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New Features and Changes -- March 2026

Last Updated: March 30, 2026

Monthly roundup of everything that changed in the Shopify developer ecosystem during March 2026. This covers API updates, MCP server changes, platform announcements, and community developments.

This Is a Living Document

This page is updated throughout the month as new changes are announced. Check back weekly for the latest additions. Items marked with NEW were added in the most recent update.

Developer Platform Updates​

Shopify Dev MCP Server Updates​

The official @anthropic-ai/shopify-dev-mcp server received several updates in March:

v1.4.0 (March 18, 2026):

  • Added full API 2026-04 preview schema support
  • Improved search_docs relevance scoring for Functions-related queries
  • New get_extension_reference tool for Checkout UI Extension targets
  • Fixed: validate_graphql now correctly handles inline fragment syntax
  • Performance: 30% faster documentation search response times

v1.3.2 (March 5, 2026):

  • Bugfix: explore_api_schema returning stale results for connection types
  • Added Liquid reference for new product.media object properties
  • Updated scaffolding templates for Functions JavaScript runtime

Upgrade:

# Claude Code users -- remove and re-add to get latest
claude mcp remove shopify-dev
claude mcp add shopify-dev -- npx -y @anthropic-ai/shopify-dev-mcp@latest

# Or if pinned to a version
claude mcp add shopify-dev -- npx -y @anthropic-ai/shopify-dev-mcp@1.4.0

API Version 2026-04 Preview​

The 2026-04 API version entered developer preview on March 10, 2026.

New in 2026-04:

FeatureTypeDescription
productBundleCreateMutationNative product bundle creation (replaces Cart Transform for simple bundles)
catalogAgentSessionMutationCreate a session for AI agent catalog browsing
customerSegment.predictedFieldAI-predicted customer segment membership
order.carbonFootprintFieldEstimated carbon footprint per order
webhook.deliveryAttemptsConnectionQuery webhook delivery history

Breaking changes (preview -- subject to change):

  • DraftOrder.appliedDiscount renamed to DraftOrder.appliedDiscounts (plural, now returns array)
  • FulfillmentOrder.assignedLocation type changed from Location to FulfillmentOrderAssignedLocation
  • New required field reason on inventoryAdjustQuantities mutation
Preview API Warning

The 2026-04 API is in developer preview. Breaking changes may occur before the stable release. Do not use preview versions in production apps. Test against preview in development stores only.

How to test:

# Use the preview API version in your requests
POST https://your-store.myshopify.com/admin/api/2026-04/graphql.json

# Or in your app configuration
# shopify.app.toml
[access_scopes]
api_version = "2026-04"

Functions Migration Timeline Update​

Shopify published an updated timeline for Functions migration:

MilestoneDateDetails
JavaScript GAMarch 15, 2026JavaScript Functions now generally available
Rust deprecation noticeJune 2026Rust remains supported but JavaScript is the recommended path
Network access betaApril 2026Limited external HTTP calls from Functions
Persistent stateQ3 2026Functions can read/write metafields directly
Script Tags sunsetOctober 2026All Script Tag functionality must migrate to Functions

NEW -- March 15 update: JavaScript Functions are now generally available. The Javy runtime powering JavaScript Functions has been benchmarked at near-Rust performance for most workloads:

MetricRustJavaScript (Javy)
Cold start1-2ms2-4ms
Execution (simple)0.5ms0.8ms
Execution (complex)2ms3.5ms
Memory usage1-2MB3-5MB
Max execution time10ms10ms
Migration Path

If your app uses Script Tags, start migrating to Functions now. Use the Dev MCP server to scaffold your Functions:

Search the Shopify docs for migrating from Script Tags to Functions.
Then scaffold a [discount/shipping/payment] function in JavaScript.

Sidekick Extensions Progress​

March updates to the Sidekick Extensions developer preview:

  • New extension points:

    • sidekick.product.suggest -- Suggest products when a merchant asks Sidekick about their catalog
    • sidekick.analytics.query -- Answer analytics questions using your app's data
    • sidekick.marketing.action -- Execute marketing actions (email campaigns, social posts)

  • SDK improvements:

    • TypeScript SDK updated to v0.4.0 with full type definitions
    • New testing harness for simulating Sidekick conversations
    • Improved error handling with structured error codes

  • Documentation:

    • New "Building Your First Sidekick Extension" tutorial
    • Updated API reference with all available extension points
    • Best practices guide for conversational UX in Sidekick

Current limitations:

  • Maximum 3 extension points per app
  • 5-second timeout for extension responses
  • No streaming responses (batch only)
  • Available to approved partners only

Catalog API Updates​

NEW -- The Catalog API entered public beta on March 20, 2026.

