ReleaseWorth evaluating· Databricks release notes (AWS)
Variant shredding will be added by default to new VARIANT tables
Starting November 18, 2026, Databricks will automatically add the variantShredding table feature to new tables with a VARIANT column when they are created on Databricks Runtime 17.3 or above. Variant shredding stores frequently accessed fields in a typed, columnar layout to improve query performance. Clusters on Databricks Runtime 15.4 cannot read from or write to those tables, so affected clusters should be upgraded to Databricks Runtime 16.4 or above before the change takes effect.
Learners working with VARIANT columns need to know that new tables may require a newer Databricks Runtime to read or write them.