<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><own:edgarSubmission xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns:own="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <own:headerData>
    <own:submissionType>144</own:submissionType>
    <own:filerInfo>
      <own:filer>
        <own:filerCredentials>
          <own:cik>0001736679</own:cik>
          <own:ccc>XXXXXXXX</own:ccc>
        </own:filerCredentials>
      </own:filer>
      <own:liveTestFlag>LIVE</own:liveTestFlag>



    </own:filerInfo>
  </own:headerData>
  <own:formData>
    <own:issuerInfo>
      <own:issuerCik>0001279495</own:issuerCik>
      <own:issuerName>Baytex Energy Corporation</own:issuerName>
      <own:secFileNumber>001-32754</own:secFileNumber>
      <own:issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>2800, 520 - 3rd Avenue, S.W.</com:street1>
        <com:city>Calgary</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>Z4</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>T2P 0R3</com:zipCode>
      </own:issuerAddress>
      <own:issuerContactPhone>587-952-3000</own:issuerContactPhone>
      <own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Eric T.  Greager</own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <own:relationshipsToIssuer>
        <own:relationshipToIssuer>Former President, CEO</own:relationshipToIssuer>
      </own:relationshipsToIssuer>
    </own:issuerInfo>
    <own:securitiesInformation>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <own:name>J.P. Morgan Securities LLC</own:name>
        <own:address>
          <com:street1>270 Park Avenue, 10th Floor</com:street1>
          <com:city>New York</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>10017</com:zipCode>
        </own:address>
      </own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <own:noOfUnitsSold>216762</own:noOfUnitsSold>
      <own:aggregateMarketValue>1146671</own:aggregateMarketValue>
      <own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>765568147</own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <own:approxSaleDate>05/19/2026</own:approxSaleDate>
      <own:securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</own:securitiesExchangeName>
    </own:securitiesInformation>
    <own:securitiesToBeSold>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:acquiredDate>09/15/2023</own:acquiredDate>
      <own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Purchase</own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <own:isGiftTransaction>N</own:isGiftTransaction>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>45000</own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <own:paymentDate>09/15/2023</own:paymentDate>
      <own:natureOfPayment>Cash</own:natureOfPayment>
    </own:securitiesToBeSold>
    <own:securitiesToBeSold>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:acquiredDate>08/01/2023</own:acquiredDate>
      <own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Purchase</own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <own:isGiftTransaction>N</own:isGiftTransaction>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>123762</own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <own:paymentDate>08/01/2023</own:paymentDate>
      <own:natureOfPayment>Cash</own:natureOfPayment>
    </own:securitiesToBeSold>
    <own:securitiesToBeSold>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:acquiredDate>03/03/2023</own:acquiredDate>
      <own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Purchase</own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open Market</own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <own:isGiftTransaction>N</own:isGiftTransaction>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>48000</own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <own:paymentDate>03/03/2023</own:paymentDate>
      <own:natureOfPayment>Cash</own:natureOfPayment>
    </own:securitiesToBeSold>
    <own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <own:noticeSignature>
      <own:noticeDate>05/19/2026</own:noticeDate>
      <own:signature>/s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for Eric T.  Greager</own:signature>
    </own:noticeSignature>
  </own:formData>
</own:edgarSubmission>
