Mr. Benoit La Salle reports

AYA GOLD & SILVER PROVIDES 2026 OUTLOOK AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Aya Gold & Silver Inc. has provided its 2026 outlook and presented the corporation's key operational and strategic priorities that will guide execution in the coming year. All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Highlights

• 2026 outlook:
  • Total production: 6.2 million to 6.8 million silver-equivalent ounces (Moz AgEq);
  • Zgounder production: 5.2 million to 5.8 million silver ounces (Moz Ag for 2026) at an average cost of $21.50/oz;
  • Boumadine pyrite stockpile reclaiming and commercialization: approximately 1.0 Moz AgEq at $10.10/oz AgEq cash cost.
• Key 2026 operational and strategic priorities:
  • Optimize operations at the company's Zgounder silver mine supported by sustaining and growth capital investments of $36-million allocated to key projects;
  • Evaluate potential to increase plant capacity beyond current levels;
  • Accelerate development of the Boumadine polymetallic project through extensive drilling program, feasibility fieldwork, ESIA and flowsheet improvements, including additional roasting testwork;
  • Update mineral resource at Boumadine in H2 2026;
  • Execute a 230,000-metre (m) drilling program in 2026, as part of a comprehensive 2026 exploration and development program, including permit acquisition and prospection to expand resources and enhance long-term optionality;
  • United States listing expected in H1 2026 to broaden investor access, enhance liquidity.

"Two thousand twenty-five was a pivotal year for Aya, marked by the successful completion of key milestones across production, development and exploration, positioning the company to deliver record financial results. Building on this strong foundation, our focus in 2026 shifts to disciplined execution across our portfolio," said Benoit La Salle, president and chief executive officer.

"Our objectives centre on continuous optimization at the Zgounder silver mine, including incremental throughput enhancements to maximize cash flow, fast-tracking feasibility work at Boumadine and executing a bold exploration program. Together these initiatives span the full value chain and are designed to enhance scalability, expand resources and advance development opportunities. We enter 2026 with strong momentum, a robust balance sheet and a supportive market environment, positioning us well to deliver strong margins, generate free cash flow and drive long-term value creation for all stakeholders."

Key 2026 priorities

Aya's 2026 priorities are focused on delivering strong performance at Zgounder, advancing growth at Boumadine, strengthening the company's development pipeline, expanding its resource base and creating a clear path for long-term growth. The company is providing additional detail on these plans, which have been reviewed and approved by its board of directors.

Zgounder silver mine

• Optimize operations of the company's Zgounder silver mine, ensuring mining and processing throughput are aligned to support production targets. Sustained capital investments of approximately $36-million will support:
  • Open-pit development and underground development: mining, electrical and water pumping infrastructure, to open new levels below the 1,900-metre level and continue the ramp to the granite contact. Enhanced grade control via blast-movement control and bench-by-bench modeling (implemented in H2 2025) to maximize ore recovery;
  • Processing facilities: execute capital projects to enable sustained processing rate of approximately 3,650 tonnes per day;
  • Expansion of the tailings storage facility (TSF) to support continuing operations.
• Evaluate potential to increase plant capacity beyond current levels.

Boumadine polymetallic project:

• Accelerate development of the Boumadine polymetallic project through feasibility-level fieldwork, tradeoff studies and the continuing ESIA, including metallurgical testwork, processing and mining studies, water management assessments, and infrastructure design;
• Deliver resource update in H2 2026 and update PEA accordingly.

Exploration:

• Execute a comprehensive 2026 exploration and development program at Zgounder and Boumadine to expand resources and support long-term optionality.
  • Zgounder -- near-mine drilling (20,000 m): Underground exploration west of the Zgounder fault, pit-adjacent programs to confirm continuity, extend high-grade zones, and support production and resource updates. Activities leverage AI and remote sensing results from 2025 and include detailed near-mine mapping.
  • Zgounder -- regional exploration (10,000 m): Targeting satellite deposits at Zgounder East, Iriri, Touchkal and Zgounder North. Greenfield drilling, target generation and regional geological mapping aim to expand the resource base and identify long-term growth opportunities.
  • Boumadine drilling (200,000 m): Infill drilling (180,000 m -- half of two-year 360,000 m plan) to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated categories, plus regional drilling (20,000 m) on targets including follow-up on Asirem structures. Technical advancement includes geological mapping, detailed surface mapping, core scanning, core-shack upgrades, metallurgical testwork and support to the feasibility study.
  • Budget allocation: Exploration initiatives supported by about $60-million covering drilling and other exploration activities across all projects.

