Databricks releases, every cloud
- The Genie One MCP server is now generally available
It exposes Genie as a conversational tool over MCP. The previous Beta endpoint is deprecated and will be sunset on October 31, 2026.
- Anthropic Claude Opus 5.5 is now available on Unity Gateway
It is accessible via Foundation Model APIs and requires compliance with applicable terms.
- Centrally configure coding agents
Settings apply at agent launch or through mobile device management.
- Connect coding agents to Unity Gateway with the ug CLI
The ug CLI handles authentication and configuration for connecting coding agents. It adds approved MCP servers and skills.
- OpenAI GPT-6 Luna is now available on Unity Gateway
It is accessible via Foundation Model APIs on a pay-per-token basis. Customers must ensure compliance with applicable terms.
- OpenAI GPT-6 Sol is now available on Unity Gateway
It is accessed using Foundation Model APIs on a pay-per-token basis. Customers must ensure compliance with applicable terms.
- Run the change, do not just read it. Hands-on labs in your own Databricks workspace, graded when you submit. Browse labs
- Unified tracing now includes coding agent activity
It adds coding-agent activity through the Unity Gateway CLI.
- Variant shredding will soon be enabled by default on new Variant tables Coming soon
Requires Databricks Runtime 17.3 or above. Breaks compatibility with Databricks Runtime 15.4.
- Back model provider service credentials with a Unity Catalog secret
The service reads the secret at query time, allowing secret rotation without service change.
- Databricks Runtime 19: September 21, 2026
It supports truncate and trim_array functions in SQL and DataFrame APIs. Session environment variables are set using spark.pythonWorkerEnv.
- Configure provider discounts for external model spend
It applies to external models accessed through model provider services, not Databricks-hosted partner models. Price multipliers reflect negotiated rates.
- Unity Gateway support for compliance security profile standards
Enabled by default for workspaces with compliance security profile. Supports all Databricks compliance standards.
- Unity Gateway API and developer tools are generally available
Requires Terraform 1.132.0, Databricks CLI v1.17.0, or later SDK versions.
- The counter_diff SQL window function is now available
Calculates differences between consecutive cumulative counter values, available in Databricks Runtime 19 and above.
- Window measures on a numeric index column in metric views
Supports unitless offset and ranges on consecutive integer columns, useful for non-calendar periods like fiscal weeks.
- DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is now available on Unity Gateway
Supports text and image inputs, accessible via Foundation Model APIs.
- Databricks SQL version 2026.36 is rolling out in Current
It includes features from version 2026.32.
- See which chunks support each ai_search answer (Beta)
Added generate_citations option to show supporting chunks.
- Get this table by email. One Monday mail covering the week, filtered to the clouds and products you run. Weekly digest
- time_bucket SQL function aligns timestamps to fixed-width time buckets
Replaces date_trunc for non-calendar units, requires origin and width parameters.
- OpenAI GPT-6 Astra is now available on Unity Gateway
Available for enterprise workloads via pay-per-token Foundation Model APIs.
- Automatic change data feed is now generally available
Requires Databricks Runtime 19 or above with row tracking enabled. Makes MERGE and UPDATE operations about 15% faster.
- Databricks Runtime 19: September 1, 2026
Auto CDF requires Databricks Runtime 19 or above with row tracking enabled. It makes MERGE and UPDATE operations about 15% faster.
- Databricks Runtime maintenance updates (09/01)
Includes bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements for versions 13.3 to 18.2.
- Databricks SQL version 2026.36 is now available in Preview
It includes features from version 2026.32.
- Monitor and cap external provider costs
Tracks and caps spend on Amazon Bedrock and Azure AI Foundry models. Requires enabling External Model Spend in Budgets on the account console.
- xAI Grok 4.6 is now available on Unity Gateway
Access through governed API, switch models without changing code.
- Zhipu AI GLM 5.3 Flash is now available on Unity Gateway
Access through the same governed API, with centralized permissions and no code changes required.
- Databricks Runtime 19: August 24, 2026
Updates Java to Zulu21.52+15-CA and upgrades Jackson libraries to version 2.22.
- Databricks SQL version 2026.32 is rolling out in Current
It is available in the Current channel and includes new features.
- Unity Gateway now supports Provisioned Throughput
Adds access controls and usage tracking to Provisioned Throughput models.
- Monitor all AI activity with the unified trace table (Beta)
Captures requests and responses in OpenTelemetry format.
- DeepSeek V4 Pro (0813) is now available on Unity Gateway
Access through the same governed API as other models, with centralized permissions and controls. Switch models without changing application code.
- Block or redact sensitive data in requests and responses
Detects SSNs, credit cards, and phone numbers using regex and checksums. Requires Enhanced Unity Gateway preview.
- Google Gemini 3.7 Flash is now available on Unity Gateway
Access through the same governed API as other models, with no application code changes required.
- Smart Routing: Cut AI costs by routing each task to the right model
It shifts routine work to lower-cost models and works with Claude Code and Codex through the Unity Gateway CLI or Omnigent.
- ABAC GRANT policies now cover Unity Gateway resource types (Beta)
Supports model services, model provider services, MCP services, and agent services, allowing tag-based access.
- Databricks SQL version 2026.32 is now available in Preview
It includes the is_valid_variant function and supports REPLACE USING and REPLACE ON clauses with INSERT INTO.
- REPLACE USING flows for standalone streaming tables (Beta)
Replaces rows matching specified key columns, requires SEQUENCE BY column.
- Alert system tables are in Public Preview
Contains alerts and alert_evaluation_history tables for auditing and monitoring.
- Databricks Runtime 19: August 10, 2026
It supports collect_union and evaluates HAVING before window functions.
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