Updated on December 19 with added links.
Salesforce delivers new features and enhancements three times a year, giving developers and admins powerful new tools to get more value from the platform.
This guide highlights the key dates and steps you need to prepare for the upcoming Winter ’26 Release, so you can plan ahead and make the most of the changes.
Sign Up for a Pre-Release: December 18
Be among the first to explore new Spring ’26 features by signing up for a pre-release Developer Edition. Here is the link.
Release Notes: December 19
Release Notes are always one of the most anticipated parts of each Salesforce release cycle. They’re your go-to reference for new features and functionality.
Release notes Spring ’26 are live! Explore them here.
Refresh Your Sandbox for Preview Access: By January 8
It is time to see how the Spring ’26 features work with your own configuration. Not all sandboxes are upgraded automatically, and some remain on the current non-preview release.
Use the Sandbox Preview Guide to check your sandbox instance and see whether a refresh is needed. If you want early access to new features, make sure your sandbox is set to move to a preview instance before the deadline.
Sandbox Preview Begins: January 9
Salesforce will upgrade preview instances to Spring ’26 on January 9, 2026. The sandbox preview gives you a safe space to test new features alongside your customizations with no impact on your live environment.
Main release weekends: January–February
The Spring ’26 release window varies by Salesforce instance. All orgs will be updated by the end of February. Key Salesforce release weekends:
- January 16, 2026
- February 13, 2026
- February 20, 2026
To see the exact weekend for your production environment, check your instance’s Maintenance Status. If you need to plan changes around these windows, review that status now and coordinate with your team.
