A fixed conversion rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN will be used for all conversions during the transition. For online commerce, set checkout currencies, pricing displays, and back-office systems to EUR starting in 2026. Historical BGN authorizations and refunds will be handled according to the transition rules. # What this means for you If you're currently processing BGN via Global Commerce, plan for BGN to be phased out as a transaction currency. Starting January 1, 2026, authorizations in BGN are declined by participating acquirers and schemes. Here are the details: * **Authorizations in BGN before January 1 stay valid.** Captures and settlements must follow the authorization currency. If an authorization in BGN is made before the cut-over and settled afterward, the settlement will be in BGN, supported by schemes until February 28, 2026. * Refunds after January 1 should be submitted in EUR using the fixed conversion rate. * Chargebacks on BGN authorizations are auto-converted to EUR by the schemes after the cut-off date. On the reporting side, EUR transactions from January 1, 2026 will appear as EUR in reports and dashboards. Historical BGN transactions will remain visible in BGN and won't be retroactively converted. **Your existing contracts stay valid**; the currency change doesn't alter rights or obligations, but you may want to review pricing, billing, and internal accounting with your finance and tax teams. # How we are prepared for you **Global Commerce has aligned systems, configurations, and scheme relationships** to ensure a smooth transition for any BGN traffic. For eligible e-commerce setups, your Global Collect platform configuration will automatically update to process in EUR starting January 1, 2026. In your API request you should change the currencyCode from "BGN" to "EUR". Ensure you to review how you present prices to Bulgarian consumers and how you map currencies in your own systems. **We've coordinated with impacted acquirers and schemes to keep things consistent:** new BGN authorizations will be rejected after year-end, legacy transactions will keep their original currency, and conversions will use the official fixed rate. Scheme-specific details (like new merchant IDs for EUR) will be handled in the background with you if affected. **Our goal is a seamless transition** with no disruptions to authorizations, settlements, or payouts as Bulgaria moves to the euro. If you process BGN today, your account manager will guide you through all the steps and answer questions about timelines, reporting, and readiness. [Read more Read less](https://docs.connect.worldline-solutions.com/blog/.md#hidden_bcf263cb32e3712918d320ea5be881cd)