The first 2026 core hole at SSD confirmed that the observed controls on gold mineralization – as interpreted from recent trenching – are compelling target vectors

T2601 encountered significant zones of hydrothermal alteration coincident with high-grade Carlin-style gold, including pervasive decalcification, clay, breccia, and pyrite

A deep-capacity RC drill rig has arrived at the Property and is currently advancing T2603, one of several planned down-dip tests of these newly-modelled controls on gold mineralization

Vancouver, British Columbia, August 18, 2026 – TheNewswire - Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) (“Westward” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce assay results for the first core hole completed at the SSD Target (“SSD”), Toiyabe Hills Property, Lander County, NV (“Toiyabe Hills”, or the “Property”). T2601 – drilled to a total depth of approximately 123 metres – was designed to 1) characterize the host rocks, hydrothermal alteration, and structure associated with down-hole gold mineralization at SSD, 2) verify the continuity of these features from their surface expression downward into the third dimension, 3) build upon the data gleaned from nearby trenching to further determine controls on gold mineralization (see Westward press release dated August 4, 2026), 4) apply these controls as a vector for upcoming deeper drilling and a tool for additional near-term SSD target development, and 5) modernize and upgrade previously-unconfirmed legacy data from the near-surface environment at SSD.

Key Takeaways:

• T2601 intersected 12.0 metres of 8.06 g Au/t within 27.0 metres of 3.72 g Au/t in micrite and silty limestone of the Wenban Formation, a thick sequence of carbonate rocks that are well-documented gold hosts in the Cortez District. 

• The higher-grade sub-interval is controlled by a high-angle fault zone and characterized by breccia, decalcification, pervasively shattered rock, clay, and elevated sooty pyrite (see Figures 1, 3 and 4 below). The style and intensity of these alteration features – and their association with pervasively-broken rock – is typical of Carlin-type gold deposits throughout northern Nevada. 

• Gold mineralization sits in the immediate footwall of the Roberts Mountains Thrust (“RMT”) and an igneous dike, and is focused in the hanging wall of the WNW-striking N-Fault and hanging wall of the G-Fault corridor; the down-dip projection of this gold setting is slated for upcoming reverse-circulation (“RC”) drilling. 

• The recognition of high-angle structural controls on gold mineralization is a significant development at SSD; legacy interpretations indicated that gold was predominantly stratiform and/or parallel with the RMT. 

Figure 1 – T2601: Stratigraphy, Gold Grades, and Detailed Logging

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Mr. Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration, noted: “We’re very pleased with the results from this first core hole of 2026, primarily because it offers the first evidence that the gold controls we recently observed in the nearby trench still persist as we follow these structures into the sub-surface. Now with the arrival of the first RC rig, our drilling production will ramp up significantly and our target models will be continuously refined as more detailed logging and assay results are incorporated. From the very limited deeper drilling in and around the greater SSD area, we know there is a horizon of flat-lying gold mineralization in zones that range from 9.1 to 50.3 metres thick with gold grades of 0.34 to 3.03 g Au/t; often times this mineralization is strongly oxidized with abundant limonite and hematite. Intersections of high-angle controlling structures with the deeper low-angle structural zone will be the focus of our first RC holes. We’re very excited to learn more about this complex and highly-promising target in the coming months.”

Figure 2 – T2601 Assay Results

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Note: Gold intervals were calculated based on a 0.14 g Au/t cutoff grade. All gold intervals are presented as drill hole lengths; true thicknesses of mineralization are currently unknown and estimated at 50-70% of reported thicknesses. Refer to QA/QC statement below for additional details.

Figures 3 and 4 below display portions of the PQ-sized core that returned significant gold grades. The gold is hosted in micrite and silty limestone of the Devonian Wenban Formation, and the highest-grade samples are characterized by decalcification, secondary carbon emplacement, elevated sooty pyrite, faulting and clay alteration associated with brecciation. This sheared and brecciated fault zone formed a fluid conduit for Carlin-type gold deposition, with additional dissemination at its margins. The 6.44 g Au/t sample at the beginning of the core box in Figure 3, and the 7.92 g Au/t sample at the end of the core box in Figure 4, contain selvages of silicification – another important alteration type in Carlin-type gold deposits.

