Over the past years, the Salesforce MVP Program has grown into one of the most respected programs in the entire Salesforce ecosystem. What started back in 2010 as a small way to recognize a handful of standout contributors has turned into a global celebration of leadership, generosity, and shared expertise. The Class of 2026 continues that story, welcoming a fresh group of Trailblazers while honoring the people who keep showing up for the community year after year.
These MVPs aren’t just familiar faces in webinars or community forums. They’re the people driving shared learning, running local events, and mentoring others through their Salesforce journeys. This year’s announcement is more than a list of names. It’s a reminder of the lasting impact by people who lead with purpose and a real commitment to helping others succeed.
This year, Salesforce welcomed 24 new MVPs and renewed 69 existing ones across 13 countries, chosen from more than 2,100 nominations. A new group also crossed into the Hall of Fame. Below you’ll find the complete lists and what actually stood out about this year’s class.
The Salesforce MVP Class of 2026 at a Glance
Before the full names, here’s the shape of this year’s announcement:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| New Salesforce MVPs | 24 |
| Renewed MVPs | 69 |
| Hall of Fame inductees | 21 |
| Countries represented | 13 |
| Nominations received | 2,100+ |
| New countries on the map | Denmark, Ghana |
Meet the 24 New Salesforce MVPs of 2026
These are the Trailblazers joining the program for the first time. What’s worth noticing isn’t just the names; it’s the range of how these people contribute. Some are deep technical builders; others are conference organizers, content creators, or the kind of people who quietly answer questions in community channels for years.
| Ajaypreet Singh Saini | Kristyna Turner |
| Akash Mishra | Lukas Lunow |
| Ali Saeed | Lynda Kane |
| Ali Waguespack | Marlene Guerra-Reeve |
| Anthony Heber | Maxwell Tuglo |
| Candi Bashiri | Mia Pacey |
| Chetan Chugh | Monika Ramchandani |
| Dangsenpenan Nokshuwan | Nathaniel Sombu |
| Daniel Baptista | Paulina Pytowska |
| Ekat Obolenskaya | Sally ElGhoul |
| François Perret | Thaddaeus Dahlberg |
| Katie Villanueva | Tobias Ward |
If you recognize a few of these names from sessions you’ve attended or guides you’ve read, that’s exactly the point. The badge tends to confirm what the community already knew.
Renewed Salesforce MVPs: The Returning Trailblazers
Renewal is the part people misunderstand most. MVP status is not a lifetime award that, once granted, is yours forever; every MVP must undergo the same annual evaluation process as new nominees. Retaining the status requires staying active, which is why the renewed list holds such significance.
Congratulations to this year’s renewed MVPs:
| Aaron Crear | Kathleen Waterworth | Quratulain Tariq |
| Aaron Crosman | Katka Vokrinkova | Rebecca Aichholzer |
| Abdelhakim Mouttaqui | Kristi Brown | Rob OBrien |
| Andy Engin Utkan | Kuldeep Sharma | Rodrigo Daniel García Santander |
| Ashvin Bhatt | Lukasz Bujlo | Sam Wadhwani |
| Asterisk Loftis | Maham Hassan | Sara Hernandez |
| Christopher Ramm | Manoj Nambirajan | Shane Smyth |
| Christos Papadopoulos | Marilo Meta | Shari Carlson |
| Emma Keeling | Mateusz Dąbrowski | Silvia Denaro |
| Erin Duncan | Mauricio Alexandre Silva | Skye Tyler |
| Evan Ponter | Mehmet Orun | Steve Simpson |
| George Yoshida | Melissa Shepard | Swati Taunk |
| Guilherme Dornelas | Michael Grandel | Thiriyambagasarma Sothinathan |
| Hamza Siddiqui | Miguel Carvalho | Thomas Theunen |
| Hiroki Iida | Myra Wilson | Todd Halfpenny |
| Ishrat Bhatti | Naoko Eiki | Tom Bassett |
| Janeen Marquardt | Neha Nagori | Vicki Moritz-Henry |
| Jeanette Jett | Nicole Pomponio | Warren Walters |
| Jenh Vo | Obidjon Komiljonov | Yumi Ibrahimzade |
| Jennifer Ndlovu | Patricio Sapir | Zachary Banks |
| Joseph Kubon | Paul Mccollum | Yosra Saidan |
| Justyna Krajewska | Phaneendra Arigachetta | |
| Jyothsna Bitra (JB) | Piyusha Pilania | |
| Kannan Narayanan | Prag Ravichandran |
2026 Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame Inductees
This year’s Hall of Fame class includes 21 people who have sustained their contributions long enough to earn lifetime status:
| Andre van Kampen | Meera Nair |
| Angelica Buffa | Melissa Hill Dees |
| Bill Kuehler | Michelle Hansen |
| Cassie Supilowski | Nadina Lisbon |
| Chris Pifer | Oleh Mykytyn |
| David Carnes | Pat McClellan |
| Eric Praud | Robert Sösemann |
| Farah Sherif | Shibu Abraham |
| Gordon Lee | Thierry Trouin |
| Joey Chan | Toni V. Martin |
| Kapil Batra |
What Is the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame?
The Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame is a lifetime recognition awarded to Salesforce MVPs who have earned the Salesforce MVP title for five consecutive years. After reaching this milestone, they are inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the recognition is permanent. Hall of Fame members are not required to reapply or undergo future evaluations to retain this honor.
For most inductees, however, the journey doesn’t end there. Many continue to make meaningful contributions to the Salesforce ecosystem by speaking at events, creating educational content, mentoring aspiring professionals, and supporting the Trailblazer Community. Rather than marking the end of their community involvement, the Hall of Fame celebrates individuals whose long-term impact continues to inspire and strengthen the Salesforce ecosystem.
What Is a Salesforce MVP?
A Salesforce MVP (Most Valuable Professional) is a community member recognized for making a meaningful impact across the Salesforce ecosystem. The program has been around since 2010 and celebrates individuals who consistently support, educate, and inspire others.
Being a Salesforce MVP isn’t about earning another certification or proving you’re the most technically advanced professional. Instead, it’s about giving back to the community by sharing knowledge, mentoring fellow Trailblazers, speaking at events, creating helpful content, answering questions, and encouraging others to grow in their Salesforce careers.
Salesforce recognizes MVPs for the positive influence they have on the community and the lasting impact of their contributions. While technical expertise certainly helps, what truly sets an MVP apart is a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.
You can explore the official Salesforce MVP program page for more details, but at its core, the program is built around three key qualities.
Expertise, Leadership, and Generosity: The Three Pillars
- Expertise means you genuinely know your stuff and you share it openly. Blog posts, YouTube walkthroughs, conference talks, detailed answers in the community. MVPs don’t hoard knowledge.
- Leadership is about creating things, not just participating. Running a user group, organizing a Dreamin’ event, mentoring people through a tough certification. It’s the difference between attending and building.
- Generosity ties the other two together. MVPs give their time without expecting anything back. The best ones rarely talk about chasing the badge because they’re too busy helping someone else get unstuck.
What Makes the Class of 2026 Stand Out?
Every Salesforce MVP class brings something unique to the community, and the Class of 2026 is no exception. This year’s group reflects the direction Salesforce is taking and the skills that are becoming increasingly valuable across the ecosystem.
One of the biggest themes is Agentforce. Several newly recognized MVPs played a key role in creating the Agentblazer Legend Superbadges on Trailhead. That’s a strong indicator of what Salesforce values today. The spotlight isn’t only on professionals with deep platform expertise, but also on those actively exploring agentic AI, sharing their knowledge, and helping others learn to use these new capabilities in practical ways.
Another highlight is the program’s growing global reach. With Denmark and Ghana represented for the first time, the MVP community continues to expand into new regions, reflecting the worldwide growth of the Salesforce ecosystem.
Community leadership also remains a major factor. This year’s class includes 10 community conference organizers, underscoring that organizing local events, bringing Trailblazers together, and strengthening regional communities remain highly valued contributions.
Finally, recognizing multilingual content creators demonstrates that the Salesforce community is becoming more inclusive. Valuable knowledge is no longer limited to English-speaking audiences, and Salesforce is recognizing the importance of making learning accessible to Trailblazers worldwide.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations to everyone in the Class of 2026, new MVPs, renewed members, and the latest Hall of Fame inductees. The thing worth remembering is that none of these people started with the badge. They started by showing up, helping where they could, and doing it long enough that the community noticed.
If that path appeals to you, you don’t need permission to begin. Explore the Salesforce MVP Directory, find someone whose work you admire, and reach out. Better yet, start contributing where you already are. The next class is always closer than it looks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The 2026 class includes 24 new MVPs and 69 renewed MVPs across 13 countries, selected from more than 2,100 nominations, along with 21 new Hall of Fame inductees.
MVP status is evaluated every year. MVPs who sustain their contributions for five years are inducted into the Hall of Fame and receive lifetime MVP status without needing to re-qualify.
Anyone in the ecosystem can be nominated during the annual nomination window, including through self-nomination. Nominees are assessed on three pillars: expertise, leadership, and generosity, through a multi-phase community and stakeholder review.
Yes. Self-nominations are welcome. Salesforce employees are not eligible, and existing MVPs renew through a separate process rather than being nominated again.
Nominations typically open early in the year, and the new and renewed class is announced in June.
Priya Rastogi
Priya is a Salesforce Admin who believes in the power of continuous learning and collaboration. She’s passionate about exploring how Salesforce can simplify work, boost productivity, and create better user experiences. When she’s not experimenting with new features or automating processes, Priya enjoys connecting with fellow Trailblazers and sharing insights to help others grow in their Salesforce journey.
- Priya Rastogi
- Priya Rastogi
- Priya Rastogi
- Priya Rastogi
