Bulgaria’s Housing Market Soars Ahead of Euro Adoption with 15% Annual Price Increase
Bulgaria’s housing market is experiencing robust growth, driven by strong demand and limited high-quality supply
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will begin issuing commemorative coins in euros starting next year, as outlined in its latest Monetary Program. This marks the first time the central bank will mint gold coins in the European currency, coinciding with Bulgaria’s planned eurozone accession in January 2026.
The first of these coins, titled St. Virgin Mary - Golden Apple, will be released in January and offered in denominations of 10, 20, 50, and 100 euros. It continues the long-running "Christianity" series and will be of particular interest to numismatists and collectors. That same month, the BNB will also issue a silver coin commemorating 125 Years of Electric Trams in Bulgaria, to be released in a 10-euro denomination.
In March, a copper coin will be issued in honor of the 150th anniversary of the birth of famed Bulgarian actor Krastyo Sarafov. It will carry a face value of 2 euros. Another release will follow in April - a silver coin celebrating the Preobrazhenski Monastery (Transfiguration Monastery), also with a denomination of 10 euros.
The BNB is preparing to issue a second gold coin in October 2026. It will be dedicated to St. Ivan Rilski (John of Rila) and will come in a 100-euro denomination, rounding out the year’s planned coinage.
Looking further ahead, the bank’s program for 2027 includes six commemorative coins - two gold, three silver, and one copper. The gold coins will be titled St. Martyrs Faith, Hope and Love and their Mother Sophia and St. Virgin Mary - Golden Apple. In 2028, the BNB intends to release five new commemorative issues, including four silver coins and one copper piece.
Pension insurance contributions will not increase in 2026, while pensions themselves will be updated from 1 July under the Swiss indexation formula, resulting in an expected rise of 7–8%.
The digital euro is a crucial tool for strengthening Europe’s financial and strategic independence and will complement physical cash amid the rapid digitalisation of payments.
With two months left until the end of the year, the collection of some of the main taxes is significantly lagging behind the targets set in the budget.
Beginning on January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will adopt the euro as its official currency
The latest assessment from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggests that Bulgaria will maintain solid economic momentum this year
Financial expert Max Baklayan has warned that the main risk in Bulgaria’s transition to the euro is not the exchange rate, but the increased likelihood of counterfeit currency
Bulgaria's Strategic Role in the EU's Drone Wall Defense Initiative
When Politics Means Violence