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Salesforce Winter ‘26 Release: Key Dates and Prep Guide

Winter ‘26 is coming—and with it, a wave of updates to the Salesforce platform. To ensure a smooth transition, here’s what you need to know:

1. Mark Your Calendar: Key Winter ‘26 Release Dates

Salesforce will roll out Winter ‘26 in waves, with major upgrade weekends on:

September 6, 2025
October 4, 2025
October 11, 2025

How to Check Your Instance’s Upgrade Date:

Visit Salesforce Trust.
Search by your instance name or domain.
Navigate to “Maintenance” to see your scheduled upgrade window.

Don’t know your instance? Go to Setup > Company Information in your Salesforce org.

2. Test Critical Functions Before Upgrade

While Salesforce releases are typically stable, proactive testing helps avoid surprises. Before your production upgrade:

Validate custom workflows, integrations, and automations.
Check reporting dashboards and permission sets.
Ensure third-party apps remain compatible.

3. Sandbox Upgrades: Preview vs. Non-Preview

Your sandbox is your testing playground—here’s when to expect updates:

Preview Sandboxes: Early access (~September 6, 2025).
Non-Preview Sandboxes: Typically updated closer to production rollout.

Tip: Pre-release orgs (available soon) let you explore new features, but they won’t include your custom configurations.

4. Stay Ahead with Release Notes

The Winter ‘26 Release Notes (coming soon) will detail all new features across Salesforce products.

Action Plan for Winter ‘26

✅ Verify your instance’s upgrade date (Salesforce Trust).
✅ Test core processes in sandbox/pre-release orgs.
✅ Review release notes to prioritize feature adoption.

Pro Tip: Schedule internal training sessions to align teams on key updates BEFORE they happen.

Final Thought
Salesforce releases are opportunities—not obstacles. By planning ahead, you’ll leverage Winter ‘26’s enhancements while minimizing disruption. Stay tuned for deeper dives into top features once release notes drop!

Need help preparing? Drop us a message—we’re here to ensure your upgrade is seamless.