Redpanda, a leading real-time data platform empowering operational and agentic applications, has officially launched Redpanda 25.2, a powerful update designed to simplify Apache Iceberg adoption across enterprise environments. This release also introduces full support for Databricks Unity Catalog, enabling organizations to seamlessly convert streaming events into queryable Iceberg tables within Databricks bringing new levels of speed, control, and efficiency to real-time data processing.

With the new integration between Redpanda Iceberg Topics and Databricks Unity Catalog, enterprise users can now instantly query streaming data using Spark or DB SQL, without the need for complex batch ETL pipelines. This marks a significant advancement for businesses relying on AI/ML models, data dashboards, and real-time analytics, as they can now access fresh, low-latency data within an open lakehouse architecture.

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Tyler Akidau, CTO at Redpanda, puts it simply: “Apache Iceberg isn’t just shaping the future of streaming — it’s redefining how businesses think about their entire data infrastructure. At Redpanda, we remain dedicated to advancing Iceberg as a foundational pillar of modern data infrastructure.” He further emphasized that version 25.2 reinforces this commitment, particularly as Iceberg V3 gains traction in unifying lakehouse formatssuch asDelta Lake, Apache Parquet, andApache Spark.

Furthermore, Redpanda 25.2 delivers several enterprise-grade enhancements designed to boost developer flexibility, platform security, and cloud compatibility:

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  • AWS Glue Integration: With this release, Apache Iceberg now supports AWS Glue as a REST catalog, making it easier for AWS-centric teams to manage metadata. This integration gives Redpanda users a centralized way to handle Iceberg Topics without needing extra lakehouse tools or worrying about catalog sync issues.
  • JSON Schema Support: Redpanda now supports JSON schemas within Iceberg Topics, joining the existing support for Avroand Protobuf, thereby increasing schema flexibility.
  • Schema Registry Authorization: New access control features allow enterprises to assign fine-grained ACLs to users and roles within the Schema Registry. This upgrade aligns with industry-standard governance and compliance requirements.
  • kafka-javascript Compatibility: Redpanda has officially certified the kafka-javascript client for Node.js, enabling developers to build real-time applications in JavaScript with native support and enhanced reliability.

In summary, Redpanda 25.2 represents a strategic leap forward for enterprises looking to integrate real-time data into modern data lakes and AI-powered pipelines. With seamless Databricks compatibility and expanded support for major cloud ecosystems, Redpanda continues to shape the future of streaming data infrastructure.

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