What changed from private alpha:

  • Added productRecommendations query for AI-powered product suggestions
  • New productComparison query for side-by-side feature comparison
  • Semantic search now supports multi-language queries
  • Rate limits set at 100 requests/second (10x higher than standard Admin API)
  • Added catalogWebhook for real-time catalog change notifications

Access:

# Request public beta access
shopify app catalog-api enable

# Or through the Partner Dashboard:
# Apps > Your App > Catalog API > Enable Beta

Checkout MCP Expansion​

NEW -- A new MCP server specifically for checkout customization is in early access:

# Early access -- request through Partner Dashboard
claude mcp add shopify-checkout -- npx -y @shopify/checkout-mcp@latest

Tools available:

  • list_checkout_profiles -- View all checkout customization profiles
  • get_checkout_branding -- Current branding configuration
  • preview_checkout -- Generate a preview URL for a checkout configuration
  • list_extension_targets -- Available extension points for checkout UI
  • validate_extension -- Validate a checkout extension before deployment

Store & Theme Updates​

Theme Architecture Changes​

March theme updates:

  • Section Group improvements: Section groups now support nested groups (up to 2 levels deep)
  • New preset format: Theme presets can now include metafield references
  • Block limits increased: Maximum blocks per section increased from 16 to 50
  • Dynamic sources in schema: Section schema can now reference metafield definitions for dynamic settings
{
  "name": "Product Feature",
  "type": "product-feature",
  "settings": [
    {
      "type": "metafield",
      "id": "feature_data",
      "label": "Feature Data",
      "metafield_definition": {
        "namespace": "custom",
        "key": "product_features",
        "owner_type": "PRODUCT"
      }
    }
  ]
}

New Liquid Objects and Filters​

Object/FilterTypeDescription
product.mediaObjectReplaces product.images with full media support (images, video, 3D)
product.selected_selling_planObjectCurrently selected subscription plan
cart.dutiesObjectDuty/tax breakdown for international orders
customer.predicted_segmentObjectAI-predicted customer segment
`semantic_description`Filter
`currency_convert`Filter

Commerce & Payments Updates​

Shopify Payments Changes​

  • ACH payments GA: ACH payments now available to all US Shopify Payments merchants (previously Plus only)
  • Multi-currency ACH: Support for CAD, GBP, EUR in addition to USD
  • Installment payments: New integration with major BNPL providers through Shopify Payments
  • Dispute management API: New endpoints for programmatic dispute response

Product Network Updates​

  • Cross-border support: Product Network now supports international supplier-retailer relationships
  • Automated pricing rules: Suppliers can set margin rules that auto-calculate retailer prices
  • Bulk onboarding: Import 1,000+ products to the network in a single operation
  • Analytics: New analytics for suppliers showing retailer performance

Partner Program Changes​

Revenue Share Update​

Effective March 1, 2026:

Revenue TierPrevious ShareNew Share
First $1M lifetime100% to developer100% to developer
$1M - $10M85% to developer85% to developer
$10M+80% to developer85% to developer
Good News for Established Partners

Partners earning over $10M lifetime revenue now keep 85% instead of 80%. This change applies retroactively to all revenue earned from March 1, 2026 onward.

App Store Changes​

  • NEW -- Enhanced app listing analytics with conversion funnel data
  • NEW -- A/B testing for app store listings (title, screenshots, description)
  • Review response time SLA: Shopify commits to first review within 5 business days
  • New "Verified" badge for apps that pass enhanced security review
  • App categories reorganized -- new "AI & Automation" category

Partner Dashboard Updates​

  • Real-time revenue tracking (previously 24-hour delay)
  • Improved churn analysis with reason codes
  • Merchant communication tools (in-app messaging)
  • API usage quota visibility and alerts

Community Updates​

Notable Discussions This Month​

r/shopifydev:

  • "JavaScript Functions benchmarks vs Rust -- real-world numbers" (350+ upvotes)
  • "Catalog API first impressions from the public beta" (280+ upvotes)
  • "My MCP setup for managing 3 stores with Claude Code" (200+ upvotes)

Shopify Partners Slack:

  • Active debate on Functions JavaScript vs Rust for performance-critical workloads
  • Several partners sharing Sidekick Extension prototypes
  • Growing thread on Catalog API use cases for AI agents

GitHub:

  • shopify-dev-mcp -- v1.4.0 released with 2026-04 preview support
  • shopify-mcp (GeLi2001) -- v3.0 release with improved error handling
  • New community MCP server for Shopify analytics (200+ stars in first week)

Upcoming Events​

DateEventDetails
April 3, 2026Shopify Dev AMAFunctions JavaScript GA -- Q&A with the Functions team
April 10, 2026Partner Webinar"Building for Agentic Commerce"
April 15, 2026Shopify MeetupToronto -- Sidekick Extensions workshop
June 2026Shopify Editions Summer '26Expected announcement

Action Items for Developers​

This Week​

  • Update your Dev MCP server to v1.4.0 for 2026-04 preview schema
  • Test your app against the 2026-04 preview API on a development store
  • Review the Functions JavaScript GA announcement if you have Script Tags

This Month​

  • Apply for Catalog API public beta access
  • Start planning Script Tag to Functions migration (October 2026 deadline)
  • Explore Sidekick Extension points for your app category
  • Update app store listing for new "AI & Automation" category if applicable

This Quarter​

  • Migrate to API 2026-01 if still on 2025-07 or earlier
  • Build a proof-of-concept Sidekick Extension
  • Evaluate Catalog API integration for AI agent compatibility
  • Plan for 2,048 variant support in your product management UI

Previous Monthly Updates​