Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Gateway Implements Major Update to MCP Protocol

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) has released its most substantial update since inception, introducing a stateless architecture that simplifies scaling on standard HTTP infrastructure. This change eliminates the need for session management, allowing MCP servers to operate as standard HTTPS endpoints, which enhances scalability and reduces complexity.

The new version, 2026-07-28, also introduces a governed extensions system, strengthening the protocol's ability to evolve without disrupting existing capabilities. It aligns authorization mechanisms more closely with enterprise standards like OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect, improving security and integration options.

For Amazon Bedrock's AgentCore Gateway, supporting this update involves a straightforward configuration change via a single UpdateGateway call. This allows the gateway to support multiple protocol versions simultaneously, facilitating a smooth transition for clients and servers. The update improves routing, caching, and tracing capabilities by exposing request intent through standard HTTP headers, making the infrastructure more compatible with existing HTTP tools.

Additionally, the protocol now supports server-to-client interactions without persistent connections, using embedded prompts and request-scoped notifications, which simplifies server communication patterns. The extension system is now formalized, enabling independent development and deployment of new features.

This update is crucial for enterprise AI deployments, as it enhances scalability, security, and protocol flexibility, ensuring that infrastructure can grow with increasing demands and evolving AI capabilities.

The support for MCP 2026-07-28 on AgentCore Gateway signifies a major step forward in enterprise AI infrastructure, promising more robust, scalable, and secure AI service architectures.