Alberta is getting a new licence plate, and the design chosen by the public is one Bow Valley residents know better than anyone. After more than 240,000 votes cast across three rounds, Albertans selected a panoramic view of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park as the province’s refreshed plate design, replacing the style first introduced in 1984.

The competition began earlier this fall with eight designs, four of which featured Bow Valley landscapes. As voting narrowed, two local scenes, the Three Sisters and Moraine Lake, advanced to the final rounds.

Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally announced the winning design at a press event, calling it a reflection of Alberta’s character. “License plates play a significant role in shaping Alberta’s identity,” he said. “They show what Albertans stand for and who we are as a province. For more than 40 years, our current plate has served us well. But we can all agree it needs a refresh.” He added that Moraine Lake is “breathtaking, known around the world, and one that we can all be proud of.”

Premier Danielle Smith echoed those comments in a written statement, describing the design as a symbol of Alberta’s “strong and free spirit” and a nod to the provincial motto and the national anthem. She said 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.”

The winning plate incorporates reflective technology that improves readability in low light and helps law enforcement and automated systems. The province says the new design meets international standards for visibility and counterfeit resistance, bringing Alberta in line with modern licence plate standards across Canada and the United States.

Drivers will begin seeing the new plates in mid-2026. Albertans who want to switch early can pay a voluntary twenty-eight dollar fee, while others can wait until their next registration renewal and receive the updated plate at no additional cost. The current plate will remain valid as long as it is still in good condition.

For Bow Valley residents, the choice carries particular resonance. Moraine Lake has long been one of the province’s most photographed destinations and a place where local frustrations about overcrowding, closures and shuttle access play out each summer. Its selection as the symbolic image for Alberta suggests the iconic valley continues to hold a place not only in the province’s tourism identity but also in the cultural imagination of voters across Alberta.

The new plate will be on the road next year. For now, the Bow Valley can take a small victory from a provincewide vote that placed one of its most recognizable scenes front and center.