diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 9525505002..da1b519447 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ Changelog
 Starting with version 1.8.0, pybind11 releases use a `semantic versioning
 <http://semver.org>`_ policy.
 
-v2.6.0 (IN PROGRESS)
---------------------
+v2.6.0 (Oct 21, 2020)
+---------------------
 
 See :ref:`upgrade-guide-2.6` for help upgrading to the new version.
 
diff --git a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
index 93f7f0aa37..61fc89259f 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 #define PYBIND11_VERSION_MAJOR 2
 #define PYBIND11_VERSION_MINOR 6
-#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 0rc3
+#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 0
 
 #define PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_BEGIN(name) namespace name {
 #define PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_END(name) }
diff --git a/pybind11/_version.py b/pybind11/_version.py
index 4bf507807b..9d4c547167 100644
--- a/pybind11/_version.py
+++ b/pybind11/_version.py
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ def _to_int(s):
         return s
 
 
-__version__ = "2.6.0rc3"
+__version__ = "2.6.0"
 version_info = tuple(_to_int(s) for s in __version__.split("."))