docs: update PR template to deprecate README and promote MCP Registry

.github/pull_request_template.md

@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Description
 
+## Publishing Your Server
+
+**Note: We are no longer accepting PRs to add servers to the README.** Instead, please publish your server to the [MCP Server Registry](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/registry) to make it discoverable to the MCP ecosystem.
+
+To publish your server, follow the [quickstart guide](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/registry/blob/main/docs/modelcontextprotocol-io/quickstart.mdx). You can browse published servers at [https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/).
+
 ## Server Details
 <!-- If modifying an existing server, provide details -->
 - Server: <!-- e.g., filesystem, github -->

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ We accept changes through [the standard GitHub flow model](https://docs.github.c
 
 ## Server Listings
 
-We welcome PRs that add links to your servers in the [README.md](./README.md)!
+We are **no longer accepting PRs** to add server links to the README. Please publish your server to the [MCP Server Registry](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/registry) instead. Follow the [quickstart guide](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/registry/blob/main/docs/modelcontextprotocol-io/quickstart.mdx).
+
+You can browse published servers using the simple UI at [https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/).
 
 ## Server Implementations
 
@@ -16,10 +18,10 @@ We welcome:
 - **Enhancements that demonstrate MCP protocol features** — We encourage contributions that help reference servers better illustrate underutilized aspects of the MCP protocol beyond just Tools, such as Resources, Prompts, or Roots. For example, adding Roots support to filesystem-server helps showcase this important but lesser-known feature.
 
 We're more selective about:
-- **Other new features** — Especially if they're not crucial to the server's core purpose or are highly opinionated. The existing servers are reference servers meant to inspire the community. If you need specific features, we encourage you to build enhanced versions! We think a diverse ecosystem of servers is beneficial for everyone, and would love to link to your improved server in our README.
+- **Other new features** — Especially if they're not crucial to the server's core purpose or are highly opinionated. The existing servers are reference servers meant to inspire the community. If you need specific features, we encourage you to build enhanced versions and publish them to the [MCP Server Registry](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/registry)! We think a diverse ecosystem of servers is beneficial for everyone.
 
 We don't accept:
-- **New server implementations** — We encourage you to publish them yourself, and link to them from the README.
+- **New server implementations** — We encourage you to publish them to the [MCP Server Registry](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/registry) instead.
 
 ## Testing
 

README.md

@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 This repository is a collection of *reference implementations* for the [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) (MCP), as well as references to community-built servers and additional resources.
 
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> If you are looking for a list of MCP servers, you can browse published servers on [the MCP Registry](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/). The repository served by this README is dedicated to housing just the small number of reference servers maintained by the MCP steering group.
+
 The servers in this repository showcase the versatility and extensibility of MCP, demonstrating how it can be used to give Large Language Models (LLMs) secure, controlled access to tools and data sources.
 Typically, each MCP server is implemented with an MCP SDK:
 
@@ -16,9 +19,6 @@ Typically, each MCP server is implemented with an MCP SDK:
 - [Swift MCP SDK](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/swift-sdk)
 - [TypeScript MCP SDK](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk)
 
-> [!NOTE]
-> Lists in this README are maintained in alphabetical order to minimize merge conflicts when adding new items.
-
 ## 🌟 Reference Servers
 
 These servers aim to demonstrate MCP features and the official SDKs.
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ The following reference servers are now archived and can be found at [servers-ar
 
 ## 🤝 Third-Party Servers
 
+> [!NOTE]
+The server lists in this README are no longer maintained and will eventually be removed.
+
 ### 🎖️ Official Integrations
 
 Official integrations are maintained by companies building production ready MCP servers for their platforms.