After three rounds of online voting and more than 240,000 votes cast, Alberta residents have chosen a new look for their license plates. The winning design features a striking image of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, one of the province's most famous and beloved landscapes.
The new license plate will not only be a means of vehicle registration, but also a recognizable symbol of Alberta around the world.
How the contest went
The Alberta government announced the Alberta pick a plate contest for a new license plate design for the first time in over 40 years.
Citizens were offered several options in a tournament bracket format; voting took place in three stages.
In the end, the Moraine Lake option received the most support from the province's residents, with over 240,000 votes.
Premier Danielle Smith emphasized that the chosen design reflects the strength, freedom, and natural beauty of Alberta, which local residents are proud of.
What is depicted on the new license plate
The new plates feature a panoramic view of Moraine Lake — a turquoise lake against a backdrop of mountain peaks and coniferous forest. The provincial logo is located at the top, and the motto “Strong and Free,” borrowed from Alberta's heraldic motto and the Canadian anthem, is located at the bottom.
A stylized pink rosehip flower, the official flower of the province, also appears in the center of the license plate.
In addition to aesthetics, the new license plates use reflective technology: this improves readability in the dark, assists automated recognition systems, and increases protection against counterfeiting.
When will the new plates appear on the roads?
According to the government, new license plates with the Moraine Lake design will begin to be issued in mid-2026.
Car owners will have two options:
- Voluntary replacement earlier: get a new plate by paying approximately CAD 28.
- Scheduled replacement during the next vehicle registration renewal — at no additional cost.
The use of old license plates will continue to be permitted if they remain in good condition.
Brief context
The current design of Alberta license plates has been in use since 1984, and since 2021, the province has gradually transitioned to reflective plates with the same design. The new Moraine Lake design will be the first major visual change in more than four decades.
A symbol recognized around the world
Moraine Lake in Banff has long been a “landmark” of the Canadian Rockies and one of the most photographed landscapes in the country. Now, millions of people on the roads of Canada and beyond will see this landscape every day.
The new license plates are not just a design update, but a vibrant showcase of Alberta, combining natural beauty, historical symbols, and modern safety technology.