Salesforce Winter ’26 release date: Sept 20, Oct 4 & Oct 11, 2025

Salesforce users around the globe eagerly anticipate each seasonal release, as it brings exciting new features, platform upgrades, and enhanced productivity tools. The Winter ’26 release is no exception. Salesforce has officially scheduled the rollout in three phases on September 20, October 4, and October 11, 2025. These phased release dates ensure smooth adoption across various Salesforce instances and give organizations time to test and adapt to the new features before they go live.

In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of these release dates, what to expect from Salesforce Winter ’26, and how businesses can prepare to maximize the value of these updates.

Why Are Salesforce Releases Important?

Spring, Summer, and Winter. Each release introduces hundreds of new features designed to improve user experience, automation, security, and AI capabilities. For administrators, developers, and business leaders, these releases are more than just updates—they are opportunities to unlock new efficiencies, streamline processes, and enhance customer engagement.

The Winter ’26 release is particularly important because it sets the tone for the year ahead. It often includes early previews of Salesforce’s long-term roadmap, such as advancements in AI (Agentforce, Einstein, and Atlas Engine), automation, and integrations across Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Marketing Cloud.

Salesforce Winter ’26 Release Dates

Salesforce releases are never launched all at once across all customer instances. Instead, the rollout happens in phases to minimize disruption and allow for thorough testing. For Winter ’26, the key dates are:

• September 20, 2025 – First phase of the release. Some Salesforce instances will be upgraded, allowing users to explore new features early.

• October 4, 2025 – Second phase of the rollout. A larger group of orgs will gain access to the Winter ’26 release.

• October 11, 2025 – Final phase. All remaining Salesforce customers will be upgraded, completing the rollout.

These staggered dates give businesses a chance to observe, test, and address potential challenges in a controlled manner before their instance is upgraded.

What to Expect in Winter ’26

While the full feature list for Winter ’26 will be revealed closer to the release notes, past trends and Salesforce’s ongoing innovations give us a strong indication of what’s coming:

1. AI and Agentforce Enhancements

Salesforce has been heavily investing in AI, with Agentforce agents and Einstein AI becoming central to its ecosystem. Winter ’26 will likely bring improved agent training tools, new AI-driven workflows, and deeper integration with Service Cloud to boost customer support automation.

2. Flow and Automation Improvements

Salesforce Flow has become the go-to automation tool, replacing many legacy workflow rules and process builders. Winter ’26 may enhance Flow’s capabilities with faster loop execution, better debugging tools, and more ready-to-use templates.

3. Platform Security and Compliance

As global data privacy laws continue to evolve, Salesforce often introduces new compliance features in its winter releases. Expect enhancements in data encryption, access controls, and audit features to strengthen security.

4. Industry Cloud Updates

Winter releases frequently focus on industry-specific solutions such as Financial Services Cloud, Health Cloud, and Education Cloud. New dashboards, automation flows, and industry-specific integrations could be part of the upgrade.

5. User Experience Improvements

Salesforce continuously works on refining the Lightning Experience. Winter ’26 might include updated UI components, enhanced mobile experiences, and performance improvements for record pages and dashboards.

How to Prepare for the Winter ’26 Release

A successful adoption of Salesforce Winter ’26 requires preparation. Here are a few essential steps organizations should take:

1. Mark the Release Dates

Knowing when your Salesforce instance will be upgraded is critical. The official dates—September 20, October 4, and October 11—should be shared with admins, developers, and stakeholders so they can plan accordingly.

2. Review the Release Notes

Once Salesforce publishes the release notes, make sure your team reviews them carefully. Highlight features that are most relevant to your business and evaluate how they align with your goals.

3. Test in a Sandbox

Before the release hits your production org, Salesforce provides early access through sandboxes. Use this opportunity to test automation flows, integrations, and new features to ensure they function correctly.

4. Train Your Team

Prepare your users by offering training on the most impactful updates. Whether it’s a new Flow enhancement, an AI feature, or a UI change, user adoption will drive ROI from the release.

5. Update Documentation

Update internal documentation, admin guides, and process workflows to reflect the new changes. This ensures consistency across your teams and avoids confusion post-release.

Why Winter ’26 Matters for Businesses

Each Salesforce release is more than just an update—it’s a strategic opportunity for businesses to grow. The Winter ’26 release comes at a time when companies are focusing on AI adoption, customer personalization, and digital transformation. By leveraging Salesforce’s latest tools, businesses can reduce manual work, provide smarter customer experiences, and stay ahead of competitors.

Additionally, Salesforce’s focus on automation and AI-driven insights makes the Winter ’26 release especially significant for industries like financial services, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, where customer expectations are rapidly evolving.

Final Thoughts

The Salesforce Winter ’26 release, rolling out on September 20, October 4, and October 11, 2025, promises to bring exciting innovations that empower businesses to work smarter and serve customers better. By preparing in advance, reviewing release notes, and testing in sandboxes, organizations can maximize the impact of these updates.

Winter releases often introduce features that define the Salesforce roadmap for the year ahead. With continued investments in AI, automation, and industry solutions, Winter ’26 is set to be a milestone release. Make sure your teams are ready to embrace the changes and unlock new possibilities for growth.