Databricks releases, every cloud
- Tags for dashboards, notebooks, Databricks apps, and Genie Agents are now generally available
Tags support both governed and ungoverned key-value pairs. They can be applied to organize workspace assets.
- Build governed data and AI apps without code (Beta)
Genie App Builder authors apps in natural language and App Spaces enforce governance.
- Scala UDFs can access Unity Catalog secrets
They use the caller's or function owner's permissions. Requires environment version 6 or Databricks Runtime 19.
- Scalar and Batch Unity Catalog Python UDFs are now generally available
They work on all supported compute types and remove the five-UDF-call-per-query limit. Environment version 6 or above is required for some capabilities.
- Time travel queries now enforce ABAC policies (Beta)
Requires Databricks Runtime 19 and Unity Catalog managed tables.
- 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.
- Run the change, do not just read it. Hands-on labs in your own Databricks workspace, graded when you submit. Browse labs
- Databricks Apps is now on by default for workspaces with the compliance security profile enabled
Requires compliance security profile.
- Databricks Apps telemetry is now generally available
Collects traces, logs, and metrics to Unity Catalog tables using OpenTelemetry.
- Metastore-level ABAC policies are in Beta
Applies across every catalog in the metastore. Replaces per-catalog policy setup.
- VARIANT cast extends to ARRAY and MAP columns in ABAC column masks
Requires Databricks Runtime 19 or above. Supports ARRAY and MAP in addition to STRUCT.
- Data Classification now scans Unity Catalog views (Beta)
Scans Unity Catalog views in addition to tables, using the same detection engine, and is currently in Beta.
- The READ METADATA privilege will soon be available by default for workspaces with the compliance security profile enabled Coming soon
Grants read-only visibility into object metadata, including security-sensitive information.
- Webhook-triggered deployments for Databricks Apps will soon be generally available Coming soon
Automatically deploys apps when changes are pushed to connected GitHub or Azure DevOps repositories. Requires a connected repository.
- 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.
- External secrets in Unity Catalog (Beta)
Connects Unity Catalog schema to AWS Secrets Manager, appearing as read-only objects.
- Horizontal scaling for Databricks Apps will soon be available for workspaces with the compliance security profile enabled Coming soon
Automatically enabled in October 2026 for compliance workspaces, allowing multiple instances behind a single URL.
- ABAC DENY policies are in Beta
Explicitly deny MANAGE ACCESS CONTROL privilege, taking precedence over grants.
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- 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.
- time_bucket SQL function aligns timestamps to fixed-width time buckets
Replaces date_trunc for non-calendar units, requires origin and width parameters.
- ABAC GRANT policies are generally available for models and services
They grant Unity Catalog privileges based on governed tags, replacing individual object grants.
- Databricks SQL version 2026.36 is now available in Preview
It includes features from version 2026.32.
- Unity Catalog Skills (Beta)
Publishes and governs agent skills, controlling access with Unity Catalog permissions.
- Databricks SQL version 2026.32 is rolling out in Current
It is available in the Current channel and includes new features.
- Secrets in Unity Catalog will soon be available by default for workspaces with the compliance security profile enabled Coming soon
Replaces manual enablement, uses catalog.schema.secret namespace.
- The INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE privileges are in Beta
Require Databricks Runtime 18.1 or above, alternative to MODIFY privilege.
- Context attributes in ABAC column mask and row filter policies (Beta)
Targets request context, such as OAuth client ID and on-behalf-of status, in Unity Catalog policies.
- Role-based access control (RBAC) is generally available
Requires account and workspace admin setup. Enables exclusive access to sensitive data.
- Role-based access control (RBAC) will soon be available by default for workspaces with the compliance security profile enabled Coming soon
Lets users assume a role with exclusive permissions, replacing accumulated permissions.
- User authorization for Databricks Apps will soon be available for workspaces with the compliance security profile enabled Coming soon
Enables apps to act with user identity, enforcing existing permissions. Automatically enabled in late September 2026.
- Identity attributes in ABAC column mask policies (Beta)
Targets users by attributes like department or country, using has_identity_attribute_value and has_identity_attribute_tag_match functions.
- Upcoming deprecation of the data quality monitoring downstream_impact column Coming soon
Deprecation starts September 7, 2026, and the column will no longer be populated after rollout.
- Upcoming deprecation of the data quality monitoring root_cause_analysis column Coming soon
Deprecation starts August 18, 2026, and the column will no longer be populated after rollout.
- Tags page in Governance Hub (Beta)
Provides a centralized view of tag usage, summarizes governed tags, and offers recommendations for invalid values. Requires account admins to enable from Previews page.
- Define business concepts with Pages (Beta)
Gives business terms a single governed definition, part of Unity Catalog semantics.
- 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.
- Unity Catalog ABAC GRANT policies support more securable types in Beta
Now supports model services, model provider services, MCP services, and agent services, in addition to models.
- Alert system tables are in Public Preview
Contains alerts and alert_evaluation_history tables for auditing and monitoring.
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