Q1 2026

New features and improvements introduced from January to March 2026

Full support for new Databricks Spatial SQL functions and data types

January 7th, 2026

New CARTO Platform

A new Databricks connection type is now generally available across all CARTO accounts, delivering deeper and more modern support for Databricks as a data warehouse and compute platform.

This integration adopts Databricks SQL Warehouses as the sole compute resource, providing a serverless, cloud-native experience without the need to manage traditional compute clusters. It also leverages Databricks’ native spatial capabilities, including the GEOMETRY data type and Spatial SQL functions documented by Databricks, enabling efficient storage and processing of spatial data directly in SQL without external libraries.

Connectivity options include Personal Access Tokens (PAT), M2M, and U2M integrations, offering flexibility in how authentication and access are managed. Builder and Workflows fully support Databricks tables with geometry types out of the box, including query sources, SQL parameters, Location Data Services, and Create Builder Map workflows — no additional data preparation is required to work with spatial columns.

The Analytics Toolbox now installs directly into the Databricks Unity Catalog with no external dependencies, simplifying governance and deployment. Older Databricks connection types remain available for existing accounts that used them previously. This release represents a significant step in CARTO’s support for major cloud data warehouse providers and extends CARTO’s capabilities for spatial analytics on modern data platforms.