Databricks releases, every cloud
- Metastore-level ABAC policies are in Beta
Applies across every catalog in the metastore. Replaces per-catalog policy setup.
- 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.
- 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.
- Standard performance mode is now available for one-time runs in the Jobs API
Sets performance_target to STANDARD. Supports Apache Airflow's DatabricksSubmitRunOperator.
- Run the change, do not just read it. Hands-on labs in your own Databricks workspace, graded when you submit. Browse labs
- External secrets in Unity Catalog (Beta)
Connects Unity Catalog schema to AWS Secrets Manager, appearing as read-only objects.
- ABAC DENY policies are in Beta
Explicitly deny MANAGE ACCESS CONTROL privilege, taking precedence over grants.
- 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.
- Environment version 6 is now available
Supports serverless and standard classic compute.
- ABAC GRANT policies are generally available for models and services
Replaces individual privilege grants with governed tag matching.
- Unity Catalog Skills (Beta)
Publishes and governs agent skills, controlling access with Unity Catalog permissions.
- 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.
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- 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.
- 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.
- READ METADATA privilege is GA
Provides read-only visibility into security-sensitive metadata, including privilege grants and ABAC policies.
- Change data feed on materialized views (Beta)
Requires Databricks Runtime 18 LTS or above. Enables replication to external destinations.
- Tag automations (Beta)
Assigns or removes governed tags on Unity Catalog tables or volumes based on defined conditions.
- JAR tasks on serverless compute are now generally available
Requires matching Scala, Java Development Kit, and Databricks Connect versions.
- Format AI/BI dashboard widget titles and descriptions with rich text
Supports text styling, links, and tables via toolbar or markdown.
- Schema-level HTTP connections in Unity Catalog are now generally available
Creates connections inside a schema, inheriting its privileges, instead of only at metastore level.
- Automatic cost attribution for materialized views and streaming tables in Databricks SQL
Inherits custom tags from enclosing SQL warehouse environment for billing.
- MANAGE no longer requires USE CATALOG or USE SCHEMA on the same object
No longer requires USE CATALOG or USE SCHEMA on the same object, but still needs them on parent containers.
- Refresh materialized views and streaming tables without exempting the pipeline owner from ABAC policies
Pipeline owners are now subject to ABAC policies when refreshing views and tables. Policies are evaluated using the pipeline owner's identity.
- Secrets in Unity Catalog is GA
Stores secrets as securable objects with Unity Catalog privileges. Uses catalog.schema.secret namespace.
- Serverless compute access control is now generally available
Governs access to notebooks, jobs, and pipelines through Default Interactive and Automated Compute objects. Existing workloads run unchanged.
- Upcoming general availability of Unity Gateway Coming soon
Extends Unity Catalog governance to runtime interactions, controls AI service usage, and monitors traffic. Available by default for workspaces with compliance security profile in mid-September.
AWS, read it on their docsAzure, read it on their docsGCP, read it on their docsSAP(not on this cloud) - Python UDTFs in Unity Catalog are now generally available
Runs on serverless compute, classic compute, and SQL warehouses. Requires Databricks Runtime 18.
- Governed tags system table is in Beta
Contains records for each governed tag key, including customer-created and system-generated tags.
AWS, read it on their docsAzure, read it on their docsGCP, read it on their docsSAP(not on this cloud)
Headlines, dates and product areas are Databricks' own, from the release notes published for each cloud, and every item links to the note it came from. The one-line summaries are ours. Not a Databricks product and not affiliated with Databricks, Inc.