VANCOUVER, BC , April 1, 2026 /CNW/ - Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSXV: VCU) (OTCQB: VCUFF) (FRANKFURT: 97E0) ("Vizsla Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved the 2026 exploration and development budget for the Palmer VMS Project in Southeast Alaska.

The approved 2026 program outlines a comprehensive exploration, technical, and project progression strategy designed to advance the Palmer Project toward economic evaluation while continuing to expand its critical minerals resource base.

2026 Program Highlights

• Total approved budget: US$13.7 million (C$19.2 million)
  
  
• Diamond drilling: ~10,000 meters (~32,800 feet) utilizing two drill rigs targeting areas for high grade expansion and high potential for a new discovery
  
  
• Expanded technical studies: mineral resource refinement including integration of barite, critical trade-off studies, and advanced 3D geological modelling
  
  
• Geophysics: compilation and reprocessing of historical datasets and new survey acquisition to refine exploration for new mineralization
  
  
• Project development: continued environmental baseline collection, preparation of camp and support facilities for expanded drilling and assessment programs in 2027

Craig Parry, Executive Chairman and CEO, commented:

"The approval of the 2026 budget marks an important step forward in advancing the Palmer VMS Project. This program is designed to both grow the resource base and continue de-risking the project through a disciplined technical approach. With strong financial backing and a clear execution plan, we believe Palmer is well positioned to deliver meaningful results in 2026."

Peter Mercer, Senior Vice President, Alaska, added:

"The 2026 program reflects a balanced approach between exploration, technical advancement, and development readiness. With drilling, geophysics, and engineering work progressing in parallel, we are building the dataset required to move Palmer toward economic evaluation while continuing to unlock the potential of this critical mineral project."

The Palmer Project: Strategic Objectives for 2026

The Palmer Project is a high-grade, polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) project located in Southeast Alaska. The project hosts an updated mineral resource estimate¹ and numerous underexplored targets distributed along more than 15 kilometers of prospective stratigraphy, the project represents a district-scale opportunity with proven mineral endowment and significant potential for resource expansion and new discoveries.

The 2026 program is designed to execute on three integrated priorities - resource growth, discovery, and advancement toward development through a coordinated exploration and technical work program.

At the core of the program is a 10,000 meter (~32,800 feet) diamond drilling campaign utilizing two drill rigs from June to September 2026. Drilling will focus on expanding high-grade copper-zinc mineralization at the Palmer Deposit South Wall Zone, testing high-grade priority extensions, and advancing multiple high-potential regional targets.

A key focus of the 2026 program will be the continued delineation and expansion of Zone 1, where a high-grade copper-rich core was identified during the 2023 and 2024 drilling campaigns. Highlight intercepts include 23.9 meters grading 11.2% copper equivalent (28.0% zinc equivalent) in hole CMR23-171 and 43.8 meters grading 8.2% copper equivalent (20.6% zinc equivalent) in hole CMR23-172², confirming the presence of a high-grade mineralized core. This year's drilling program is designed to systematically step out along strike to expand this core, while refining the geological and structural model and controls on mineralization.

The 2026 drill program is supported by a significantly upgraded targeting framework developed through the integration of geological, geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing datasets into a unified 3D model. Recent work has refined priority conductive corridors in several prospective target areas across the property, providing a strong pipeline of drill-ready opportunities and enhancing the probability of success across the district.

In parallel with drilling, the Company will advance a suite of technical programs aimed at strengthening the Palmer Project's development pathway. This includes reprocessing and acquisition of geophysical data to further refine targets, continued geological modelling, and targeted surface exploration programs focused on ranking and advancing underexplored prospects. Work is currently underway to incorporate barite into future mineral resource estimates and to evaluate additional critical minerals across the system, supporting the Project's positioning as a multi-commodity critical minerals asset.

The 2026 program also includes engineering and environmental baseline work to support future economic studies. Camp upgrades and operational improvements are being implemented to support current activities and position the project for larger future programs.

Aligned with U.S. Critical Minerals Strategy

The Palmer Project hosts copper, zinc, gold, silver, and barite mineralization, all recognized as strategic and critical to U.S. domestic supply chains, including energy transition technologies, infrastructure, and defense applications.

Located in Southeast Alaska, Palmer benefits from a stable regulatory environment, existing infrastructure access, and proximity to tidewater, positioning the project as a potential contributor to secure, domestic sources of critical minerals.

The 2026 program is designed to advance both the scale and confidence of the resource while progressing the technical work required to support future development decisions. This approach aligns with broader U.S. policy objectives focused on strengthening domestic mineral supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign sources of critical materials.

Commitment to Responsible Development

Vizsla Copper recognizes that the Palmer Project is located within a region of significant ecological, cultural, and community importance. Vizsla's approach to project development will be guided by a commitment to listen, learn, and understand all community perspectives while operating within all State and Federal regulatory framework. Our approach is guided by the same Alaskan solution that shaped the original Chilkat Valley consensus: collaboration, transparency, and respect for multiple land uses.

About Vizsla Copper

Vizsla Copper is a critical-minerals focused exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company is primarily focused on its Palmer VMS project in Southeast Alaska, and its Poplar and Woodjam porphyry-related projects in British Columbia.

All of the Company's projects are well situated amongst significant infrastructure. The Company's growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of the properties within its portfolio in addition to value-accretive acquisitions. Vizsla Copper's vision is to be a responsible copper explorer and developer in stable mining jurisdictions, and it is committed to socially responsible exploration and development, working safely, ethically, and with integrity.

Vizsla Copper is backed by Inventa Capital Corp., a premier investment group founded in 2017 with the goal of discovering and funding opportunities in the resource sector.

Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.vizslacopper.com).

Qualified Person and National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Mercer, P.Geo., Senior Vice President for Vizsla Copper. Mr. Mercer is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

References

1. SRK - Parsons, B. and Kelloff, K. (2025). NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate, Palmer Project, Alaska, USA. Report prepared for Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. by SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc. Effective Date: January 13, 2025
2. American Pacific Mining Corp. press release dated January 10, 2024.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to the Company's exploration plans.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Vizsla Copper Corp.

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