Which countries will start using the euro in 2026?

On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will bid farewell to its lev currency and become the 21st European nation to adopt the euro.

The Balkan country of 6.7 million people has been a European Union (EU) member since January 1, 2007, and joined the Schengen Area in March 2024, both of which marked pivotal moments in its integration into Europe.

This leaves only six countries in the 27-member EU still using their own currencies: The Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden.

The euro is the official currency of the EU, serving as the unified currency for its member states and allowing for easier trade and travel among them.

About 350 million people use it, making it the most popular official currency and the second-most traded and held reserve currency in the world after the US dollar.

Managed by the European Central Bank and the Eurosystem, the currency consists of six banknotes, each featuring different European architectural designs, with a seventh note, the 500 euro note, having been discontinued in 2019 but still considered legal tender.

Euro banknotes look the same everywhere, but coins have a national side chosen by each country.

The EU is a political and economic bloc of 27 countries in Europe, formed in 1993 to promote cooperation, free trade and shared policies across the continent.

Most EU nations are legally required to adopt the euro once they meet specific economic criteria. The countries which use the euro are collectively known as the eurozone.