Albertans choose Moraine Lake for new provincial licence plate

Alberta drivers will see a new provincial licence plate on the road next year, the first major redesign in more than four decades.

After three rounds of public voting that drew more than 240,000 ballots, the province says Albertans selected an image of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park as the new plate design. The refreshed plate will be available in mid-2026.

The plate will also carry Alberta’s “Strong and Free” motto, which the government says echoes the province’s identity and reflects language in the national anthem.

“Albertans know who we are and what we stand for: we are strong, free, resilient and united by the natural beauty that defines our home,” Premier Danielle Smith said in a statement. She called the public response to the vote “deeply meaningful.”

Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said the public’s choice will “show off” one of Alberta’s most recognized landscapes to motorists across the country.

The design features a panoramic view of Moraine Lake and incorporates reflective technology meant to improve readability in low light and meet international standards for visibility and counterfeit resistance.

Drivers who want to switch early can pay $28 to replace their current plate. The new plate will otherwise be issued at no added cost when vehicle registration comes up for renewal. Existing plates can continue to be used if they remain in good condition.

Alberta last introduced a new plate design in 1984. The province shifted from painted to reflective plates using that same design in 2021.