8 things to watch for in Alberta politics in 2026

Say what you will about Alberta politics, they are seldom boring — at least, not these days.

"I remember the days when Alberta politics was boring, and that's no more," political analyst Lori Williams said.

Duelling citizen-led petitions related to separation, multiple uses of the notwithstanding clause, a slew of recall petitions, progress on a pipeline deal, and municipal elections across the province — 2025 was rife with headline-making political news.

And already, the year ahead is looking to be just as consequential, with Albertans likely to have their say in referendums on a number of issues.

Here are some of the things to watch for on the political landscape in 2026.

Premier Danielle Smith has said she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.

But speaking in May, after Mark Carney's Liberals won the federal election, she said a referendum on separation could happen in 2026 if enough citizens petitioned for it.

She then spent the summer traversing the province for town halls as part of her Alberta Next Panel, where separation was not directly a question on the table, but coloured much of the discussions.

A judge ruled in December a referendum on separation would be unconstitutional — a day after the province had tabled legislation to take the wind out of that court case and let a referendum go ahead.

The Alberta Prosperity Project is expected to start canvassing in the new year for support to get its question on a ballot: “Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state?"

Meanwhile, Thomas Lukaszuk has previously said his goal is to have MLAs vote on his question — "Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?" — rather than have a provincewide referendum on the matter.

A referendum (or two) is not a guarantee. But assuming it happens?

"It's going to bring to the surface a lot of strongly held emotions," said Williams, an associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University.

"It could very well threaten divisions within the United Conservative Party, and between the United Conservative Party and more moderate Albertans."