Aws Athena MCP Server

A simple, clean MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for AWS Athena integration. Execute SQL queries, discover schemas, and manage query executions

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Aws Athena MCP MCP server?

A simple, clean MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for AWS Athena integration. Execute SQL queries, discover schemas, and manage query executions through a standardized interface. The aws athena mcp mcp server wraps that behind the Model Context Protocol, so an assistant can use it rather than through you.

Adding it to your client

The server ships on PyPI as aws-athena-mcp, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

Configuration

You will need 8 environment variables: ATHENA_S3_OUTPUT_LOCATION, AWS_REGION, ATHENA_WORKGROUP, ATHENA_TIMEOUT_SECONDS, AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY, AWS_PROFILE, PYTHONPATH. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

Caveats

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the aws athena mcp mcp server does with a few real requests.

When to reach for it

Among the cloud and infrastructure options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. It is maintained by ColeMurray; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Aws Athena MCP's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

How to install the Aws Athena MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws-athena-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "aws-athena-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "ATHENA_S3_OUTPUT_LOCATION": "s3://your-bucket/athena-results/",
        "AWS_REGION": "us-east-1",
        "ATHENA_WORKGROUP": "primary",
        "ATHENA_TIMEOUT_SECONDS": "60"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
ATHENA_S3_OUTPUT_LOCATIONConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
AWS_REGIONConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
ATHENA_WORKGROUPConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
ATHENA_TIMEOUT_SECONDSConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
AWS_ACCESS_KEY_IDCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
AWS_PROFILEConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
PYTHONPATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional

Frequently asked questions

It connects Aws Athena MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Aws Athena MCP directly.