Figure 3 – T2601 Select Core Photos (57.3 m – 61.1 m Depth)

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Figure 4 – T2601 Select Core Photos (64.2 m – 67.4 m Depth)

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Target Vectors – Upcoming RC Drilling:

RC drilling is now underway at the SSD Target, with T2603 in progress from site SSD26-A to test the margins of the near-vertical Fault-G (see press release dated August 4, 2026, for additional information). Data from T2601 (building upon trenching results and interpretations) have reinforced the significance of Fault-N, with down-dip tests of that structure planned from pads SSD26-J and SSD26-K. Results from core hole T2602 (pending) will further refine the model ahead of these deep vertical RC holes (see Figure 5 below). Strategic step-out drilling – including down-dip and along strike of controlling structures – will enhance the Company’s understanding of the high-grade geometry at SSD enable future drilling to target the highest-grade environments.

Figure 5 – T2301/Trench Gold Mineralization, Fault N Projection & Upcoming Drilling (Section View)

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Note: Section view looking northwest; 307-degree azimuth, grades included on drill / trench traces only shown if >0.5 g Au/t.

Digital Marketing Services Agreement

The Company has engaged Senergy Communications Capital Inc. ("Senergy") to provide digital marketing services (the "Services") for a period of four months, and Westward has paid Senergy a fee of one hundred thousand Canadian dollars for this engagement period. The Services include content creation, strategic messaging, corporate communications, and other online and social media marketing strategies. The material disseminated will be generated using publicly-available information. For more information regarding Senergy, please visit: www.senergy.capital. Senergy and its affiliates currently hold no shares in Westward Gold Inc. Senergy may, however, purchase or sell Company securities in the open market or through other means based on market conditions and other factors. Senergy is at arm's length to Westward, has no other relationship with the Company and neither Senergy nor its principal, Aleem Fidai, has any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest, other than as disclosed herein. Senergy is located at 1122 Mainland St #228, Vancouver, BC V6B 5L1 and can be contacted at (778) 772-6740 or at info@senergy.capital.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (“QA/QC”)

The Company implemented a best-practices QA/QC program during the drilling of core hole T2601. Drilling consisted of PQ-sized core from the collar to a total depth of 122.7 meters. All sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Company’s Vice President Exploration and/or members of its technical team, and the chain of custody from the Property to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. Samples were transported directly from the field to Modern Land and Development in Carlin, NV, where the individual sample intervals were cut in half and bagged for delivery.

Core samples were delivered to ALS Limited’s (“ALS”) preparation facility located in Elko, NV. Samples were dried at 100 degrees Celsius, crushed to 70% passing -2mm, Boyd rotary split off 250g, which was then pulverized to greater than 85% passing 75 microns. The resulting sample pulps were delivered to ALS’ laboratories at either 4977 Energy Way, Reno, NV, 89502 or 2103 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver, BC, V7H 0A7 for fire assay and multi-element assays.

Individual core samples for fire assay were selected at intervals ranging from 0.5m to 2.1m. Overall QA/QC frequency was set at a minimum of 15%, including standards, blanks, and three varieties of duplicates. Standards and blanks were sourced from Rocklabs of Aukland, New Zealand. Data verification of the analytical results included a statistical analysis of the standards, blanks and duplicates that must fall within specified ranges for acceptance. All standards, blanks and duplicates were checked and verified and are within these ranges. All core samples were analyzed for gold and 49 additional elements. Assays consisted of fire assay (Au-AA23) for gold on each individual sample. For multi-element geochemistry, composited intervals ranging between 4.9 meters to 7.0 meters were analyzed with four-acid analysis (ME-MS61m).

The significant gold zones are weight-averaged and a cut-off grade of 0.14 g Au/t was employed, however internal dilution may include up to 4.0 metres of material below the cut-off. Drill-hole deviation for T2601 was measured by a gyroscopic down-hole survey completed by IDS of Elko, NV. The survey provides accurate down hole inclination and azimuth of the hole. Obtaining an accurate survey of the drill hole leads to a better contextual understanding of the core samples, and a more robust 3D geological model All gold intervals are presented as drill hole lengths; true thicknesses of mineralization are currently unknown and estimated at 50-70% of reported thicknesses

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration of the Company, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Edie is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) through the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG).

About Westward Gold

Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Trend area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities.

For further information contact:

Andrew Nelson
Chief Financial Officer
Westward Gold Inc.
+1 (604) 828-7027

andrew@westwardgold.com

www.westwardgold.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release contains or incorporates by reference “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate”, “potential”, “on track”, “forecast", "budget", “target”, “outlook”, “continue”, “plan” or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms.

Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Company’s expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets, and other statements that express management’s expectations or estimates of future plans and performance.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Company’s properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Company’s material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Company’s ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Company’s latest management discussion and analysis under “Risks and Uncertainties”, which is available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company’s forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management’s assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information.