Between February 26 and March 16, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted six provincial immigration draws over a three-week period, issuing a total of 1,447 invitations. These draws primarily targeted rural immigration candidates, as well as workers in priority sectors such as healthcare and technology. Among them, the March 5 Alberta Opportunity Stream draw was the largest, with 832 invitations issued, while the March 16 healthcare-focused Express Entry draw marked Alberta’s first priority sector healthcare draw of 2026 under the Express Entry stream.

Six draws covered several priority streams and pathways

According to data released by Alberta, the six draws covered the following streams and pathways:

• Alberta Opportunity Stream;
• Rural Renewal Stream;
• Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors pathway (Health Care);
• Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech pathway; and
• Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry.

In terms of invitation volume, the Alberta Opportunity Stream remained the dominant channel, accounting for about 57.5% of all 1,447 invitations issued in this latest series of draws.

Draw details from February 26 to March 16, 2026

Below are the details of the six draws announced by the province:

Notably, the March 16 draw was Alberta’s first Express Entry draw in 2026 specifically focused on healthcare as a priority sector. This signals that the province is sharpening its policy focus on addressing labour shortages in the healthcare system.

Alberta has now held 18 draws in 2026

So far, the AAIP has conducted a total of 18 draws in 2026 and issued at least 3,956 invitations to apply for provincial nomination. Overall, most invitations this year have continued to be issued through the Alberta Opportunity Stream, reinforcing its central role in Alberta’s immigration system.

Alberta’s 2026 nomination allocation totals 6,403

According to figures assigned by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Alberta received 6,403 provincial nomination spaces for 2026.

As of March 17, 2026:

• Nominations issued: 1,127;
• Remaining nomination spaces: 5,276; and
• Applications awaiting processing across all AAIP streams: 1,253.

This means Alberta has used only part of its annual allocation so far, leaving substantial room for further draws in the months ahead.

Nomination allocation by stream: Alberta Opportunity Stream accounts for more than half

The AAIP has also published figures showing how its 2026 nomination allocation is distributed across streams and pathways, along with the number of nominations already issued and the number still remaining. The data shows that the Alberta Opportunity Stream accounts for 53.5% of the province’s total nomination allocation this year, making it the most important nomination channel.

The figures suggest that, aside from the Alberta Opportunity Stream, the Rural Renewal Stream, tech pathway, and healthcare-related pathways all still have substantial nomination room left for the rest of 2026.

Alberta continues to publish EOI pool and inventory data

Alberta remains one of the few provinces that regularly publishes detailed data on its candidate pools and application inventory, allowing a clearer view of competition levels across streams.

As of March 17, 2026, there were 43,871 worker Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in the selection pool, excluding entrepreneur streams. Of these, 63.7% were submitted under the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

At the same time, there were no fewer than 1,251 applications awaiting processing across all streams, pathways, and initiatives, with the Alberta Opportunity Stream accounting for the largest share.

It is worth noting that the article earlier cites 1,253 total applications awaiting processing as of March 17, while the stream-by-stream table adds up to at least 1,251. This discrepancy may be due to unpublished exact values in categories listed as “less than 10” and the province’s data reporting method.

Alberta’s 2026 priorities are becoming clearer

In January, Alberta announced that it would prioritize occupations in the following sectors in 2026:

• healthcare;
• technology;
• construction;
• manufacturing;
• aviation; and
• agriculture.

Recent draw activity shows that this policy direction is now being reflected in actual invitations. In particular, the continued use of healthcare- and tech-focused draws suggests Alberta is directing more of its limited nomination spaces toward occupations facing labour shortages.

Rural immigration is also one of Alberta’s main focus areas this year. Candidates with qualifying job offers in communities designated under the Rural Renewal Stream may continue to benefit from strong policy support.

What this means for applicants

For candidates hoping to immigrate to Alberta, the current signals are fairly clear.

First, the Alberta Opportunity Stream remains the main source of invitations, making it especially important for candidates already working in Alberta and meeting provincial employment and residency requirements.

Second, the Rural Renewal Stream is expanding rapidly. Candidates who can secure eligible job offers from designated rural communities may have a strong competitive advantage under this pathway.

Third, healthcare and tech candidates are well positioned in 2026. Whether through priority sector draws under Express Entry or through the separate Dedicated Health Care Pathway, Alberta is continuing to reserve space for these sectors.

Overall, Alberta’s 2026 provincial nomination strategy is taking shape: while maintaining its traditional core streams, the province is placing greater emphasis on rural labour gaps, sector-targeted selection, and the recruitment of workers in occupations facing shortages. With more than 5,000 nomination spaces still available for the year, Alberta’s upcoming draws will remain important to watch in the months ahead.