KO Gold Reports Assay Results from 2026 Smylers Drilling Program, Confirming the Continuity of Gold Mineralization in the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 24, 2026) - KO Gold Inc. (CSE: KOG) (" KO Gold " or the " Company ") is pleased to report assay results from its 2026 reverse circulation (" RC ") and diamond drilling (" DD ") programs at its 100%-owned Smylers Gold Exploration Permit (" Smylers EP ") in the Otago Gold District, South Island, New Zealand ( Figure 1 ). A total of 23 RC drill holes and 2 diamond drill holes totalling 2,070.7 metres were completed between May and August 2026. 2 RC holes and 1 diamond drill hole were abandoned due to excessive groundwater and poor ground conditions.

These results confirm and outline the presence of broad, structurally controlled gold mineralization along the southeast extension of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone (" HMSZ ") corridor, consistent with the style and grade of gold mineralization that characterizes the Otago Gold District and gold deposits presently being mined at OceanaGold's Macraes gold mine.

Highlights

Diamond drill hole SD0046 returned 0.82 g/t Au over 8.0 metres , including 4.09 g/t Au over 0.6 metres .

Diamond drill hole SD0047 returned 0.75 g/t Au over 5.9 metres , including 2.60 g/t Au over 1.3 metres .

RC drilling intersected zones of continuous gold mineralization along the HMSZ corridor, including 1.07 g/t Au over 2.0 metres (SMRC0071), 1.05 g/t Au over 4.0 metres (SMRC0084), 1.64 g/t Au over 2.0 metres (SMRC0083, including 2.60 g/t Au over 1.0 metre), 2.34 g/t Au over 1.0 metre (SMRC0084), and 1.28 g/t Au over 2.0 metres (SMRC0086).

All samples were analysed by SGS at Macraes Flat, New Zealand, using the Chrysos PhotonAssay™ method, a non-destructive technique in which the entire jarred sample charge is analysed for gold. Composite assay results are shown in Table 1 below.

Drilling at the Smylers EP is complete, and drilling has now commenced on p