The route follows 12th Correction Line for its entire length, and does not pass through any communities east of Camrose.

The Highway 26 designation first belonged to a stretch of road near Drumheller.

Highway 26 begins in the eastern outskirts of Camrose where it splits due east from Highway 13, which bends southeast toward Ohaton.

[2][5] The original alignment of Highway 26 was in Kneehill County west of Drumheller.

[7] In 1970, Highway 26 was decommissioned and in subsequent years was renumbered to its current designations.