Get Ready: Salesforce Winter ’26 Release – Key Dates, Sandbox Access, and What to Expect
Salesforce’s Winter ’26 release is just around the corner, and it promises exciting new features, improvements, and smarter tools to help your team get more done. Like every Salesforce update, this one will roll out in phases—so preparing ahead of time is the key to a smooth transition.
In this post, we’ll cover the essentials:
When your Salesforce org might be upgraded
How and when your sandboxes will get the update
Where to find the official release notes Let’s dive in!
When Will Salesforce Winter ’26 Be Released?
Salesforce doesn’t push updates to all orgs at once. Instead, the release is deployed over several weekends. The key dates for the Winter ’26 rollout are:
September 6, 2025
October 4, 2025
October 11, 2025
To find the specific upgrade date for your Salesforce instance:
1. Visit the Salesforce Trust site.
2. Enter your instance name or domain.
3. Click Maintenance, and you’ll see the scheduled release window.
> Need to find your instance name?
Go to Setup in Salesforce, click on Company Information, and locate your instance name there.
Knowing your exact release date gives you time to prepare and test critical business processes in your environment.
🧪 What About Sandboxes?
Sandboxes are your safe testing grounds during every Salesforce release. Most sandbox environments will receive the Winter ’26 update as early as September 6, 2025.
This early upgrade lets you:
Test automation, flows, and code against the new features
Ensure customizations won’t break
Validate third-party integrations
Using your sandbox wisely can help you avoid surprises once the update hits production.
Want to Explore Even Sooner? Use a Pre-Release Org
Can’t wait to see what Winter ’26 has in store? You can sign up for a pre-release org, a temporary Salesforce environment that comes preloaded with the upcoming features.
While it doesn’t have your org’s data or settings, it’s perfect for:
Previewing the new UI and tools
Trying out functionality before testing in your own sandbox
Planning user training and rollout strategies
Keep an eye on Salesforce’s Pre-Release Program page for access links.
📘 Where to Find the Winter ’26 Release Notes
The official Salesforce Release Notes are your best guide to understanding what’s changing across the platform—from Sales Cloud and Service Cloud to Marketing, Analytics, and more.
Once available, the release notes will help you:
Discover and evaluate new tools
Understand updates to current features
Plan for training, adoption, or technical adjustments
👉 We’ll update this blog post with the link to the Winter ’26 release notes as soon as Salesforce publishes them.
✅ Quick Prep Checklist
Here’s a summary of what you should do right now:
✅ Check your instance’s upgrade date on Salesforce Trust
✅ Mark your calendar for the sandbox upgrade (around Sept 6, 2025)
✅ Sign up for a pre-release org if you want early access
✅ Stay tuned for the official release notes
🧊 Final Thoughts
Salesforce releases happen three times a year—and Winter ’26 is looking like another powerful upgrade. While most transitions are smooth, taking time now to test and prepare helps ensure your team keeps running without disruption.
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