Alberta heritage sites and museums offer free admission under Canada Strong pass

Visitors walk past a Mammoth skeleton display at the opening of the Royal Alberta Museum, in Edmonton on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

The Alberta government has again opted into a federal program offering free admission for youth and children and discounts for young adults.

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The Canada Strong pass program is offered by the Carney government to make it easier for young Canadians to explore the country’s historic and natural parks.

The program was first introduced for summer 2025 but has been extended for the winter season.

That means, from Dec. 12 to Jan. 15, 2026, certain museums and historic sites will offer free admission to children and teens aged 17 and under and half-price admission for those 18 to 24 years old.

The Alberta government says many of its premier sites are included under the Canada Strong pass, including:

• Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton;
• Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller;
• Reynolds Museum, Wetaskiwin;
• Remington Carriage Museum, Cardston;
• Oil Sands Discovery Centre, Fort McMurray;
• Rutherford House, Edmonton;
• Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Crowsnest Pass; and
• Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Fort MacLeod.

“Our government is proud to make our incredible museums and historic sites more accessible to Albertans,” said Tanya Fir, Alberta’s minister of arts, culture and status of women, in a news release.

These experiences spark curiosity, support learning and help share Alberta’s unique story while boosting visitation and strengthening local economies across the province.”

The discounted rates are available to all eligible Albertans and out-of-province visitors, with no limit to how many times the discount can be applied.

Seasonal historic sites, which are typically closed over the winter season, are not included in the Canada Strong pass.

The pass will also allow for free admission to Parks Canada locations including Jasper National Park, Elk Island National Park, Banff National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Banff Park Museum National Historic Site, Banff Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, Cave and Basin National Historic Site and Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site.

The pass is also not a physical or digital pass – it is applied automatically when guests within the specified age groups attend the locations.