Other strategic objectives:

• Pursue a U.S. listing expected Q2 2026 to broaden investor access, enhance liquidity:
  • Aya is targeting a U.S. listing in mid 2026. The corporation believes this step will broaden access to U.S. investors, enhance trading liquidity and better align Aya's market presence with the scale of its growth profile. Management intends to commence the necessary preparations, including engaging advisers, preparing required filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and satisfying applicable listing requirements. There can be no assurance that the U.S. listing will be completed or as to the timing of any such listing.

2026 operational outlook

Building on the operational and exploration achievements of 2025, Aya expects 2026 to be a year of execution, focused on operations and advancing exploration and development initiatives.

Based on the current mine plan and operating assumptions, the corporation expects the following in 2026:

• Total production: between 6.2 and 6.8 Moz AgEq;
• Zgounder silver mine: production of 5.2 million to 5.8 million Moz Ag, at an average cash cost of approximately $21.50/oz Ag;
• Boumadine pyrite stockpile reclaiming and commercialization: production of approximately 1.0 Moz AgEq at a cash cost of approximately $10/oz AgEq;
• Planned capital and exploration expenditures of respectively $36-million and $60-million subject to continuing review and market conditions.

Looking ahead, the company believes that the current industry landscape, together with expectations for a supportive silver price environment, is expected to support strong margins and free cash flow generation, providing confidence in its strategy to pursue opportunities across its portfolio. Following a positive preliminary economic assessment, Aya remains focused on executing the Boumadine feasibility study and associated technical programs to advance the project toward development. The company's results to date continue to demonstrate Boumadine's potential, characterized by meaningful scale, favourable geology and significant resource expansion upside. Supported by a strong balance sheet, Aya is well positioned to invest in its future through disciplined capital allocation and continued exploration investment, with a continued focus on delivering long-term value for all stakeholders.

Outlook assumptions

1. AgEq ounces are at an 80:1 Au:Ag ratio;
2. Cash costs are a non-IFRS (international financial reporting standards) financial measure and has no standardized meaning under IFRS accounting standards and may not be comparable with similar measures used by other issuers. Refer to the company's latest MD&A (management's discussion and analysis) for a detailed description of the measure;
3. Cash cost outlook is based on various assumptions and estimates, including, but not limited to: production volumes, commodity prices (2026 -- Ag: $50.00/oz, Au: $4,000/oz) foreign currency exchange rates (2025 -- Canadian dollar/U.S. dollar: 1.40, Moroccan Dirham/U.S. dollar:9.00) and operating costs.

Qualified person

The technical information contained in this press release have been reviewed and approved by Raphael Beaudoin, PEng, vice-president, operations, a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Aya Gold & Silver Inc.

Aya Gold & Silver is a Canadian precious metals mining company anchored in Morocco and active across the full mining value chain. The corporation has established exploration leadership through a systematic, technology-led, data-driven approach, and is focused on expanding its resource base and land package along the Anti-Atlas fault -- one of Africa's most geologically rich, underexplored and mining-friendly regions.

Aya operates Zgounder, a rare, silver-only mine, producing silver dore from its newly expanded processing facility. Aya's growth pipeline includes the Boumadine polymetallic project, where feasibility study work is under way. The project hosts a substantial mineral resource, an extensive mineralized footprint and significant potential for further discovery.

Led by a proven team of mining professionals, Aya is guided by a vision of responsible mining and is committed to delivering sustainable value for shareholders, employees and host communities.

We seek Safe Harbor.