Alberta’s 2026 pollen season going to be intense: expert

With a slow start to Alberta’s pollen season due to colder weather throughout the province, an expert says it’s going to be intense and worsen in the coming years.

The province’s pollen season typically starts in mid-to-late March, but the delay by several weeks has been a common occurrence over the years.

Daniel Coates, the director of Aerobiology Research Laboratories, says early pollinators like maple, alder, and cedar are starting later in mid-April, and are colliding with late tree pollinators like birch, oak, and poplar.

“They are essentially creating a more intense pollen season to start this year than last year in a shorter period of time,” he told CityNews.

Calgary and Edmonton are expected to see high levels of pollen this season, with poplar and birch at the moment and oak coming in shortly. Coates says there are moderate levels of alder, cedar, maple, and fir trees in early May.

“Pine is the only one that you can see with the naked eye,” he said. “In large quantities, you’ll see the yellow stuff on your furniture or cars. That’s pine pollen.”

The delay with the early pollinators is due to the weather, as they only appear in the warmer weather, he says.

Tree pollen is produced the summer before, and is released at around this time, leading to this pollen collision.

“So with that delay, we’re seeing all this pollen release at the same time, both highly allergenic and slightly less allergenic, but that all depends on who you are and what you’re allergic to,” Coates said.

He also says that in the last 35 years of collecting pollen samples, pollen has doubled across Canada.

“It’s getting worse, and it’ll only continue to do so because we’re having longer seasons of warmer weather and pollen loves warmer weather, so it releases more pollen in the air,” Coates explained.

“All those contributing factors basically say that pollen is — and allergies — are only going to get worse for those who suffer.”

To help combat the intense pollen season, especially if you have allergies or experience symptoms, he recommends getting tested for allergies as the main action step.

“It is quite astonishing how many people don’t know what they’re allergic to, which confuses me because it’s like having a cold all day long, and that’s a miserable feeling,” Coates said.

“So we’ll always recommend talking to your doctor, going to an allergist, find out what you’re allergic to.”

Then, looking up what type of pollen is in the air, appropriate steps can be taken to mitigate the symptoms and minimize their impact if you experience those allergies.

He also recommends checking out the Allergy Sufferers app for information about the pollen and spore levels for over 70 types.

Other ways to mitigate symptoms include wearing a mask, whether out and about or while gardening, and wearing wraparound sunglasses.

“If you’re not doing it already, we always recommend having your kids mow the lawn instead of yourself,” he said, a chance to get your kids outside — if they aren’t allergic.

Going out for a walk after rain is a good time because rain washes pollen out of the air; however, it also spurs spores to release pollen.

“So, depending on what you’re allergic to, you need to make sure you know what’s happening and when,” Coates said.

He also says an unpopular option is not letting your pets in bed because they carry around pollen from outside.

Coates also says to thoroughly wash your clothes since pollen can stay embedded in them.

“So just things like that can help minimize the effects on your health and help you have a better quality of life,” he said.