Applications for the Salesforce Marketing Champions Class of 2026 are now open. If you love sharing what you know about Marketing Cloud, this is your chance to join the program or to put forward someone who deserves it.
Every year around this time, people in the community ask me the same thing: is it worth applying? Short answer: usually yes. Let’s walk through what the program is, who it’s for, and how to submit something that actually gets read.
Key takeaways
- Applications for the Marketing Champions 2026 are open August 26 – September 26, 2026; the class is announced October 26.
- You can apply yourself or nominate someone – both count equally, and one solid submission is enough.
- The four eligibility criteria are a genuine filter; be honest about which you meet.
- The real value is the peer network, early product access, and content opportunities.
- Salesforce employees are not eligible.
Table of Contents
What is the Marketing Champions program?
The Salesforce Marketing Champions program recognizes marketing leaders and practitioners who share Marketing Cloud knowledge with the wider community. Applications for the 2026 class are open from August 26 to September 26, 2026. You can apply yourself or nominate someone else. The new class is announced on October 26, 2026, and one strong submission is enough to get in.
That’s the snapshot. Now the parts the announcement doesn’t spell out.
What the program actually is
Champions are active Trailblazers who like teaching – writing, recording, mentoring, answering the same question for the tenth time without getting tired of it. In return, Salesforce gives them a private peer community, invitations to Champion-only events, sponsored content opportunities, early looks at product roadmaps, and direct lines to product and business leaders. There’s swag too, but nobody applies for the swag.
Since it launched in 2020, the program has recognized more than 400 Marketing Champions across 33 countries, according to Salesforce’s own announcement. One thing worth flagging if you’re newer to the ecosystem: the program now sits under Salesforce’s “Agentforce Marketing” umbrella, even though the language throughout still says Marketing Cloud. Same community, evolving product name. Don’t let the label trip you up.
Who should apply for the Marketing Champion program
Salesforce lists four qualities, and on paper they read like a job description. In practice, they’re a filter. Read them as “Can you honestly say yes to all four?” rather than “Do these words describe your aspirations?”
- You lead marketing strategy, operations, or execution for your organization
- You use one or more Marketing Cloud technologies to drive real business results, not just in a sandbox
- You’re an active Salesforce customer with at least a year leading digital transformation in your function or org
- You’re willing to commit to one act of advocacy per quarter: a blog, a how-to video, or mentorship
If you ticked three out of four, you can still apply – but I’d be upfront about the gap in your submission rather than hoping nobody notices. Reviewers read a lot of these.
Important: Salesforce employees aren’t eligible. The program is for customers and community members only.
What benefits you get
The benefits might look generic on the page, so here’s what actually matters once you’re in.
The peer network is the biggest one. You get access to a private group of people solving the same Marketing Cloud problems you are, and a quick answer from someone who’s already been there can save you days of trial and error.
Early access to product roadmaps helps too, especially if you’re planning your own and don’t want to build on a feature that’s about to change.
Additionally, there are content-related opportunities, such as sponsored shoots, social campaigns, and speaking engagements. These are particularly beneficial for consultants and professionals who want to build their personal brand and showcase their work to a wider audience.
Is it life-changing? For some people, yes. For others, it’s a strong network and a solid credential. Both are good reasons to apply.
What the quarterly commitment means
The commitment that scares people off, and it shouldn’t. Four contributions a year is not a heavy lift. One decent blog post, one short screen-recording walking through a feature, or mentoring someone through a certification each counts.
The honest catch: it only feels light if you’re already the type who does this anyway. If sharing knowledge feels like a chore now, the program won’t magically change that, and the quarterly cadence will start to nag. Apply if teaching is something you already reach for, not something you’re hoping to be forced into.
How to apply or nominate
You’ve got two paths, and the links are easy to lose in the announcement, so here they are directly:
- Apply for yourself: Submit your application
- Nominate someone else: Nominate a Champion
Self-nominations carry the same weight as being nominated by someone else, so don’t wait around hoping a colleague submits you. If you want to see what current Champions are actually doing before you commit, browse the Marketing Champions Class of 2025 we covered last year.
Here’s the full 2026 timeline so you can plan backward from the deadline:
| Dates | What happens |
|---|---|
| Aug 26 – Sep 26, 2026 | Applications and nominations open. Self-nominations accepted. |
| Sep 28 – Oct 23, 2026 | The team reviews submissions. |
| Oct 26, 2026 | The Marketing Champion Class of 2026 is announced. |
Follow #MarketingChampions on LinkedIn and X for the announcement.
Mistakes to avoid
A few things I’ve watched sink otherwise strong candidates:
- Waiting until the last week. The window is a month. Submissions written in a rush read like they were written in a rush.
- Listing responsibilities instead of results. “I manage our email program” tells reviewers nothing. “I rebuilt our onboarding journey and cut unsubscribes” tells them plenty.
- Skipping proof of advocacy. If you’ve already blogged, spoken, or mentored, link it. This is the single strongest signal you’ll actually meet the quarterly commitment.
- Assuming you’re not senior enough. The program values practitioners who drive adoption, not just directors. If you’re hands-on and generous with what you know, you qualify.
What to do next
Don’t bookmark this and forget it – that’s how the deadline sneaks up. If you meet the eligibility criteria, take 30 minutes this week to draft your submission while your recent achievements are still fresh in your mind, and then use the application link. If someone on your team deserves it more than you do, spend those 30 minutes nominating them instead. Either way, the worst outcome is you spend half an hour reflecting on your own work – which isn’t a bad use of time regardless.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Submit an application or nomination during the open window (August 26 – September 26, 2026) through the official Marketing Champions site. Show how you use Marketing Cloud to drive results and how you already share knowledge with the community.
Yes. Self-nominations are accepted and carry the same weight as third-party nominations.
No fixed title is required. You need at least a year leading digital transformation in your function or organization and hands-on use of Marketing Cloud technology.
One act of advocacy per quarter – a blog, a how-to video, or mentorship. Four contributions across the year.
No. The program is for customers and community members only.
Mayank Sahu
I’m a Salesforce enthusiast passionate about CRM solutions, automation, and integrations. As a continuous learner, I stay updated with the latest Salesforce trends, tools, and innovations to share valuable insights and best practices. My goal is to help businesses and professionals maximize their Salesforce potential through actionable tips, industry updates, and strategic guidance.
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